My ancestors, on the paternal side of my family, came out to South Africa with the 1820 settlers from Scotland. According to my genealogy, Andrew Geddes Bain is my great great grandfather. He, with convict labour, built quite a few mountain passes here in South Africa. His entire road building skills is well documented. But, I am not here to praise that great man, but one somewhat more recent; namely, my great grandfather, Edward Wood Mundell. Edward was Andrew Bain’s son-in-law, and in my eyes, an unsung hero.
Edward was born (10. 2. 1849) in Fort Beaufort in the Eastern Cape, only twelve years after the town was established. He later acquired a farm, in the Queenstown district by the name of “Dwaalfontein”, which means lost or wandering fountain, where he lived with his wife Agnes (Nee Bain). His first two children, a son and a daughter were born there. Later, another 5 children were born, two dying in infancy. I actually have a small painting, hanging in my lounge, of the old homestead.
Edward was well known for his stature, 6 foot 6 or 7, in his stockinged feet; great strength and his.... hairiness. He was also known for his abstinence from alcohol and tobacco; but he could not keep away from the bar! Every Saturday afternoon he would ride off to the bar to sip his glass of milk and ‘chew the fat’ with his friends and neighbours. On one such occasion, an acquaintance is believed to have said to him. “Mr Mundell, I have read of Esau the hairy man, in the Bible; but I never believed it, until I saw you!” His friends had seen Edward’s wrath, when unwary strangers had taunted him about drinking milk in a bar, so waited with baited breath to see his reaction to this remark. Edward just answered with a sweet smile!
Edward farmed his land, planting crops of maize, which were very much in demand. The story goes, when his son Robert was old enough, he used to help his father in the fields. Back in those days, they hadn’t yet learned of contour ploughing. One day as little Robert led the plough-horse down the hill; he tripped over a stone, falling flat on his face. The horse stepped neatly over him, but the impetus and the weight of the plough were too great to stop in time. Edward, with a show of great strength, and most probably a rush of adrenalin, lifted that big old plough right over his son’s prostrate body. Not a hair on that little boy’s head was harmed!
On another occasion, the family were on their way into town, riding in the ox wagon. Harvest had been good, and the wagon was piled high with 100pound bags of corn. The road was bad and washed away in places, due to recent rains. Suddenly the wagon lurched, accompanied by the sound of rending wood – they had hit a large rut, and the one wheel had broken. Luckily Edward had a spare wheel lashed to the bottom of the wagon, and one black labourer with him. Instead of off-loading the wagon, which would have been time consuming, he opted to lift the laden wagon, while the labourer replaced the wheel. They got into town in time to sell their corn at the market, and to buy his wife a new bonnet.
Unfortunately this great man was struck down, at the age of 39, (14. 6. 1888) by typhoid fever. He lies buried in Jagersfontein in the Free State. I have no one left to ask what he was doing so far from home, or if the family had moved. I remember visiting the grave on two occasions, and helping to paint the ornate iron railing around the grave.
Edward’s widow went on to marry a chap by the name of Palm. Robert was very unhappy at home. He ran away at the age of 14; lied about his age to join the army, to fight in the Kaffir wars. Later, after he was married, he fought in WWI. He was sent to South West Africa to fight. One day, while hunting ‘for the pot’, he shot three Springbuck with one bullet. The herd of buck were grazing on a hill: Robert fired his shot, hitting the first one in the chest, side on. The bullet went straight through, hitting the second one in the neck. A third buck, just behind the second, dropped dead too. Not a mark could be found to indicate the cause of death... till they came to skin and disembowel it. The bullet had entered the anus, not leaving any outward mark.
I don’t believe these exploits have been documented before. This is for posterity!
