134.Dempsey se Klip
Updated: 13/01/2026
The Story starts with a question on Whatsapp
Hi! Do you have any info on a “Demsies Klip”? It is on one of the Montagu Trails. Thanks Ida
Could the mystery of Demsies Klip be hidden in this cluster of trees? (Look carefully at what is behind the tree in the foreground)
Some background first
Dempseys(Demsies) Klip
Mnr, D.J. Nolte (Nolly)
Mr. D.J. Nolte was a resident in Montagu for 13 years and was a staff member at the Montagu High School.
He taught bookkeeping, typing and shorthand at the High School. He was also a Sunday School teacher and was very involved with the Voortrekkers (Afrikaans’ Scouts)
He was appointed as the official Montagu correspondent for Die Burger newspaper and wrote the following article for The Burger. (Read more about Mr. Nolte by clicking on link towards the end of the story)
1 Januarie 1945 – James Dempsey
‘n Ou bekende van Montagu het in hierdie week stil van die toneel verdwyn. James Dempsey het 53 jaar gelede as jongeling sy vaderland (Ierland) verlaat. Op pad na Australië het hy egter so terug verlang dat hy te Kaapstad aan wal gegaan het. Die nuwe land het hom so bekoor dat hy dadelik besluit het om nie verder te gaan nie maar ook nie terug te keer nie, maar hier te bly.
By die firma J W Jagger & Mty het hy in diens getree. Vyf-en-dertig jaar gelede het hy Montagu toe gekom en ‘n besigheid op sy eie begin. In die eerste Wêreld oorlog het hy nog ‘n voorraad van waarde £8,000 gehad. Geleidelik het sy besigheid ingekrimp. Eindelik het hy met ‘n 1914 Fordjie smous gery.
So lief was hy vir die buitelewe dat hy nie eers in die dorp wou woon nie maar het sy tentjie in Fonteinskloof opgeslaan. Toe Stadsraad na ‘n jaar beswaar maak teen hierdie lang kampeerdery het hy oorgetrek na ‘n droë kloof langsaan. Hier het hy twee jaar vertoef en die merke van sy woning nagelaat en ook ‘n paar bome. By baie staan die kloof reeds bekend as Dempsey se Kloof.
In die dorp het hy ook eiendom gehad waar hy hom later aan sy tuintjie gewy het en saam met sy getroue hond sy laaste jare in eensaamheid geslyt het.
English Version
1 January 1945 – James Dempsey
An old acquaintance from Montagu has quietly disappeared from the scene this week. James Dempsey left his homeland (Ireland) as a young man 53 years ago. On his way to Australia, however, he missed home so much that he decided to come ashore in Cape Town. The new country so charmed him that he immediately decided to stay in South Africa.
He entered the service of the firm of J W Jagger & Co. Thirty-five years ago he came to Montagu and started a business of his own. In the first World War he still had a stock worth £8,000. Gradually his business shrank. This forced him to adopt the life of a smous using his 1914 Ford as a means of transport. (A “smous” is a historical South African term for an itinerant trader or peddler, often associated with Jewish merchants who travelled from farm to farm, selling goods. The word “smous” itself comes from a South African Dutch word meaning “hawker” or “pedlar”. AI Overview)
He loved the outdoors so much that he did not even want to live in the town but pitched his tent in Fonteinskloof (Langeberg Mountains Montagu South). When after a year the municipality objected to his long stay as a camper, he promptly moved his camp to another kloof nearby. He stayed for two years and left behind the marks of his home and also a few trees. The kloof where he lived was already referred to as Dempsey’s Kloof by many of the locals.
He also had property in the town where he later devoted himself to his garden and spent his last years in solitude with his faithful dog.
J W Jagger & Co was a South African business established by John William Jagger. It was known for its involvement in import and export of goods, as well as manufacturing and distribution. Jagger & Co grew to be a large and profitable enterprise with branches in South Africa, Britain, Europe, and the US. John William Jagger himself was a prominent businessman and politician, serving as a Member of Parliament and later as Minister of Railways and Harbours.
AI Overview Internet
The “1914 Ford refers to a Ford Model T.
AI Overview Internet
Montagu resident Johnny Verreynne had the following folklore story about James Dempsey (2025)
During the 1890’s the Montagu Town Council offered £100.00 to anyone who could provide an adequate and constant supply of water to the town. Dempsey, an enterprising resident, located a strong flow of water on the Langeberg Mountain side where he was living and diverted it to the Town at his expense. However, the Council decided that the job was too easy and only paid Dempsey £25.00. He was so angry with this decision that he went to the source of the water and blew it up with dynamite. A massive explosion rocked Montagu and left a huge scar on the side of the mountain in Montagu South and the source of the spring was changed forever. From that day the spring disappeared never to be seen again and the area assumed the name of Dempsey’s/Demsies Klip/Kloof.
A trip is arranged to the spot which folklore tells is where Dempsey’s se Klip is to be found
The clump of trees against the Langeberg mountains in the distance is the destination.
Getting Closer
Arriving at our destination
As one enters the cluster of trees one is confronted by this enormous rock. It stands out among all the other rocks around it.
When one walks around the rock this stone wall appears.
The wall is constructed to form a flat area protected from the weather by the big rock.
Could the large rock be Dempseys Klip which is situated in Dempseys dry Kloof?
Could the Pat Dempsey in this picture be James Dempsey? Highly likely?
Picture: Montagu Museum
Thank you Montagu Trails
A first for Montagu Stories. A QR code has been placed on the signage to Dempsey’s se Klip.
Click on the link below to view more on Mr. Nolte
Mountain Biker or Walker?
Why not treat yourself to a visit to Dempsey’s Klip using the well maintained Montagu Trails? To get to the start of the trail which is behind the High School, find Eyssen Street, travel along Eyssen Street away from the town centre until you come to the T junction with Hospital Strreet. Turn right into Hospital Street (dirt road) and then first turn left into short dead end road where you can park. (If you have a dog you can collect a bag from the self service box attached to the light pole)
If you look towards the Langeberg Mountains from the car park you will see to left of the Hospital a water reservoir and to the left a clump of trees…This is a 2 hour 3km walk….40m rise. The walk is on a wide path-no rocks or climbing and the views of Montagu are different and stunning.
Want to know more about Montagu Trails visit their website via the link below
https://www.montagutrails.co.za
