Aangesien baie van my Facebook-vriende nie Afrikaans magtig is nie, is die byskrifte by al die foto's in Engels. I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to Rosa Swanepoel, a veritable goldmine on the history of Pretoria, for providing all the information
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10208826452480966&set=pcb.10208826527922852
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Kruger
1 [This picture, taken on 16 December 1904, is often considered a photograph of the funeral of Paul Kruger from the church on Church Square, Pretoria. However, this this is only partly true because it shows but part of the funeral proceedings. Please follow the story with the photographs, starting with the arrival of his remains in Cape Town on 7 December 1904 until the burial in Pretoria on 16 December 1904. Note the hearse almost in the centre of the picture and the dais next to the church. Also note that the tower of the church had already been torn down and that the water fountain had not yet been erected]
2 [The mortal remains of Oom Paul arrived at Cape Town harbour on 7 December 1904 after having left Rotterdam on 31 October 1904 on board the Batavier VI. Paul Kruger had died in Clarens, Switzerland on 14 July 1904. He was initially buried in The Hague, but his mortal remains was then repatriated to South Africa, with British permission]
3 [Arrival of the hearse at President Kruger's Commemoration Service, at the Huguenot Memorial Hall, 48 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town, on 7 December 1904]
4 [President Kruger's remains lying in repose in the Huguenot Hall in Cape Town, 7 December 1904]
5 [The casket of President Kruger moving along Adderley Street in Cape Town on the way to the railway station, where it was to be taken by train to Pretoria]
6 [The train with the remains of President Kruger arrived in Germiston on 10 December 1904. This was the final stop before Pretoria]
7 [The waiting hearse at the Pretoria station that would move the late president's remains to the Suzanna Hall where it would lie in repose until the burial on 16 December 1904]
8 [Twelve pall-bearers carrying the casket from the train to the waiting hearse (see previous picture). Interesting to note that because President Kruger's body had been exhumed in The Hague for reburial and then placed in a lead coffin, it already was very heavy. Upon arrival in South Africa the lead coffin was placed inside onother made of wood. All was finally placed within a large wooden casket, strong enough to carry all the added weight inside. This is why twelve men had to carry it]
9 [The hearse on the way from the Pretoria Station in Market Street (now Paul Kruger Street) to the Suzanna Hall, where the remains of the late former president would lie in repose. Ahead walked Generals Louis Botha, De la Rey, De Wet and Burger, followed by dignitaries in rows of four]
10 [This picture is somewhat out of sequence because it shows the preparation of the funeral procession on 16 December. However, the purpose here is to show the Suzanna Hall on the corner of Koch (now Bosman) and Vermeulen Streets. (The Suzanna Zaal was later demolished and in its place was built what became popularly known as the Bosmanstraat NG Kerk (Bosman Street Church)]
11 [The mortal remains of the late President Kruger lay in state in the Suzanna Zaal from Saturday, 10 December 1904 until the day before the funeral on Friday, 16 December 1904. Members of the public could pay their respects daily from 08:00 until 16:00]
12 [Friday, 16 December 1904. The funeral procession moves along Market Street and passes the Ou Raadzaal before entering Church Square. It probably took a long roundabout way from the Suzanna Zaal (hall), which was but a stone's throw from Church Square. This was likely to allow as many people as possible to pay their last respects to Oom Paul. The day started at 06:00 with church bells ringing for half an hour across the city. At 10:00 there was a church service in the square in front of the Reformed Church in Church Street, probably to accommodate as many as possible. This was the funeral service. Three ministers (dominees) from the three Dutch churches officiated: The Reverends Postma, Bosman en Du Toit. Women had to be seated on the left-hand side and men on the right-hand side of the pulpit or lectern used on the occasion]
13 [The cortege arrives on Church Square for a public meeting. The dais with dignataries can be seen between the church and the recently erected water tower. The dais faces the Old Raadzaal. The procession included a guard of honour, a male choir, an orchestra, the hearse accompanied by 16 pallbearers, family members, members of government and dignitaries from other countries. No automobiles (rytuigen) were allowed to be part of the procession. It is estimated that about 15 000 people attended the funeral or were part of the procession. Given the total estimated population of Pretoria of 20 000 when the war broke out in 1899, more than half the population were present]
14 [The official public meeting on Church Square commenced at 15:30. The descriptions on the photograph tell the story. Note that the steeple had already been demolished and that the church building itself was not used during this occasion. It was demolished sometime in early 1905]
15 [The official party on the dais. Former acting State President of the ZAR, Schalk Burger, is visible next to the left pillar in front and on his right, next to the other pillar, is Koos de la Rey. The speakers during this meeting were Generals Schalk Burger, Christiaan de Wet and Louis Botha]
16 [Twelve pallbearers carrying the casket of Paul Kruger, draped in the Vierkleur, official flag of the former Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek. The procession thereafter moved along Church Street West to the cemetery]
17 [At the gate of the cemetery the Reverend van der Linde from Kroonstad delivered the final message. Only family members entered the cemetery for the burial. In this picture at the gate is pictured some of the dignitaries: General Louis Botha, who would become the first premier of the Union of South Africa in 1910, is the imposing figure about a third from the left (with the umbrella); in the middle (with the bald head and gold chain) is General Koos de la Rey; on the far right is the former acting State President of the ZAR, General Schalk Burger; and on his immediate right (second from right in the picture) is General JC Smuts, who would later also become prime minister of the Union (Can you recognise anyone else)]
18 [After the funeral the grave is covered and sealed]
