Connecticut western news., 1881-02-09
THE LEADER OF THE BOERS.
Paul Kruger, the Man who is at the
 Head of the Boers.

The leader of the Boers in their pres ent struggle is Paul Kruger, recently chosen President of the Transvaal re- public. He enjoys great reputation among his countrymen for caution, sagacity and courage. For many years he has been Q we'll known man in the Transvaal, and is noted leader of " commanders, or expeditions. He earned, it is said, his first laurels when quite lad; now he must be nearly sixty years of age. A Boer commando engaged in hostilities against natives somewhere on the upper waters of the Vaal river, received intelligence at the close of a successful days fighting, that Zulu impi was anvancing to attack them. The Boers, all excepting Kru- ger,1 ,1declined to credit the unwelcome news, and scouting Kruger's entreaties to keep good lookout, the men, tired out by their long days fighting, lay down to sleep in the Larger. But Kru- ger could not give up his cohviction that danger was ahead He determined to watch, and persuaded a companion to watch with him. Seated on wagon boxes, on opposite sides of the Larger, tke two men watched, rifle in hand, peering into the darkness. At length, when the mornings mists were rising, Kruger's keen ear caught the dull thud of naked feet approaching. He had time to give the alarm when, changing their cautious advance for determined rush, a mass of Zulus, with stripped and greased bodies, charged the laarger. Some of the enemy managed to get in, and there was fighting with clasp-knife as we'll as with rife before the attack was repulsed. The few minutes notice gained for them by Kruger had saved the white men.
 Paul Kruger is Copper" the most conservative sect among heBoers. The religion of this sect is a sort of Calvinism. They interpret the Scrip lures in their most literal sense, and are specially inclined to follow the ex- ample of the Israelitish leaders in their dealings with native tribes. Kruger has twice been in England as spokesman for his countrymen. He first went in the broad felt hat, the short jacket and "veldt schoon" (shoes of untanred leather) which form the usual and rec ognized costume of Dopper. On his return he met the astonished gaze of his friends clad in high hat, long black cloth coat and the boots worn by ordinary civilized men. England was well enough" he said, "and there were fine houses but if @ man wanted to go and smoke by himself, even away from London, every piece of the veldt seem ed to be owned by some one or an other, and if you sat down to smoke under tree, you hadn't taken two whiffs before man would come up ano say the land was his and he didn't want you there p Kruger can speak no En' glish. Once, some years ago, when out hunting, his rife burst in his hand and shattered his left thumb. It was neces- sary that it should be amputated with, out delay lest the mangled part should bring on lockjaw. Kruger entreated his comrades to undertake the operation. One commenced, but gave it up. Kru' ger then took the job in hand and am. putated the thumb himself. The small scar now remaining shows how firm and unfinching the operator was, and has excited the wonder of more than one surgeon.