The Petticoat Commando | Page 9

presence of the gold. It may be mentioned here that Dr.
Krause, in the course of the morning, had been in telegraphic
communication with General Botha, who was then in the vicinity of
Eagles' Nest, and had informed him that it would probably be necessary
to take violent measures against Kock, which might lead to bloodshed.
General Botha's reply was: "I hold you responsible for the safety of the
mines and the town of Johannesburg, and I leave everything in your
hands."
When, therefore, "General" Kock disclosed his purpose, Dr. Krause
jumped up, closed the door, confronted him, and, before he could
realise his position, had him under arrest, calling upon van Diggelen to
disarm him. Kock made an attempt to escape, but he was powerless in
the hands of two determined men. Some time elapsed before he realised
the hopelessness of the situation, as his last attempt to induce
Commandant van Diggelen to deliver a note to his men outside was
met with a blank refusal. The next thing to be done was to get rid of

these men, who evidently had been instructed by their "General" not to
leave without him, he probably fearing that something unforeseen
might happen to him. How now to get rid of these men? The following
ruse was adopted: Dr. Krause took up some telegrams, and, waving
these in the air, rushed out to where they were stationed, demanding to
know who the officer in charge was. He was met by a confusion of
voices calling out, "Where is our General?" "Oh!" was the reply, "your
General is still in my office, consulting on military matters, and I have
just received information that the British are advancing on the town
from the direction of the Gueldenhuis. Your General commands you to
proceed in that direction to reinforce the Boers, who are trying to stop
the advance. We will follow immediately with the rest of the men. Now!
who is in command?" "I am, sir--Captain McCullum." "Now, Captain,"
the Doctor said, "ride for your life and do your duty."
The ruse was successful, and in a few minutes not a single man of the
band was in sight. The next question was, what was to be done with
Kock. The following plan was adopted: The arrest took place shortly
before the luncheon hour, and as the offices were generally closed from
one till two, Kock was detained in the Commandant's office until one.
All officials were then ordered to leave. Van Diggelen ordered his
dog-cart to be brought round, Kock was told to step in, and was quietly
driven to the fort, where he was detained by the officer in charge.
During the afternoon General Botha and his staff passed through
Johannesburg, and came to see Dr. Krause, who reported what had
happened. General Botha approved of and confirmed his action in
every respect. The conference between the two officers did not last
long, and resulted in Dr. Krause being definitely instructed to remain in
Johannesburg in order to protect the town and its inhabitants, and to see
that all fighting burghers immediately left for their respective
commandos. The same evening Kock was sent to Pretoria, escorted by
several police, and handed over to the authorities there.
The great danger which had threatened the safety of the mines was in
this way averted.
Before closing this chapter, mention should be made of the excellent

work done by the Mines Police in the protection of the mines, and in
this connection especially to name Commandant L.E. van Diggelen and
Lt. W. Vogts, the energetic Secretary of the Force.
The gold found on the Robinson Mine was on the same Tuesday sent
by Dr. Krause to Pretoria in charge of Captain Arendt Burkhardt and
several members of the Field Police, and was duly delivered by them to
the authorities there.
* * * * *
Note.--The subsequent career of Kock was an eventful one. He lost his
father, J.H. Kock, at the battle of Elandslaagte. This and other matters
so preyed upon his mind that eventually he became subject to delusions,
and is at present confined in the lunatic asylum at Pretoria.
CHAPTER III
THE SURRENDER OF THE GOLDEN CITY
In attempting to chronicle the events which surround the surrender of
Johannesburg, the mind involuntarily pauses, and a picture, which
reminds one of the fairy-tales of one's childhood, is called up in
imagination.
In 1886 Johannesburg could only boast of a few tin shanties--the
beginnings of a mining camp; fourteen years later the British troops
marched through the streets of a modern city. And what has been the
history of these fourteen years?
In the history of the older European nations development and progress
are slow, and social and economic cause and effect can be traced with
almost