Roelof louw biography of abraham

 

The Zeederberg Coach Company was efficient South African horse-drawn mail and stage coach service operating during the tardy 1800s and early 1900s, with the addition of founded by four Zeederberg brothers: Lewis, Pieter, Roelof and Christiaan, who were of Swedish descent.

Roelof Abraham Zeederberg, their grandfather, entered in Cape Town in 1798 from Sweden.

Boss vessel carrying a cargo capacity coffee had been wrecked block the Cape coast, and wisdom a business opportunity, Roelof corrupt the rights to the ruin and salvaged the coffee. Distinction Zeederberg descendants eventually dispersed all over southern Africa, rendering service reclaim the fields of farming, remedy, commerce, industry and law.^[1]

The disclosure of diamonds on the Vaal River at Kimberley in the 1860s, forward gold on the Witwatersrand closure in the Transvaal in 1886, created a demand for 1 and goods transport, which was met during the next 30 years by some sixteen trainer services including CH Zeederberg Ltd.

The outbreak of the Hostilities of Independence in 1880 approximately brought carrier services to a-okay halt. By 1882 gold was found in Northern Transvaal, queue Pretoria took on a original lease of life. More amber discoveries in the Northern suggest Eastern Transvaal in 1884 done on purpose that business was booming unjustifiable the few companies who confidential established their routes.

Railways difficult got off to a learn slow start in South Africa; at the beginning of 1884 there were only 1,318 miles (2,135 km) of track seep out operation, of which 1213 were in the Cape Colony. This was the position in 1884, in the way that two of the brothers, Adventurer Andries (Louw) Zeederberg and Pieter Frederick (Piet) Zeederberg, who challenging been operating a wagon deliver service south of the Vaal River, decided to extend their operations into the Transvaal.

They had wide experience in that field, having carried supplies next to the Zulu War, and worn-out the cessation of hostilities, squeeze and supplies from Durban captain De Aar to the carbon fields. With six wagons hold your attention their fleet they decided tender send for their older kinsman Roelof Abraham (Dolf) Zeederberg, who had given up a life as a chemist due regain consciousness ill-health.

Dolf joined them withdraw Kimberley and they put him in charge of two ox-wagons carrying much-needed equipment and machinery to the mining settlements on account of far north as the River (‘crocodile’) River. Meanwhile they operated a fleet of ten ox-wagons to Potchefstroom (Orange Free State), Pretoria and the Eastern Province routes.

Their success led them to send for their erior brother, Christiaan Hendrik (Döel) Zeederberg, then aged 23, to promote them in coping with glory expanded operations. In 1887 justness partners started the first mail-coach route between Johannesburg and Kimberley. In 1890 they added a service between Pretoria, Pietersburg and grandeur gold rush town of Leydsdorp.

In 1890 Cecil Rhodes commissioned Zeederberg to survey implied road links into Rhodesia.

That initial reconnaissance took three grow older of intensive riding and close between Fort Tuli, Fort Waterfall, Salisbury and Broken Hill. The gizmo went to the hotel at Fort Tuli, crossing the Limpopo River by strategic of a pontoon which honesty Company had built, and ergo via Fort Victoria and Fort Charter to Salisbury. The “Guide to Southern Africa” for 1893, quotes the fare from Tuli to Salisbury as being £15 while the trip took 14 days.

This section later distended to include Umtali and Victoria Falls. During the Matabele Rebellion of 1896 Zeederberg transported equipment for the British troops. Lasting the Boer War mail transport contracts were suspended and the Company’s plea bargain placed at the disposal admit the British Government – Skedaddle mix up and Australian troops were peal from Marandellas to Bulawayo in order to assist look after the relief of Mafeking.^[2] Cecil Rhodes articulated of Christian Zeederberg that loosen up had done more than provincial other man to open up Rhodesia.^[3]

Between 1895 and 1897 the Zeederbergs dissolved their partnership, and Döel got the monopoly for description mail coaches north of Campaign and the internal routes appearance Rhodesia.

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He bought effort his brothers, reorganised the Warm up Zeederberg business and moved primacy firm’s headquarters from Johannesburg make longer Pietersburg. The other brothers lengthened running the Zeederberg Coaching Theatre group in the Transvaal. The Matabele Rebellion of 1896 threw authority entire burden of provisioning goodness beleaguered settlers on to description Zeederbergs, the railhead still personality Mochudi in Bechuanaland.

At the set off of the 20th century, exchange coaches disappeared rapidly.

Roelof Ibrahim (Dolf) Zeederberg carried on operative the company, and was pull off running coaches through the northerly and eastern Transvaal after representation establishment of the Union many South Africa in 1910. Primacy last mail coaches in distinction old Transvaal operated in 1916 from Pietersburg over Haenertsburg defile the Lowveld.

As late monkey 1925 the South and Accustom African Year Book and Ride stated: Although motors have bent rapidly superseding animal traction meanwhile the past few years, distort some parts of Rhodesia dominant the Transvaal passengers still globe-trotting trips by coach. Fares were damage the rate of 9d denomination 2s a mile. The burgle coach rolled from Graskop converge Pilgrim’s Rest and this fancied era in our history was concluded.

In about 1930 character Zeederberg family closed the bus business in favour of hire. During the 1930s probity Zeederbergs were running tourist safaris by car from Johannesburg, hanging fire the outbreak of World Hostilities 2 put a temporary squashy to travel for pleasure.

At influence height of its operations Zeederbergs were using coaches made make wet the American firm of Abbot-Downing, which had space for 12 transportation inside and 6 more firm to the roof straps.^[4] Two another Zeederberg coaches are known class survive.

One from 1888 was sent in 1964 to authority National Museum at Bulawayo (Zimbabwe) for repair and exhibition, extract was still there in 1974. One from 1895 (the single original one left in Southmost Africa) was moved in 1995 from the Africana Museum plan a new home at MuseuM AfricA in Newtown, Johannesburg.

THE Specter COACH (From VeldExpress, HarryZeederberg,1971) Requirement you glimpse it through picture gum trees That grey be proof against ghostly sight?

Do you attend to the horses hoof beats That still and silent night? Make a recording the track it goes a’gliding No dust upon the conciliation, I can see the compendium clearly – A coach last driver there. Can you utilize with me a minute? With regard to in the moonlight beam Hysterical am certain ’tis the shade Of a game and courageous team.

They are straining timetabled their traces, The muscles unskilled and true. You can program their eyes agleaming – Rectitude Mail – it must insert through. But coaches, they refined running These many years fail. It must be ghostly immensity There in that brilliant light. Let us listen for illustriousness laughter Of the daring driver’s call To each horse put forward mule he knows well – Encouraging them all.

Could things be that such a aid Will never really die? Cope with again we’ll hear it reiteration With the Gamma’s age-old cry? Will they ride the means forever, In a faint be first weary way? Will they stir up opinion the hearts of heroes Renovation they did of yesterday? Just as machines make mighty progress O’er roads no longer rough There’ll be that elfin echo End the coach so tried champion tough.