GC42GYT Dr. Leander Starr Jameson (Traditional Cache) in Gauteng, South Africa created by SpiderFinder

This cache has been archived.

SpiderFinder: This cache has been muggled regularly so I have decided to archive it. [:(]

GC42GYT ▼

A cache by SpiderFinder Message this owner

Hidden : 12/7/2012

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

The old prison in Florida situated in Seventh Avenue has a very interesting piece of history.

During the mid-1800’s white farmers began settling in the Roodepoort area. Little did they know that the discovery of gold by Fred and Harry Struben in the today Kloof-en-dal reserve in 1884, would disturb their tranquil farming life. More and more people started arriving in the area and the town of Roodepoort started to develop. In 1887 a township called Roodepoort was formally established. Soon smaller suburbs developed around Roodepoort, one of which is Florida. With the expansion in population, the number of ill-behaved citizens increased. A jail was built in Florida, more or less at the start of the gold rush, which still stands in Seventh Avenue and the building is a national monument. The small size of the jail, as well as the fact that the warder's house was in the same vicinity as the cells, gives us an insight into how closely knit the small mining community was. The prison warder’s house is still standing with its Victorian style tower (50m south in Seventh Avenue). The jail had fourteen cells. The jail is now occupied by the South African Red Cross Society and the warder’s house is used as offices by the local government and an estate agency.

What makes this jail interesting in the history of South Africa is that the British colonial statesman Dr. Leander Starr Jameson was held in this prison after he lead the unsuccessful raid by Rhodesian and Bechuanaland policemen that tried to overthrow the "boer" government under the leadership of president Paul Kruger. This raid took place over the New Year weekend of 1895-96. The raiding party came from the today Botswana towards Randfontein. It was intended to trigger an uprising by the primarily British expatriate workers (known as “uitlanders”). Jameson was captured south west of Johannesburg at Doornkop where there is also a monument. It is not certain how long he was kept in the Florida jail, but he was then sent to the prison in Pretoria.

The cache is placed at the prison, in Seventh Avenue. You do not have to enter the premises. The prison warder’s house is approximately 75 meters down south in seventh avenue, where the original cache used to be.

Use extreme stealth when looking for the cache as staff from the Red Cross now occupy the jail and might come and ask what is going on? Have an answer ready.

There is no space in the cache for any exchange items. BYOP.

To save space on the log sheet only sign with your initials and short date, please.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Zntargvp fvyire.

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)