LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2447, 8 February 1882, Page 4

LITERATURE.

DIAMOND BOBBERIES AT THE DIGGINGS. [From “ Chambers’ Journal.”] _ Jsr tho early days of the Caps Diamond Fields, the strict honesty of the community was proverbial; and considering the rough lot congregated together, it was marvellous. Such was the honesty of the Vaal River Diggings. But it was too mnoh to expeot -that snob a delightful state of social perfection could last long. Nor did it. The news of diamond discoveries in South Africa soon ■reached America, England, and other places, the result of which was that there was soon a constant stream of people, of a questionable class, flowing into South Old diggers from California and Australia, low blackguards from the purlieus of Whitechapel, runaway sailors, deserters from the army, and any number of the lower class of Jews—these, with a good sprinkling of foreigners, some good and some bad, settled down to try their hands at acquiring a fortune. If It was not to bo had in one way, it must be had the other. About this time tho Dry Diggings were opened up, and soon New Bush (now Kimberley) contained about 40,000 inhabitants ; and a rough lot they were. Diamond dealing had by this time become one of the principal callings of a number of the residents of the camps at the Dry DigKings. Tho finds had increased to an Inordinate extent; and it was not until several hanks bad been established, whioh kindly allowed the use of their safes to their customers, that a diamond dealer had any safer plaoe to deposit fals property than In his packet by day and under his pillow by night. When a man sleeps In a small canvas tent, and sometimes has as much as three or four thousand pounds’ worth of rough diamonds nnder his pillow or mattrass. It was hardly to be wondered at that, now and then, a trial would be made to effect a change In the ownership of valuables, a thousand pounds’ worth ot which coiffd pe Seaally carried in one’s waistcoat pocket. The writer at that time dealt largely In rough diamonds; and it was often on his awakening in the morning that he, with fear and trembling, lifted his pillow, not without some doubts as to the safety of his property. Continual fear of robbery had so accustomed him to alertness, that a footstep a hundred yards off would wake him from a deep sleep ; and then with grasped revolver which was always handed —ho would sit up in bed listening through the darkness, expecting each moment to hear tho cat-like footstep and then the gentle ripping of the canvas close to the bed—that might serve to Jot a man’s hand through. If the victim was a heavy sleeper, this plan was often successful. The tents were very small ; and even were the bad placed in the centra of the tent, Hi ar n of ordinary length would easily reach •the sleeper’s pillow, and noiselessly abstract the pocket-book containg the treasure. It was, however, but seldom that this plan of notion met with success. The ■lightest noise Inside the tent gave the thief an idea be was waited for, and he withdrew quicker than ha oame, fearing a chance revolver bullet. This ‘ groping/ as it was called, once, and only once, resulted in the capture ot the ‘ groper. ’ It was very cleverly done. A diamond broker one night was awakened out of a heavy sleep by feeling a hand passing over his face. He at once realised his position, and waited breathlessly, as may be imagined, until he felt the hand under his Ipillow. Luckily, his diamonds were not there; but the owner of the hand seemed by his persistent search to be of a contrary opinion. The broker soon made up his mind to capture the thief. But how ? All was ■darkness within the tent, and making ‘a grab’ in the dark was doubtful work. If the * grab’ failed, the hand and arm could be quickly withdrawn through the rent in the 4ent, and then capture would be out of the •question. The broker’s thoughts reverted to hia revolver, which was lying ready cooked at his side ; bat he was a humane man, and did not like to have a fellow-creature’s blood upon bis head. However, he made a pounce at the plaee he considered the hand to be in, and was lucky enough, as be called it, ‘to strike lie,’ and seonred a good firm hold of tho thief’s wrist. It was then a game of pull thief, pull broker; but the broker having two hands to the thief’s one, he had the best of It. The broker’s shoots quickly awoke bis neighbors, who soon came to his assistance ; and ultimately gave the wouldbe thiel into custody. The great post-office diamond robbery of 1871 was one of the best-planned thefts ever perpetrated at the diggings. It was nearly a success, and the thief had almost escaped to England with his spoil. In fact, he was arrested on board the ateamer at Cape Town just as it was leaving. The robbery had taken plaoe two months before, and as the most strenuous efforts of tho New Rush police had resulted In nothing, the robbery was almost forgotten, and but for a slight accident, It would now be amongst the list of undiscovered crimes. The perpetrator of the robbery was a young man of good education and gentlemanly appearance named Harvey, who emigrated to the Diamond Fields early in 1870. He worked long and toiled hard as a digger, but with no success. He had an honest name too, and it was a pity that when temptation came in hla way he did not manfully resist It. The carelessness of the New Rush postmaster was the causa of the robbery, and had that official exercised even an ordinary precaution In the care of diamonds under his charge, poor Harvey would not now be lying in a convict’s grave. The New Rush post-office was merely a wooden shanty, and the postmaster was a genial fellow. On the arrival of tho English mail, the small staff of sorters had enough to do. If you knew the postmaster well enough you ■were welcome to go in and sort out your -own letters. Yon could either do this or wait for your turn, which perhaps might be several hours. Harvey was one of the postmaster’s friends, and was often seen availing himself of a friend’s privilege. It bo happened one day that several packets—about thirty five thousand pounds in value —were registered for transmission to Cape Town and London. They were left as usual on a table waiting for entry and sealing in the register bag. The day was a very hot one, and the window was open as usual. The Pig and Whistle canteen was just opposite the post office, and the postmaster was not adverse to tasting the liquor there, ■whenever invited by his many friends. On this afternoon, he went once too often. He swore be was not absent five minutes ; but no matter how long or how short he was away, on hia return the whole of the packets were missing ! Of course the news spread like wild fire, and soon there was a large croud nround the post office. At first, the post office officials were suspected ; but as It was plain that there were none of them in the office at that time of the day, suspicion fell upon hundreds of others equally guiltless. All this time the real perpetrator was carefully opening the packets and secreting bis spoil in his tent, not one hundred yards from the post office. The slightest breath of suspicion never feel upon him. Weeks passed, and still no clue could be found. Harvey’s line of action was indeed clever ; he neither excited suspicion by being too officious nor too apathetic on the matter. His whole object, however,was to leave New ißush without exciting more than usual remark. Bis luck had been bad, and his friends knew It. Althongh being in possession of an enormous amount of value, a small portion of which he could easily, and without exciting suspicion, had converted into cash, he very artfully borrowed from a friend as much as would pay his fare to Cape Town. There, he said, he would take a situation. He left the diggings unsuspected and untouched; and, as has been already stated, arrived in Gape Town about -two months after the robbery took place. He had a week to wait ere a steamer for England would leave, and here his cantion relaxed .somewhat. He pnt up at a first--class hotel, and though not in any way ostentatious, his being there caused some remark from those who had known him at New Suck.

