The Tales of Jim Murray, The Last Cowboy of the Spergebiedt!

[Michael Alexander]

Ok! This is not fiction, Jim Murray is real, And I was going to post this under the haunting section, but got a bit carried away, thought I was a writer... so this will be an ongoing post....

"Ok, here's that Ghost story that was relayed to me by phone from Jim Murray in Jhb. Before I start,

I think it would help if I told you about Jim Murray briefly.

Jim Murray is a pensioner, who now lives in ALberton, South Africa, and telephoned me one day out

of the blue after hearing about the website . He explained to me that he worked up in the

Spergebiedt in the early 60's but did not work for CDM, but rather for a company that had a

contract with CDM.

He went on to tell me that he was a qualified diver and that he was part of a six man (european)

crew that were involved in a mutltitude of tasks up at Elizabeth Bay. The reason why I stated that

they were European, was that they were the only white people up in that section of the Spergebiedt.

The nearest other white people were in Luderitz. They also had a small contingent of 8 ovambo

workers to help with the more manual work.

Now just to bring a few of you up to speed about Elizabeth Bay. This town is a ghost town. It was

last in operation sometime in the early 1900's and was run by the Colonial Germans. There is a link

on the main site at (http://www.oranjemundonline.com/Elizabethbay and Bogenfels/index.htm) . This

gives you a better idea of the area.

Now Jim and the others, were almost like the original pioneers of that end of the deserted

Spergebiedt. One chap was a geologist, the other a blaster..... they all had various skills and

worked together as a team.They did a lot of survey work, measuring tides, movements of the sands,

prospecting and my favourite, exploring in their free time.

The only place they could live at while up in Elizabeth Bay, was the abandoned General Mangers

house, which had been rigged up with a generator for power. This house, if you look at the photo's

on the main site, looks imposing with a panaromic view over the ghost town and the actual bay of

Elizabeth.
They also had a house allocated to them back in Oranjemund. This house was used for when the team

would finish work on a friday , all jump into the landrovers and head to Oranjemund for the dance

and song, which was the infamous CDM off weekend. One of the Europeans would always have to stay

behind to keep an eye on the Ovambo Workers.The ovambo workers did not reside with the Europeans,

but lived in a small compound which was situated at the bottom of the hill on which the General

Manager's house stood.

It was on one of these off weekends, that our story actually begins......

It was sometime in the early 60's and it had been one of those long dry weeks up at the old

abandoned settlement of Elizabeth Bay, but Friday had arrived and five members of the team were

clambering onto the Landrover, in preparation for the dusty drive south through the Spergebiedts

never ending sand dunes.In a few hours, they would all be sitting in the famous Casey's bar of

Oranjemund, knocking back a few well deserved beers.

This time around, Jim Murray had drawn the short straw, it was his turn to stay alone in the old

double story house. It looked out of place, this German style building of brick and mortar, with

wooden roofing, perched on a desolate rocky outcrop, overlooking the sand covered mining town of

Elizabeth Bay. Jim waved and turned his back, as the Landrover merged into one with the shimmering

afternoon desert. Looking up at the building, he wondered what he would be doing with the rest of

his solitary weekend."

[SandyB]

next installment ??

[Michael Alexander]

"The rest of the late afternoon faded as the sun disappeared behind the rolling Atlantic waves to

the West. The Ovambo helper, Sam, said Good Night to Jim as he picked up his paraffine lantern and

headed down the rocky track to the compound at the foot of the hill. Jim glanced up as the first

crystal clear stars broke through the ever darkening skies. For a change the mist had not rolled in

off the Atlantic. He took another sip of the beer that he had been nursing since his companions had

departed. Nobody to play darts against, too dark to go out and explore.... only thing left would be

to head upstairs to his room, perhaps a good book might do the trick.

The big wooden windows that looked out from Jim's room had one of the best views out towards the

bay to the west, the only downside was the fact that the icy cold prevailing wind would often

against the window, causing many a sleepless night. In order to prevent the incessant

banging of the window, Jim had taken it apon himself to nails throught the aging wooden

window frames, thus securing the windows from opening. As a further good measure, he pushed the

dressing table against the window.

Jim removed his heavy, damp boots and swung his tall heavy frame onto the bed, book in hand, facing

the wall, he removed the bookmark."

[SandyB]

Next episode ??

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

Are you writing this Michael or were you given a draft? I did read correctly at the beginning that you putting this to-gether? Did I?          Very Very good my boy.

[Florrie van Zyl (Muir)]

Please finish the story Mike, the suspense is killing me!

[Rhona]

  Mike......we are sitting up and we promise to be good - I'll even organise the return of the bar; just tell us more.......

[georg ruf jr.]

 :emot19:
No serious now. I think Mike is trying to cope with the gout again.  :emot112:

[Michael Alexander]

Mike is back, sorry guys, I was off work for a few days, and was not up to typing  or thinking that much, but I am feeling 95% so I will be back online today...... I'll try post the next part of the tale, which remember is true..... well 95% off it.....

[Rhona]

When are we getting the next chapter?

[Michael Alexander]

Monday, I guess!

[SandyB]

The attempted lobotomy must ahve really slowed you down .. nothing that a  bit  of R&R and braai and lots of  beer wont  sort  out hey ? Actually read an article in the papers about  running blog sites .. can draw a paralell to  you  .. it  wears the site holder or in the case of  you  the  moderator out .. so take a break  ,,, relax ...

[Michael Alexander]

Thank you Sandy, I will indeed indulge in a good bout of beer consumption and perhaps a few flames whilst the rugger is on.....

[SandyB]

next installment  please ?? 

[Michael Alexander]

Monday is the second busiest day of my week..... tuesday.....