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None of these fires compares, however, with the Great Fire of April 1922 which was a dramatic

and terrifying affair that destroyed numerous houses. The following extract from the Cape Times

of 6 April 1922 is self-explanatory of the fear and devastation this fire caused.

Mountainside in Flames
Exciting scenes at St. James
Rhodes Cottage Damaged
Mr Orpen’s house burned down

An alarming bushfire that was attended with destruction of property, took place yesterday
afternoon on the mountain slopes extending from St. James to Muizenberg. It was a fortunate
circumstance that the fire took place in daylight which robbed the sight of half the terror, which
it would otherwise have had for those who occupied the residences that stood within the fire
zone; for if it had occurred at night there would have been an absence of the ready help that was
available in keeping back the advances of the flames as they approached the dwelling houses.

Strong Breeze Blowing
Aided by a strong south-westerly breeze and the dry sapless nature of the bush, the fire spread
with startling rapidity, and within an hour and a half the mountain side had changed into a black
and smouldering ruin, having two villas in flames, one being the historic cottage where Rhodes
died, and the other, Melrose, (on the St. James Main Road) the property of Mr. Harry Orpen. It is
significant that both these structures had thatched roofs, which provided ready material for the
burning embers that fell in showers.

It was about 3 o’clock in the afternoon when the flames from the fire which had been burning on
the top of the mountain for several days were seen creeping over the edge and setting alight the
grass and bush that had found a foothold on the steep walls of rock that run to half the mountain
height.

Falling Sparks
Burning embers began to fall and in very little more time than it takes to tell, a cascade of fire
was falling on the thick bush on the slopes below. That this was not an ordinary bush fire soon
became apparent as the flames swept down the mountain side so quickly that in less than half-an-
hour the flames were amongst the residences opposite the station at St. James. The line of fire
was clearly defined, its limit on the Kalk Bay side being the top of the steps above Mr. Gus
Trollip’s house in Ley Road.

Residents Alarm
Residents of houses near the bush on and above that level at once began to call for assistance and
to remove their furniture to a safer place, and presently everywhere became enveloped in a thick
cloud of smoke. A telephone message was received at the St. James Railway Station calling for
assistance at the home of Mrs. Rossouw near the top of Jacobs Ladder, and two of the porters

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