GOLDFIELDS TRAGEDY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2978, 12 April 1911, Page 37

GOLDFIELDS TRAGEDY.

MINERS RUSH TO BRITISH GUIANA

(Feom Oub Own Cobeespondent.)

LONDON, February 24.

As a fair number of New Zealanders are engaged in gold dredging in British Guiana, the, following cablegram f 10)01 Georgetown, the capital .of the colony, will be interesting reading:—“ The rush to the gold district of Menamu, oil the Venezuelan border, recently discovered, recalls that which took place when the goldfields at other parts of British Guiana were discovered a quarter of a century ago. Over 1000 men are said to have gone up. The reports to hand are of a disquieting nature. They show that lawlessness prevails. Most of the gold diggers have armed themselves with guns. Might is right at Menamu, and there is a. good deal of claim-jumping. The case of Mr C. Dinklage is especially hard. He is the pioneer of the district, and it was his report of a rich find that started the rush; hut his claims have been raided and his instruments used. Dinklage has had to stand by and see the depredations committed. Owing to the difficulty of transport there is a shortage of provisions, and those prospectors who bring up provisions are being plundered unless they have a band around them strong enough to protect their supplies. Owing to the scarcity of food the body of police sent up by the Government returned ; but a warden has been despatched with full powers to protect rights and preserve order. Diamonds are also reported to have been discovered, and are of good quality. It is stated that part of the rich district, which stretches into Venezuela, was in British Guiana territory prior to the award by Italy in the boundary dispute some years ago. The Venezuelan Government has taken steps to safeguard its interests, but so far this colony has had no cause for complaint so far as tire Venezuelans are concerned. “ For murder committed at another gold district named Arakaka, a black man named Theophilus Skeete was executed at Georgetown Prison on the 4th inst. The tragedy was one of the most remarkable in the history of the colony. Angry at not getting what he considered a fair share of the gold obtained by a party of four, and at being told his services were no longer required, Skeete shot one of the men. The others took to their heels,_ but he started off in pursuit, and a terrible race for life ensued. The, frenzied gold digger overtook first one and then another of the panic-stricken men, and fired at them in spite of their appeals for mercy. He then made after the fourth man, who, however, found refuge in a church just as Skeete was close upon him. Two of the three golddiggers shot succumbed to their injuries. Skeete met his fate with great fortitude, stating on the scaffold that he believed’ God had pardoned him for his crime, and that he was prepared to die.”

M. Adder, a manufacturer at Courbevoie, France, set up something like a new record tho other day. Fie was ordered to pay 100 different fines of 4s each for various breaches of the law.