Entrance to the Swing Bridge near Bourke's Luck

This famous suspension bridge consisted of two ancient rusty horizontally placed cables, connected with old planks, some of which were completely missing and some broken. A third rusty cable was suspended vertically above the right-hand cable, which was connected to the lower cable with the oddly spaced vertical rusty wire.

This whole contraption swayed ominously in the wind blowing up the gorge. On the other side, were Willie and his family, with the weekly rations. He knew about my fear of heights, and was waving a bottle of brandy in the air to encourage me to cross the bridge.

Update of the Original Swing Bridge

I called for volunteers to fetch the rations and other items, but after looking at the frightening construction and then down into the rocky depths of the gorge, my gang suddenly became deaf mutes, and no amount of badgering and pleading would change their minds. Even the local miner who wanted his money and who had probably crossed before, would not venture over. He told me afterwards that his money would have been of no use to him if he were lying dead on the rocks, (a good point), but life is a challenge and the thought of Willie disappearing with my brandy, was just too much, so I ‘bit the bullet’.

I was determined not to look down, but to concentrate on the planks ahead of the guide cable and me. I slowly inched along, testing each plank before putting my weight on it. Halfway across,  just when I was beginning to gain confidence, a plank gave way with a loud crack. My leg went through the opening and I came down on my butt. Luckily the plank held my weight.

The Swing Bridge from a Distance

I sat on the swaying bridge, frozen stiff with fear, and clinging onto the guide cable for dear life, unable to move. The murmur of voices from my gang went suddenly deathly quiet. Knowing that I could expect no help from them, I just sat with my eyes closed tight. I didn’t want to look across to the other side, and I couldn’t even pray. The bridge started swaying again.

I glanced up and saw Willie approaching very, very slowly. He was also testing the planks. Eventually, I heard him say, “Here boet, drink this and you’ll be OK “

Enamel Mug

I opened my eyes to see him holding an enamel mug two thirds full of brandy in his huge hand. I grabbed the mug and gulped the contents down with expert ease. Willie took the mug and turned to return. It took a few minutes for the numbing glow to seep through my body to my brain.

Willie had not reached the other side before I was up and going, and we reached the other side simultaneously with cheers from Willie’s family, as well as two tourists who by this time, I suppose, had heard exactly how he had rescued me.

After brunch, a chat and one for the gorge and with my haversack on my back, I was ready to return, but not over that bridge.

Labourers Working a Claim

By that time, my gang had arrived by going through the river upstream of the gorge, on an easier but much longer route.

The only item of interest on our hike back was a pair of mountain reed buck that flashed their fluffy white tails at us as they cantered away.”

Another snippet gleaned from “Mgolomben” by Gordon Robertson.

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Typical Bourke's Luck Vicinity

There was an aged prospector named John Bourke. He tried his luck by prospecting in the Pilgrim’s and Blyde Canyon areas for a long time – but with very little success.

He eventually landed up at the point where Bourke’s Luck Potholes are today, where he fossicked about applying his trade looking for gold.

In the gulley where he was digging, he had to climb over a massive jutting rock to get to his claim. This irritated him no end.

Other Inhabitants at Bourke's Luck

Eventually he realised that he wasn’t having much luck there either, and he decided to pack up his meagre belongings and move on.

He further decided that he was going to destroy the rock that had been the cause of so much irritation for such a long time. He instructed his helper to bring him enough dynamite to blow the rock to pieces. Having strategically placed the charge he made his exit across the swing bridge.

Fallen Rocks at Bourke's Luck

On his way out after a massive explosion his able bodied servant ran after him shouting that the explosion had revealed an enormous deposit of nuggets beneath the “Rock of Nuisance”.

He was both amazed and absolutely thrilled.

He apparently wrote a friend and informed him that he no longer needed to endure a life of “prospector’s hit and miss”, as he had found a pot of gold at the end of his rainbow.

He is reputed to have teamed up with Walter Magley and Sir Abe Bailey in their gold mining industry exploits proper.

The Potholes

The John Bourke Building in Andries Street in Pretoria bears his name.

Sir Abe Bailey

From various sources

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Abel Erasmus

ERASMUS Jacobus Abel: Born in Weenen, Natal, on 8 February 1845 to the voortrekker family of Jacobus Johannes Petrus Erasmus and his wife, Maria Margaredia Cadierina (nee Jordaan). His father died shortly after his birth and his mother decided to trek with a party led by Commandant General A.H. Potgieter and settled at Ohrigstad in the eastern Transvaal where she later remarried to J. de Klerk. Abel Erasmus worked on the family property until he was 19 years old when he married Gertruida Kruger. By then he was a man experienced in farming and familiar with survival and hunting in the Lowveld.

