GC3VV3X History of Springs #2 - First Mayor of Springs (Traditional Cache) in Gauteng, South Africa created by Trapsuutjie

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A cache by Trapsuutjie Message this owner

Hidden : 8/31/2012

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Size: Size: other (other)

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Geocache Description:

This is the tombstone of Dr. Gerald Grace who died 15^th September 1914 – He was the first mayor of Springs.

The Foster Gang unleashed a chain of events that cost the lives of 2 prominent people – one being the first mayor of Springs, here is the story: (Excerpt taken from http://boksburghistorical.com)

The Gang consisted of William Foster, John Maxim, Jimmy Foster, Jack Johnson and Carl Mezar. Not all of these gang members were active at the same time, however the attempted Bank robbery was the beginning of a reign of terror by the Gang, who embarked on an orgy of violence and robbery the likes of which had never been seen In South Africa

A few weeks later, the Gang robbed the Roodepoort Post Office. This was followed by an attack on the Vrededorp Post Office. Then, in the early hours of Sunday 13 September, at the Big Bottle Store on the corner of Viljoen and Kimberley Roads in Doornfontein, there began a sequence of events which ultimately was to lead to nine deaths and the most intensive manhunt the South African Police had ever conducted. Two of the deaths were of well-known and highly-placed individuals, one being a legend in his own lifetime.

When the robbers attempted to rob the Big Bottle Store they alerted a night watchman who was sleeping inside the building. He awoke and attracted the attention of a policeman on the beat. The policeman was attacked by the three robbers and knocked unconscious. Foster and the others then ran off, and the night watchman rushed to the local police station. At 4:15 the next morning in another part of town, Maxim was spotted opposite the Imperial Bottle Store. The police searched him, found a loaded revolver and housebreaking tools in his pockets and arrested him. However, in passing the Imperial Bottle Store, Maxim suddenly began shouting for help. A moment later Foster emerged from the side of the building, brandishing a revolver and demanding that the police release Maxim.

Unfortunately, Sergeant Mcloud ordered Constable Swanepoel to draw the gun they had taken from Maxim. Shots rang out. Foster was hurt, but McCloud fell to the ground mortally injured. As Swanepoel ran off to seek assistance, the three robbers escaped by motorcycle. Minutes later police reinforcements were on the scene. Then, in nearby Eleanor street, the body of Sergeant Robert Mansfield was discovered. Like McCloud, Mansfield had been shot dead. The evidence indicated that he had been investigating a noise inside the building where the three robbers were at work at when he was shot, probably by Mezar: a trail of blood extended from a spot near a blown safe to where Mansfield's body had been found in the street.

A massive manhunt was set in motion for the three men whom The Star Newspaper dubbed 'The Motorcycle Bandits'. It was not long before a woman living in Regents Park contacted the police to say that she knew where the men were staying. They had taken a small cottage on the corner of Bob Street and South Road, she said. She had first become suspicious when she noticed that the men avoided neighbors and seemed to come and go at odd hours of the day and night. Then she had recognized them as the wanted men from their pictures in the newspaper.Three plain-clothes officers were sent to investigate. Detective Mynott, warily approached the backyard and over the fence he spotted the criminals working on a motorcar. Instead of waiting for assistance to arrive, Mynott decided to arrest the Foster Gang himself Mynott dispatched Detective Layde to the front of the house and Constable Murphy to the rear then went and knocked on the front door. Receiving no reply, he opened the door, walked through the house and out into the yard at the back “Put your hands up!” he ordered. Instead of being thrown into a state of panic, Foster, Maxim and Mezar remained cool, calm and collected. Without turning around, Foster began to try bluster his way out of the situation. At the same time, Maxim quietly handed him a gun.

Detective Layde shouted a warning to Mynott just as Foster turned around and fired - but too late. As Mynott fell to the ground, fatally wounded, his pistol fired, the bullet hitting the car. Within a matter of seconds, Foster had grabbed his wife and child and started the car. As the vehicle roared down the driveway, Maxim and Mezar threw themselves aboard. Within hours, road blocks were set on every route in and out of Johannesburg, with tragic results.

It was early evening on the 15th September in Germiston, near the Simmer and Jack Gold Mine. Dr Gerald Grace, a medical doctor and past Mayor of Springs, was rushing back to Springs to assist in an operation at the Springs hospital. He was waved down by two policemen, but swerved around them and hurried on. The policemen, thinking that the Foster Gang were getting away, fired four shots after the car. One bullet hit Dr Grace’s wife in the arm, while another pierced his lung. He died soon after.

In Langlaagte later the same evening, Boer War hero General Jacobus Hercules (Koos) De la Rey was on his way to Potchef-stroom accompanied by General Christiaan Beyers, who that morning had resigned as Chief of the SA Defence Force. Some historians state that their purpose was to start a rebellion against the South African Government using the troops that were massed there. They were taking a circuitous route through Johannesburg and when they saw the road barriers, instructed the chauffeur to accelerate and crash through the barriers. They were unaware that the police were hunting the Foster Gang and thought that the government forces were aware of their treasonous intentions! A policeman fired after the speeding car and the badly-aimed bullet ricocheted off the road, angled upwards, penetrated the vehicle and lodged in De la Rey’s heart, killing him almost Immediately.

The Foster Gang were eventually cornered in a cave in the Johannesburg suburb of Kensington, and decided to commit suicide rather than submit to arrest.

Thanks to Joe Borain who told me about this bit of history.

You can stop next to GZ on the road, you don’t have to venture near any graves – cache is in a tree next to the road. Dr. Gerald Grace Tombstone will be 18m to your left if standing at GZ in the road facing the cemetery. Container with logsheet only – please bring own pen.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ybbx sbe gur frrqcbq

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)