Today in Kimberley's History
January 2nd
Dr Leander Starr Jameson surrenders his raiding force at Doornkop, 1896.
The ill-fated Raid in 1895/1896 by Dr Jameson that brought Cecil John Rhodes down both politically and socially saw many turn their back on the Premier of the Cape Colony. Sir David Harris, a cousin of Barney Barnato, and a De Beers Director from 1890 to 1931 , said that Barnato "loyally supported Rhodes when he was Prime Minister, and he stood solidly by him after the Raid when many alleged friends, who were actually under an obligation to Rhodes, turned their back on him." The Raid and his subsequent resignation as Premier of the Cape were but two of the disasters that befell Rhodes during 1896: "Providence has not been kind to me this year," he said, "What with Jameson's raid, rinderpest, famine, and now my house burnt, I feel rather like Job, but, Thank God, I haven't had sores yet. Still, there remains some of the year, and there is yet a chance for me to develop some totally new kind of boil. That would be the height of evils, to have a boil called after one. Fancy being the inventor of a Rhodes boil."
The Raid was considered by Jan Smuts, a Boer General during the 1899-1902 conflict and later Prime Minister of South Africa, to be the real start of the Anglo-Boer war. The Cape man Smuts in fact, had been a Rhodes devotee until the Raid, and had even given a speech – his maiden political speech – in Kimberley's Town hall on 20 August 1895 supporting Rhodes vision for Southern Africa. After the Raid, Smuts believed that Rhodes had deceived the Afrikaner bond, and he immediately switched allegiance to President Kruger and the Transvaal, becoming the State Attorney shortly afterwards.
Another Cape Afrikaner, Jan 'Onze Jan' Hofmeyr, with whom Rhodes used to take regular Saturday morning rides to Hout Bay from Cape Town and back, turned his back on the disgraced Premier afterwards. "Rhodes has never been married," Hofmeyr said, "so he would not understand the illustration; but such was the confidence between us, I felt as a man feels who suddenly finds that his wife has been deceiving him."
Nevertheless, the abortive Raid on Johannesburg had stunned Rhodes. Matabele Thompson was visiting Groote Schuur when the news was telegraphed through and saw Rhodes who was sitting on the edge of his bed, the telegram in his hand. Alfred Beit was pacing up and down. "Look, Thompson," exclaimed the Premier in his high falsetto voice, "look what that damned fool has done! Why did he do it? Tell me, Thompson, why did he do it?" Continuously he repeated, related Thompson, "But tell me, why did he do it?"
Charles Rudd, in a report to the Goldfields Company on 5 February 1896, saw the Raid as incomprehensible, writing that the actions "…could only have been arranged by a madman." The Raid would see Rudd resign as Chairman and as co Managing Director of the Company. Gardner Williams too, the General Manager of De Beers, was found guilty in a Cape Town court for illegally transporting arms and ammunition and fined. One of the amazing stories to unfold after the Raid was that most of the arms and ammunition to be used by the planned 'uprising' in Johannesburg only arrived after Jameson had already begun his march, and some arrived after his capture. That Jameson was premature in his actions is an understatement.
Rhodes' acceptance of responsibility for the Raid saw his popularity and fame die both in southern Africa and in England and his former friends and political colleagues shunned him. He was at an all-time low. Some, however, still stood by him. Frank Rhodes sent him a letter where he wrote: "You must do something to rehabilitate yourself in the eyes of the world…" There is no doubt that Rhodes knew of the planned Raid. He was also aware that it was not the right time for Jameson to set off and that the 'uitlanders' in Johannesburg were not ready. In a note to the Imperial Secretary answering two letters of 30 December 1895, he replied, "My dear Bower, Jameson has gone in without my authority. I hope our messages may have stopped him…"
Primary information source courtesy of Kimberley Calls...and Recalls Facebook Group
Extract from "The diary of a doctor's wife" by by Winifred Heberden
This interesting diary of the Siege of Kimberley covers the period 16th October 1899 to 21st February 1900. At the outbreak of the war, Winifred's husband, Dr. G.A. Heberden, (affectionately known as 'Jack' to his family and friends), was the District Surgeon of Barkly West; and when it was realized that the Anglo-Boer War was inevitable Dr. Heberden decided to offer his services to the Imperial Forces in Kimberley, and that night he tied his three year old son, Reggie, to his back with a blanket and, together with his wife and 19 year old cousin, Harry Gibbs, left everything they possessed behind and rode on horseback the 23 miles into Kimberley. Dr. Heberden was enlisted as Surgeon Captain under Imperial Orders. (The diary is available online in two parts: Part One and Part Two.)
The Boers fired at our cattle guards this morning. We replied and silenced them. The veld is very poor round Kimberley itself; all the best grass being within dangerous proximity to the enemy. Thirteen head of our cattle straying a little too far were captured. But we also scored. For two fine horses belonging to a Commandant came our way, and were promptly brought into the town.
Our meat allowance is only a quarter lb [pound] a day each; and 2 ozs for children under 12. The butchering arrangements are now taken charge of by the Military, who have erected strong barriers and gates outside two entrances to the Market House, whilst the third is used as an exit. The people are drawn up in double file according to the Municipal Ward they live in, and the lines extend a good way across the Market Square. Vegetables are also divided and sold after the meat. It was amusing to see rich and poor, high and low, standing together. The Secretary of De Beers and his basket jostling a little shoemaker; an ex M.L.A. (Member Legislative Assembly) standing behind a cabby - and so on; but the crowd was mostly composed of women, the male relations being in the Forts at that early hour. Several photographers were busy.
The sun was frightfully hot from the time it rose, and many poor women who probably had left home without waiting even for a cup of coffee nearly fainted from the long delay. Directly the meat and vegetables were secured and paid for, most people went on to the grocer (who has very little but pickles and sauces left), and there joined another crowd. And so, from shop to shop, Permit Office to Declaration Office, they generally spend the first and hottest part of the day.
We all here pray that this hotel will hold out till everything is all right again.