![]() ![]() Dr Atherstone in turn passed it to Mr Southey, the Colonial Secretary. Atherstone of Grahamstown in a plain envelope, one of the few people in the Cape Colony who knew anything about minerals and gems, who identified it as a 21.25-carat brownish yellow diamond. At Colesberg he was about to throw it away when the Acting Civil Commissioner, Lorenzo Boyes, suggested trying it on a pane of glass. O'Reilly showed the stone to Jewish storekeepers at Hopetown who ventured that it might be a topaz. Schalk mentioned that he believed the stone to be a diamond on account of its hardness and weight. O'Reilly seldom stayed in one place for long, as he usually travelled about by ox-wagon, trading and hunting, and often shot lions on his trips to the north. Schalk took the stone to a friend, John O'Reilly, who lived at 'Rooikop', some hours away. Erasmus was somewhat amused when a neighbour, oom Schalk van Niekerk, asked if he could borrow one of the play stones which he had found a year earlier - a particularly shiny one. ![]() However, to young Erasmus Stephanus Jacobs, 15, there was much with which to amuse himself as he played with the 'klippies' which abounded on their farm De Kalk near Hopetown (120km south of present day Kimberley). The northern Cape in March 1867 was a hot and desolate place. He and Rhodes never meet.ġ914: The outbreak of war causes the suspension of all mining at De Beers’ properties. Before his death, he's heard to say, "So little done, too much to do." The same year, Ernest Oppenheimer arrives in Kimberley to work as a diamond buying agent. It remains under siege, its mines closed, for 124 days.ġ902: Cecil Rhodes dies at his cottage at Muizenberg, aged 48. Ten merchants form the London Diamond Syndicate, and agree to buy De Beers' entire production.ġ897: Barney Barnato dies tragically when he falls from the SS Scot en route to England.ġ899: Within days of the outbreak of the second Boer War, the town of Kimberley is besieged. Rhodes is named founding chairman.ġ890: The Wesselton Mine is discovered. A merger is the only solution.ġ888: De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited is established on 12 March. To out produce each other, they flood the market causing diamond prices to plummet. Meanwhile, Cecil Rhodes buys a claim.ġ874: "Barnato Brothers Dealers in Diamonds and Brokers in Mining Property" opens for business.ġ887: Cecil Rhodes and Barney Barnato, each buying claims and shares in nearby mines, vie for commercial pre-eminence at the Kimberley diamond fields. The latter, initially known as New Rush (then Kimberley Mine, and now the Big Hole), would become the world’s richest mine for nearly a century.ġ873: Barney Barnato, 18, joins his brother at the Kimberley digs. He sells ice to miners in the hot African sun and saves his money.ġ871: The De Beers Mine is discovered in May, and the Kimberley Mine in July. Cecil Rhodes, aged 17, arrives in South Africa. In December diamonds were found in the adjacent Du Toit's Pan, triggering the third diamond rush. ![]() Later that year diamonds are found at the farm Bultfontein on the edge of modern-day Kimberley. It triggers the first diamond rush.ġ870: In mid-1870 diamonds are found in the river diggings at Klip Drift (now Barkly West), triggering the second diamond rush. Fox Receives Standing Ovation at 'Live With Kelly and Mark' Appearance The Most Shocking Places Cocaine Was Found, Including a Children's Toy Does AI Create Music as Well as Human Musicians? West Virginia Fireman Buys Gag Cake to Apologize After Barfing During Agility Test Russian Authorities Claim Ukraine Tried to Assassinate Putin With Drone Attack Will Donald Trump Cut Ireland Trip Short to ‘Confront’ Accuser E.1866: Eureka! Erasmus Jacobs, a 15-year-old farmer's son, finds Africa's first authenticated diamond near the Orange River, Hopetown.ġ869: The Star of South Africa, an 83.5 carat rough diamond, is discovered by a Griqua herdsman in Hopetown. Diamond Rush Goes Bust When Stones in South Africa Determined to Be Quartz Inside Deals on Diamond Earrings, Smart Watch, Cordless Vacuum Cleaner - Up to 86% 'Bama Rush' Recruit Allegedly Kicked Out After Hair Tie Was Mistaken for Wire South American Migrant Kids Excel With Gift of Chess Program in New York City Terrifying Video Captures Emergency Plane Door Open During South Korea Flight 4,000-Year-Old Temple Found on Northern Coast of Peru Family of Bride Killed by Alleged Drunk Driver Shares Moments After Accident Questions Surround Whether 11-Month-Old Baby and 3 Siblings Survived Plane Crash Lil Nas X, Elon Musk and Others Who Embraced Failure Women Tubing on Florida River Encounters Massive Alligator on Tree Log 16-Year-Old Gets Hug From Good Samaritan After Serious Car Crash in Arkansas FULL VIDEO: Police Search Idaho College Murder Suspect Bryan Kohberger’s Washington Apartment Michael J. ![]()
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