Careful inquiries by other local officers brought to light the
     following facts: 

Veld Kornet, I.E.  Claassen, and Commandant F.G.A.  Wolmarans of Ward Onder Hartsrivier had been commandeering their own burghers as well as their political friends since the first week of August to come to the meeting which was to be held at Treurfontein on the 15th.  The instructions given to these men were that they were to come with rifle, horse, saddle and bridle, and as much ammunitions and provisions as they could manage to bring.

     The meeting was to be addressed by General de la Rey, and it
     was generally believed that the assembled burghers would march
     on Potchefstroom immediately after the meeting.

None doubted the truth of the seer’s prophecy now.  The Western Transvaal took it for its guide with implicit confidence.

The strange vision of the number 15, which had long been common knowledge, was now discussed with intense interest.  The 15, it was said, signified the 15th of August, the day of the meeting.  That would be the day which had been so long expected—­the day of liberation.

Van Rensburg was now the oracle.  His prophecies with regard to the great war had been signally fulfilled.  Germany was at grips with England, and her triumph was looked upon as inevitable.

The day had arrived to strike a blow for their lost independence.  Van Rensburg assured his following that the Union Government was “finished.”  Not a shot would be fired.  The revolution would be complete and bloodless.

Between the 10th and the 15th the plotters in Lichtenburg were actively preparing for the day.  There is evidence that German secret agents were working in concert with them.  When doubters asked how they could be so certain that the 15 signified a day of the month—­and of the month of August in particular—­they were scornfully if illogically told that “in God’s time a month sooner or later made no difference.”

Of course, General de la Rey was the storm centre.  He had been mentioned in the same vision with the number 15 and it was taken for granted that he would play the chief role in the Treurfontein meeting.  De la Rey was the unquestioned ruler of the Western Transvaal.  The report states: 

He possessed an unrivaled influence and was looked up to as the uncrowned king of the West.  His attitude at the meeting would sway the mass of his adherents and decide the question of peace or war.

Accordingly, General Louis Botha, Premier of the South African Union, summoned General de la Rey to Pretoria some days before the meeting, and persuaded him to use his best efforts to allay excitement.

On the 15th the meeting was held.  The situation was a tense one.  Not one of the burghers present doubted the outcome.  Yet General de la Rey exhorted them to remain cool and calm.  He urged them to await the turn of events in Europe.  After his address a “strange and unusual silence” was observed, says the “Blue Paper.”