The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-25
THE CAREER OF CDR JIM"
A Typical English Adventurer with All
the Virtues and All the Vices of His
More Famous Predecessor.
(From the Westminster Gazette. !,

\rrom the Westminster Gazette \
Dr. Jim" is Scotsman, and strange
stories OF his dash and cleverness when
boy are told. Companions of his youth
remember how, to get fruit for them out
of his fathers garden, he would defy all
the canes OF the household. He was edu
Gated for the medical profession, and was
in good practice at Kimberly when Cecil
Rhodes picked him up. Devoted to his
profession and making large income
though he was, he abandoned everything
to take part in the opening up of Mash
onaland, and his conduct all through the
Matabele troubles is written large in
South African history. In 1887, Jameson
and Rhodes were living together at Kim.
berly in lodgings that consisted of one
sitting room and two bed rooms 1t is
not generally known that Rhodes owes
his life to the doctor, who attended him
assiduously, night and day, through
dangerous illness. This laid the founda-
| tion of their friendship.
When the infant operations of the fu-
ture chartered company were endangered
by Lobeugula, Jameson made his way,
alone and unarmed, to the dusky kings
presence. His friends thought he would
never return. But the king was ill, and
Dr. Jameson's fame as medicine man
had penetrated to Lobsngula's court. He
| was, therefore. called upon to cure the
king. This, fortunately, he succeeded in
doing. Lobengula and all his retinue
were delighted, and the doctor not only
obtained the concession he was in quest
of, but permission for the pioneer force
to march through Mashonaland.
When Fort Salisbury had been estab-
lished the question arose as to direct
route to the coast. Jameson took the
matter in hand. Accompanied by Maj.
johnson, he marched from Fort Salisbury
to Sacramento on the Pungwe river, then
an unknown region, and SO ON to Beira.
| The Beira railway was the result. In
his visit to Lobengula and his march to
the coast DIR. Jameson had given ample
evidence OF the stuff of which he was
made. and on his return to Fort Sails
bury he received the supreme command.
But quiet career, however exalted
| IL,
later, it became necessary for an official
OF the company to visit Chief Gunguny-
ana at the mouth OF the Limpopo, DR..
Jameson undertook the task.
1t was two months journey, practical
ly on foot, through deadly climate. The
doctor on this occasion was ACCOMPANIED
by DR.. Doyle and Mr.. Moody and a few
carriers. First Doyle was stricken down
by foyer, then Moody and finally Jameson
himself. They suffered from want OF
food, and for many days were exposed to
a pitiless rain. After two months, march
through forest and swamp they arrived
in rags and half dead at their destination.
| A stay there to recruit and Jameson and
his party started for the ooast and 40
home again.
1t was on his return from this terrible
journey that Jameson received the most
of administrator of Mashon aland, in suc-
cession to Mr.. Archibald Colquhoun. and
in chat capacity had very narrow ca.
cape Of brush with the Beers. When
the latter We're preparing to trek across
the Limpopo into new territory DR..
Jameson and band of Bechuanaland
police met them, and although bloodshed
seemed at first unavoida BILE, Jameson sue
oeeded in turning back the trekkers with
out the firing of a single shot. Later
came the Matabele war, which, if it's neo-
essity be admitted, even his greatest de-
tractors would declare Jameson carried
through in manner worthy of him. The
forces at his command in that campaign
numbered about 1000, and they were
manipulated with a promptitude and de-
oision worthy of veteran in the field.
The war was sharp b ut short, and what
ever Gre lit there was in connection with
it was very largely due to Jameson. For
his services in Rhodesia the doctor was
made "a Companion of the Bath about a
year ago.
| 1t was about the same time that DR..