Chapter 18

THE SIEGE AND RELIEF OF KIMBERLEY

It has already been narrated how, upon the arrival of the army corps
from England, the greater part was drafted to Natal, while some went
to the western side, and started under Lord Methuen upon the perilous
enterprise of the relief of Kimberley. It has also been hown how,
after three expensive victories, Lord Methuen's force met with a
paralysing reverse, and was compelled to remain inactive within twenty
miles of the town which they had come to succour. Before describe how
that succour did eventual]y arrive, some attention must be paid to the
incidents which had occurred within the city.

'I am directed to assure you that there is no reason for apprehending
that Kimberley or any part of the colony either is, or in any
contemplated event will be, in danger of attack. Mr. Schreiner is of
opinion that your fears are groundless and your anticipations in the
matter entirely without foundation.' Such is the official reply to the
remonstrance of the inhabitants, when, with the shadow of war dark
upon them, they appealed for help. It is fortunate, however, that a
progressive British town has usually the capacity for doing things for
itself without the intervention of officials. Kimberley was
particularly lucky in being the centre of the wealthy and alert De
Beers Company, which had laid in sufficient ammunition and supplies to
prevent the town from being helpless in the presence of the enemy. But
the cannon were popguns, firing a 7-pound shell for a short range, and
the garrison contained only seven hundred regulars, while the
remainder were mostly untrained miners and artisans. Among them,
however, there was a sprinkling of dangerous men from the northern
wars, and all were nerved by a knowledge that the ground which they
defended was essential to the Empire. Ladysmith was no more than any
other strategic position, but Kimberley was unique, the centre of the
richest tract of ground for its size in the whole world. Its loss
would have been a heavy blow to the British cause, and an enormous
encouragement to the Boers.

On October 12th, several hours after the expiration of Kruger's
ultimatum, Cecil Rhodes threw himself into Kimberley. This remarkable
man, who stood for the future of South Africa as clearly as the Dopper
Boer stood for its past, had, both in features and in character, some
traits which may, without extravagance, be called Napoleonic. The
restless energy, the fertility of resource, the attention to detail,
the wide sweep of mind, the power of terse comment -- all these recall
the great emperor. So did the simplicity of private life in the midst
of excessive wealth. And so finally did a want of scruple where an
ambition was to be furthered, shown, for