Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-03-02

The LEADER OF THF BOERs.-PAUL
KRUGER, THE MAN WHO Is AT THE
HEAD OF THE BoERS. The leader of the
Beers in their present struggle is Paul
Kruger, recently chosen president of the
Transvan republic. He enjoys the repu-
tation among his countrymcn for caution,
sagaclty and courage. For many years
he has been Il we'll known man in the
Transvaal, and il noted leader of the
" commanders " or expeditions. He earn
ed, it is said, his first laurels when q lite IA
lad; now he must be sixty years of age.
A Boer commando engaged in hosttities
against natives somewhere on the upper
waters Of the Vaal river, received inteIli-
gence ut the close OF successful DAYS
fighting. that Zulu impi was advancing
to attack them. The Doors, all excepting
Kruger, declined to credit the unwelcome
news, and scouting kruger's entreaties to
keep II good lookout, the men, tired out by
their long days fighting, lay down to
sleep in the larger. But Kruger could
not give up his conviction that danger was
ahead. He determined to watch, aud
persuaded II companion to watch with him.
Seated on wagon boxes, an opposite sides
of the iaarger, the two men watched, rifle
in hand, peering into the darkness. At
length, when the morning mists were
rising, kruger's keen ear caught the dull
time to give the alarm, when changing
their cautious advance for determined
rush, a mass of Zuus, with striped and
CREASED bodies. charged the larger
Some of the enemy managed to get in,
and there was fighting with clasp knife rs
we'll rs with rifle before the attack was
repulsed. The few minutes notice game d
for them by Kruger had saved the white
men.
Paul Kurger is Dopper." the most
conservative sect among the Beers. The
religion of this sect is n sort Of Calvinism
They interpret the Scriptures in their
most literal sense, and are specially inclin-
ed to follow the example of the IsraeIitish
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 unnamed
leather) which form the usual and re-
cogniztd costume of IA Dopper. On his
return he met the astonished gaze of his
| ii'Sh'o O''' III ~ nav lOhS, phSh
cloth coat and the boots worn by ordinary
civilized men. England vas well enough. VI
he said, land there were fine houses; but
if n man wanted to 90 and smoke by him
self, even away from London, every piece
of the veldt seemed to be owned by some
one or another, and if you sat down to
smoke under tree, you hadn't taken
two whiffs before Il man would come up
and say the land was his and he didn't
want you there!" Kruger can speak no
English.
Once, some years ago, when out hunt
ing, his rifle burst in his hand and shat
tered his left thumb. IL was necessary
that it should be amputated without delay
lest the mangled part should bring on
lockjaw. Kruger entreated his comrades
TO undertake the operation. One com
menced, but but gave it up. Kruger then
took the job in hand and amputated the
thumb himself. The small scar now
remaining shows how firm and unAinching
the operator was, apd has excited the
wonder of more than one surgeon.