#journeyto100years #bct #centenary #10september
The Dutch and English lived together in “the greatest amity’ in Krugersdorp in 1897, William Hills wrote the story of his life as a journalist.
“Of course there were ‘scraps’ but they were all good-natured and non-racial and were considered to add to the spice of existence,” wrote Hills, who went on to establish the Benoni City Times 100 years ago in September 1921.
“The hasty blow was usually followed by the hearty handshake and an adjournment to the nearest bar.”
But this was not always the case.
ALSO READ: #journeyto100years: part 14 in our series on WILLIAM HILLS
“The trouble started when Douglas Blackburn (editor of The Sentinel in Krugersdorp) overheard a Hollander making remarks about a lady friend in the bar of one of Krugersdorp’s chief hotels.
“He considered firstly that no lady’s name should be mentioned in such a public place, and secondly that the remarks were insulting.
“Chivalrous to a degree, Blackburn went up to the man and told him to take back what he had said and publicly apologise. He refused, whereupon Blackburn struck him across the face.”
Early the next morning Blackburn accepted a formal challenge to a duel with pistols at the plantation to avenge the insult to the Hollander’s honour.
“’I want you to be present Hills,’ he said. ‘It will be a great sensation and if anything happens to me it would be nice to know that a full and sympathetic account will appear.’”
Hills, who had been sworn to secrecy, tried to convince him it was a bad idea, but Blackburn refused to back down
“A case of dueling pistols had been dug up from somewhere and with these the duel was to be fought.”
Somehow or other the story leaked out.
ALSO READ: Part 12 in our William Hills series: The journey to Krugersdorp
“The Zarps (the mounted and foot police of the South African Republic) must have known all about it and have been as excited as the other citizens, but when it was formally brought to their notice by some busybody … they had to intervene, doubtless much to their own regret.
“So, Krugersdorp’s only duel did not come off, and I reflected sadly on the beautiful and touching article I might have written should Douglas have stopped a bullet with fatal results.”
Next time: Hills’s observations of Ben Viljoen
(Article: Carol Stier)