But for a Alight mistake, trivial in itself, Harvey would have been beyond pursuit In a few days, St so happened that on hla voyage to the Cape he became acquainted -with a fellow passenger *who was better sup--plied with money than himself. They were Both bound for the diggings ; hut Harvey complained of not having suffloienk cash to taka him there from Cape Town, Hla friend, a Mr B , generously advanced him one hundred pounds, which he promised to return as soon as he possibly could. With the one hundred pounda, Harvey started at once for New Bush. B remained in Capetown for some

months, *nd never asw or hoard of Harvey or his hundred pounds until he met bun In one of the Capetown streets, about six hours before the steamer was to leave. It must first bo mentioned, however, that B , smarting under the treatment Harvey had given him with respect to the loan, had spoken of the matter to a friend ot his, the clerk of tho peace at Capetown, and asked his advice if it were possible that criminal proceedings could be instituted in the matter. B , whose knowledge of civil and criminal law appeared to bo rather hazy, went away perfectly satisfied at leaving tho matter in the hands of his “lend, the clerk of the peace, who probably thought no more of it, or if ho did, merely keep his promise by writing to his New Bush friend on the subiact. When Harvey was accosted by B——,. who tapped him on the shoulder, and sain : ‘ You blackguard. I’ll have you arrested, it can well be imagined the effect these few words had upon him. He turned pale, and nearly fainted. • Where is my hundred pounds ? de manded B , holding Harvey by the ‘Oh, yonr hundred pounds/ said the trembling wretch, who now felt a little relieved at knowing it was not for someth.ng more he was wanted ; * ob, yes, my dear fellow: why, I’ve been looking for yon. I’ll pay you old fellow; ’pon my honor i will. I’m glad I’ve met yon. Didn t know you were here. I would have been so sorry had I left without seeing you.’ • Ob, that’s all fine talk enough, replied B ; ‘come, let me have the cash if you have got it. ’ , , , . ‘Got it?’ said Harvey, ay, and lots more. Look here, old fellow. Ive been rather lucky lately—a good find you know. Mum's the word, as I don’t want it known. But as you were good to me when I wanted It, I’ll not be mean with you now, I owe yon ■ hundred pounds. Well, there it is; and here is another for interest; and so saying, he placed two notes in the hand of B > -who was too surprised to say much more than, — ~ ‘Thank you ; I knew, after all, you were fVm v'oht sort,’ &o. After "renev,"tog their friendship [together at the bar of the mutest hotel, b went his way elated. - . ‘ Now, as luck would have it, first man that B met after leaving Harvey, was the clerk of the peace, «Oh/ said B ,‘lam so glad I have met you. Oblige by not troubling yourself further about that affair of mine—the hundred pounds Harvey owed me. He has just paid me; and the best of the joke is, he has given me a hundred pounds more as interest. Look ; here are the notes. Ah ! it’s a good thing 1 met him before he left in the steamer to day. But I should not mention It, as he told me to say nothing about it. Of course what I tell you is In strict confidence/ ‘ Oh, o£ Course, ’ replied the oletk of the pe&cd { * but where is he now. ?’ ‘Just gone into the Masonic Hotel. But what does it matter to you where ho is now ?’ ‘Oh, nothing. He leaves to-day, yon say ? I’m glad you have got your money back. But tell me this—Did Harvey have any luck at New Bush ?’ v ‘ Now, that’s what I can’t understand. It was only yesterday I met Darville, who told me that I might never expect to see a stiver of my money back, as Harvey had to borrow money to get away. Strange, eh ? ’ .

