The signal for the revolt was to be the arrival of General Beyers and General de la Rey in the Potchefstroom camp.  The latter was returning from Cape Town via Kimberley, and was due to arrive in Potchefstroom on the 15th.  But for some reason he chose to come back through the Free State, and by the 15th was only at Johannesburg.

This upset plans.  Beyers had to act quickly.  He had his chauffeur overhaul his motor car, equip it with new tubes and covers, in readiness for “a long journey.”  In a short time the car was on its way to bring General de la Rey from Johannesburg to Pretoria, where Beyers would meet him.

There was no time to be lost.  It was too late to stage the rebellion for the 15th, but Beyers arranged for it to be at 4 o’clock on the morning of Wednesday, the 16th.

General de la Rey arrived in Pretoria.  General Beyers met him and asked him to go immediately with him to Potchefstroom.

The car came within sight of Johannesburg.  A police cordon had been thrown around the town for the purpose of capturing three desperadoes, known as the “Foster gang,” who were trying to escape in a motor car.  The police were instructed to stop all motors and to examine in particular any car containing three men.

Beyers’s car held three men.  It was racing at high speed.  It was, of course, challenged by the police and ordered to stop.  But Beyers knew nothing of the “Foster gang” and the reason for the police cordon.  Keyed up to the highest pitch of nervous tension, his immediate conclusion was that his plot had been discovered and that the police were after him.  He believed he was trapped.

Meanwhile, Major Kemp at Potchefstroom grew more and more anxious as the hours slipped by.  Midnight came, and no news of the two Generals.  About 3 o’clock in the morning, says the report, an officer sharing the tent of a Lieutenant Colonel by the name of Kock, who was Kemp’s confidant, was awakened by the entrance of a man.  It proved to be Major Kemp.  He leaned over Kock’s bed and whispered something in his ear.

Kock, in a profoundly startled voice, exclaimed, “Oh, God!”

Kemp left immediately, and Kock then whispered to his friend:  “General de la Rey is dood geskiet,” (General de la Rey has been shot dead.)

The effect of this news on South Africa can be imagined.  The whole country was aflame.  This was what the number 15 meant.  The General had indeed “returned home without his hat, followed by a carriage full of flowers.”

Report ran through every town that General de la Rey had been deliberately assassinated by the Government.  As a matter of fact, the report states that the shooting was purely accidental, done by the police under the belief that this motor car which would not halt at their command contained the “Foster gang.”  Beyers exhibited the motor-car everywhere, arousing sentiment to the highest pitch.

The rest was easy.  The rank and file, at least, now believed firmly in the prophet.  He had always said that General Botha would offer no resistance, that the revolution would be bloodless, and thousands went over to the cause led by Maritz and Beyers in this belief.  But it was not until Oct. 12 that martial law was proclaimed in South Africa.  The rebellion had begun.