The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-04
CLCIL JOHN RHODES.
Sketch of Cape Co1ony's Prime Minister
who is Reported Dead.

Anent the rumor published yesterday
to the effect that the Right Hon. Cecl
John Rhodes had died at Cape Town,
the New York Herald prints the follow
ink sketch OF his life:
Should the report prove to be correct,
one Of the strongest men Of the century
has passed away. and his latest and
greatest idea-the laying OF a telegraph
line from north 10 south Of the Dark
Contnent-wIil possibly be delayed in
realization at least "a decade
Cecil John Rhodes was born at Bishop
Stratford, England, on July >, 1888, and
was consequently IN the prime OF life.
At the age OF sixteen he went 10 live
with an elder brother in Natal. When
the rush to the Kimberley fields began the
two Rhoieses were among the irst
pioneers. Cec'ls ventures We're all sue
cessful. lie became stockh0lder IN
many mining companies, ana eventually
the president and ruling spirit Of the
famous he Beers Mining company, which
had "A capital of 100000. Under his
guidance the De Beers company absorbed
the many other companies that mad been
formed one by one, until IN lssJ every
diamond mining company IN kimberley
was incorporated IN the De Beers Con-
solidated Mines, Limited, which mad
capital Of $l9, $1,000.
Cecil Rhodes had sought riches as
means of power. His dealings with the
diamond mines had brought him into reia-
lions not only with many native cHlcls,
but with many influential persons IN
England, and with their aid, after many
VOYAGES to England, and lengthy negoua-
tons in two continents, ne oDtalntd
ROYAL charter for the British South AFRICA
Company. This success stamped MN AT
once as the foremost man IN the cape
Before he was thirty years old Mr..
Rhodes had been elected TO the app
House OF Assembly. Seneral 10 I'LL hi,i,
i'm Basutoland asked him after"aId 10
accompany him on his mission 10 MAR
toum as his private secretary 81 ~
Rhodes. however, had Just accepted .ue
otiice of Treasurer-Generalo of the cape,
and was compelled 10 decline General
Gordon's offer. They had quariei ohce'
i'm the course Of which General HOEuoh
said Indignantly: 800.
"You are one Of these mon WHO ncsei
approve OF anything you don't ors"ii~1
Rhodes reflected for a moment and a, am n
swered: I'm inclined to think you Ic
rs In 1900 Rhodes succeeded Sir Cor
don sprigg as Premier oil ~ ~
colony Ii was then that re ne
or IA push forward enerseu-
ically the scheme that he mad dredii,u
of and planned for duilng an lhts. 49,
wears. With all his might ne SN1 ,ll,,,,'
northward toward the Zambesi. 10 me
west and east were the POSSESSIONS aa'sn.l had al
germany and Portugal whose aE ~ . Ia
fn, LAS been scheming 10 gam tnat
central stretch Of land which the E4 aEem
cali Ialnbesia. Rhodes outscheinvn 1', ~,
s,icv-l, INIT surely. ne crcpt aIouHu nc
9ranHI Free state and the Soutn African I.',i.
Republic. cutting them OIL co arib ~,
from communication with the hoI''' -
' nNn mai British. That is my dream
i" Grst his schemes were locke, AT
askance by people in Ensliq ,Ssr, a drS,p
vastness OF conception raised mem III ~,
he ordinary mind Mr.. Rhodes Wa lne
c ohiect ~ '' Of much unfavorable comment
and some downright abuse lie he, he ,.e on on
his way. Notwithstanding In 1874 ne W.
fend"J his policy warmly in a speech
made at cape Town, after the M i.,,ni'rJ
var and spoke prophetically OF a DnHlteH
So,tb AFRICA" on federal principles "hlch
should cover the whole country tyd iIon' vas Sas
crnated a member Of the Priyy CouiF
ell IN February, $3.50.