 In the closing days of 1898 however, Smuts was to learn, at first hand, something of the true nature of British intentions.On 19 December 1898 there was a vulgar brawl in Johannesburg between two drunken uitlanders; a relatively commonplace event in the rough streets of the Rand, but one which was to have significant ramifications.One Edgar believed himself to have been insulted by a certain Foster.