‘ Rather/ replied the clerk of the peace seutentiously, but who seemed to be thinking of something else all the time. Jt was clear that the clerk’s suspicions were roused in some way, while B ’s were not. There was still a largo reward offered by the Diamond Field authorities for the capture of the thief or thieves, and the aetute clerk of the peace saw his way to a little • business.’ Anyhow, there were reasonable grounds for suspicion, and this was enough for him. So he Immediately repaired to hia office, and in his capacity as a justice of the peace, at once drew up a warrant to search Harvey’s luggage ; and placed the warrant in a few minutes in the hands of the police, who went on board the steamer before Harvey made his appearance there. The rest is soon told, as it is needless to add that the suspicions of the clerk of the peace were well-founded. All the stolen diamonds were found artfully concealed in the barrels of two shot guns and a rifle. Harvey was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to a long term of imprisonment with hard labor. He died before the completion of his sentence.

As a rule, the diamond dealing community of Kimberley are honest, though temptations come in their way to act otherwise. When people are hourly in the habit of handling valuables, they gradually become careless, and so It was and is with tho diamond brokers of Kimberley. Experience seems never to teach them. A Kimberley broker generally carries his diamonds In small paper parcels, about the size of Seidlitz powder papers, or larger. When he starts on his business rounds In the morning, ho has often fifteen or twenty of these In a wallet or pocket. In showing bis diamonds to his customers, it has often happened that he leaves a parcel on the table, and forgets to replace it In his book. Perhaps he discovers his loss soon- probably at the next office he shows his goods—but oftener not until he has to return his nnsold parcels that afternoon. The writer remembers a diamond merchant once showing him two parcels of diamonds —about one thousand five hundred pounds In value—that had been forgotten by some careless broker.

• I don’t know whom they belong to, ’ he said ; ‘ but I suppose they will be claimed soon.’

They were claimed in a few minutes after by a broker, who oame rushing in, perspiring like a bull, and in hia excitement rudely turning over all the papers on the table, while scrimmaging for the parcels be had missed. The merchant, with a calmness that was perfectly provoking to the broker, inquired what all this excitement meant. •I have lost two parcel*,’ gasped the broker, as he fell exhausted into a chair ; ‘ I can’t find them. I can’t tell where I left them. Good heavens, I'm a ruined man.’ And to do him justice, he really looked it. The merchant, after keeping the poor fellow on the raok of torture for a few minutes, ‘to give him a lesson,’ as he said, returned the parcels, but not before they had been properly described in every way. The above kind of thing often happens. But it is with pleasure that the writer can assert that during his residence in Kimberley, which extended over six years, only two cases occurred in which mislaid parcels of diamonds were not returned to their rightful owners. The Kimberley diamond trade is almost exclusively in tho hands of Jews, whose characteristics as good business men are proverbial. In making a bargain, they neither take nor give quarter, but in cases like the one just related—and not an isolated one either—their general honesty and straightforwardness cover them with credit.