There were, of course, local volunteer regiments—­the Kimberley Rifles, the Diamond Fields Artillery, and the Diamond Fields Horse—­and there were also about 400 men of the Cape Mounted Police.  But what were these to guard the treasures of the Diamond City and its population of 50,000 souls?

=The Defence of Kimberley.=

It was evident that Kimberley must set to work to defend itself, and that it did right nobly.  A town guard was formed consisting of about 2,500 men, but they were men of all sorts and conditions.  Never was there a happier or a more ill-assorted family!  A director of De Beers side by side with a needy adventurer; a millionaire shoulder to shoulder with a beggar!  There they were! all sorts and conditions of men, but all animated by one great purpose—­to keep the flag flying.

By-and-by the lack of cavalry was severely felt, and Mr. Cecil Rhodes, resourceful as ever, brought up some 800 horses, and the Kimberley Light Horse—­now a famous regiment—­came into being.  The command of it was given to Colonel Scott-Turner, and it was composed of the best riders and keenest shots that could be found.  Plenty of these were fortunately available and they greatly distinguished themselves.

No one thought of surrender, and when the length of the siege drew into weeks and from weeks into months, and food ran short and water was cut off, they still kept cheerful.  They knew they were practically safe from assault.  Surrounding the town is a belt of level country some six miles wide, and they felt certain the Boers dare not cross this belt and face the fire that would be poured into them from the huge cinder heaps which had been transformed into forts.

By-and-by the number of shells dropped into the town increased rapidly.  New and more powerful guns were brought to bear upon it, and no man’s life was safe.  They did their best to reply, and actually, under the direction of Mr. George Abrams (chief engineer of De Beers), they manufactured a 30-pounder gun called ‘Long Cecil,’ which proved effective at a range of 10,000 yards.  Unfortunately, Mr. Abrams was himself killed by a shell not long after he had completed this great work.

From time to time sorties were carried out, and in the boldest of them all, when the Kimberley men got so near that they could look down their enemy’s guns, Colonel Scott-Turner was killed.

=Perils of the Siege.=

But notwithstanding all they could do the enemy’s attack grew fiercer.  It is estimated that between three and four thousand shells fell in Kimberley during the siege, and the destruction wrought by these was very great.  Most of the churches suffered seriously.  Many women and children lost their lives.  If there was any special function of any kind in progress the Boers were almost sure to know about it and give it their marked attention.

Bugle calls, taken up and repeated through the town, warned the people of coming shells, and then they knew they had only fifteen seconds to reach some place of shelter.  Bomb-proof shelters were improvised, caves were dug by the side of houses, and into these the inhabitants ran, with more speed than ceremony, when those bugle notes were heard.