The young couple moved to Krugerspos where Erasmus earned the respect of both whites and blacks for his approach to farming and for his hunting prowess. He acquired an option on die farm ‘Geelhoutboom’ (which was later renamed ‘Macmac’ by President Burgers).

President Burgers

When gold was discovered the value of the property escalated and he sold his option at a big profit. Gold was also found on a farm he owned at Graskop which he sold to President Burgers for £1000, an enormous sum at that time. In February 1876 at the age of 31 years, and now quite wealthy, he was elected to serve on the Lydenburg Council.

Chief Sekukhuni of the Pedi tribe was becoming troublesome and, in 1876, Veldkornet Henry De Villiers gave warning that a strong Pedi “Impi” was heading towards their area. A laager was quickly formed around a store wherein the Boers took refuge. The initial stages of the defence were not well handled and Veldkornet De Villiers was forced to hand command over to Abel Erasmus who was temporarily appointed Veldkornet in his place.

Chief Sekukhuni

The laager, which contained only 33 white men and 25 blacks, was attacked by a 5000 strong “Impi”. The defenders managed to hold off the Pedi warriors who retired, making off with 2000 head of cattle belonging to the Boers. A further attack was made against Erasmus by one of Sekukhuni’s indunas who was supported by a Swazi “Impi” of 5000 warriors led by the chief, Matsafeni Mdhluli.

Erasmus was officially appointed Veldkornet and led a commando to the Blyde river valley to recover their cattle. Burgers attacked Sekukhuni’s mountain stronghold but, due to dissention amongst the Boers over his leadership, he was forced to withdraw and ultimately to abandon the campaign.

Pedi Warriors

Fortunately, a peace agreement was arranged by a missionary but the debacle was one of the factors which led to the British taking over the administration of  the Transvaal in 1877. The British brought the Pedi under control and finally, in 1879, had their chief, Sekukhuni, imprisoned in Pretoria and fined him 2000 head of cattle.

While being held in detention the Pedi chief made accusations against Abel Erasmus which the British believed. They took Erasmus into custody but he was later released without being charged. Following the First Anglo-Boer War of 1881 the victorious Boers released Sekukhuni who was promptly murdered by his half-brother.

Selati Line

The new Boer government appointed Abel Erasmus as Native Commissioner for the Lydenburg district and with his invaluable knowledge of the natives and their languages he acted as guide and interpreter for many government expeditions such as those which estab­lished the borders between the South African Republic (Transvaal), Portuguese East Africa and Swaziland. In 1892 he was able to mobilize 3000 native workers to construct the Eastern railway line between Komatipoort and Nelspruit. He was well respected by the blacks and put much effort into countering gun smuggling and the arming of the natives.

He was an outstanding hunter and was known by the blacks as ‘DUBULA DUZE’ (he who shoots from close up). He became concerned about the diminishing wildlife in the Lowveld and in November 1880 he made a submission to government calling for the establishment of a game reserve between the Crocodile and the Sabie rivers. His request was initially unsuccessful.

Brown Cattle with Yellow Muzzles

Erasmus purchased the farm ‘Orinoco’ and there he developed a unique herd of prize cattle which were uniformly brown in colour with yellow muzzles.

During the 1890s Erasmus was approached, in his role as Native Commissioner, by a Shangaan chief, Mpisane Nxumalo, for permission to settle his tribe in the Transvaal Lowveld. These people were living in Portuguese East Africa where conditions had become unsettled due to wars and disruption. In 1896 they were settled on ‘Orinoco’ and ‘New Forest’.

Erasmus on Commando

When the war broke out in 1899 Erasmus, with his commando, was sent to the Natal front.

In 1901 Steinaecker’s Horse built a fort (Fort Mpisane) on the farm, ‘New Forest’, which abutted the eastern boundary of Erasmus’ property, ‘Orinoco’.

A patrol from the outpost at Sabie Bridge ‘rustled’ his prize herd of brown cattle on ‘Orinoco’ and drove them back to Sabie Bridge. However the Fort Mpisane garrison did not appear to have much, if any, involvement in the affair.

Gen. Ben Viljoen

When Erasmus discovered that his herd had gone missing he was furious. He approached the Boer General, Ben Viljoen, (who maintained that the Mpisane garrison was nothing more than a nest of troublemakers and scoundrels). He requested that Fort Mpisane be attacked and the menace removed.

The attack occurred on 7 August 1901 and the Boers were victorious in the engage­ment although Commandant Piet Moll was severely wounded, having had his jaw shot off.

Commando that attacked Fort Mpisane

Shangaans

Gleaned from various sources
including “Steinaecker’s Horsemen” by Bill Woolmore

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