The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-08-24
RHODES AS PEACEMAKER.
He Succeeds In Ending the Mata-
belle War.


| BULUWAYO, Aug. 23.-The mission
or Hon. Cecil Rhodes to the Matabeles
Is reported to be a pronounced success.
The natives have yielded and the war
IS considered at an end Cecil Rhodes
inspired the confidence of the Matabele
chlefs by going among them unarmed
The chiefs complained that ill usage
by the native police provoked the re-
bellion, and Rhodes promised them that
reforms in this respect would be in
aCgurated at once. Earl Gray, who was
appointed to administer the affairs
within the jurisdiction Of the British
South African company, believes that
the surrender of the natives was prac-
stically unconditional
The war with the Matabeles, which
began in South Africa early in 1896, in
many respects resembled the early In
dian wars in America. Several hun
-dred settlers in the more sparsely set
tied portions of Matabeleland were
murdered by themselves. Survivors in
the country districts quickly gathered in
the larger towns and lines Of defense
were thrown UP while the existing
notifications were garrisoned as strong
ly as possible. The natives were at
first commanded by son Of the late
King Lobengula.
To the number of 90. 900 they gathered
on the hills around Buluwayo, the
principal town. To a considerable ex-
tent they were actuated by a sort of
religious frenzy, but other causes are
said to have combined to bring about
the trouble. Chief among these were
the wrongdoings of the native police
and the imposition by the South Afri-
can Chartered company of a hut tax
on the $4,000 huts of the natives Of
Matabeleland. This tax the natives
sternly resisted for many months, but
the company insisted upon this rev.
enue being collected, and refused to
make any exceptions.
1t was not until Cecil Rhodes, at
this late time, to some extent under a
cloud, because of his alleged connection
with the raid into the Transvaal Re-
public, conducted by DIR. Jameson
came to the rescue and started from
Rhodesia with an armed force, that the
backbone of the Matabele rebellion was
broken. Buluwayo, itself, was for a
time threatened with humiliation by
the blacks, but owing to the brave de-
tense made by it's citizens, and the
timely advance of the column, headed
by Cecil Rhodes, the state of siege
which practically existed, was broken
and the Matabeles were gradually
forced back from the hills surrounding
the metropolis of Matabeleleland to
their old resorts in the parts of the
country not occupied by Europeans.
LONDON, Aug 24.-According to special
dispatches from Buluwayo received by the
London papers, the Matebele chiefs promised
not to fight the English forces provided Cecil
Rhodes would agree to remain in the country
and care for them. They also asked for the
removal of a prominent government official
of whose conduct they complained bitterly
Cecil Rhodes replied telling them that the
official referred to had already left the gov
eminent service. He then asked the chiefs
whether they were for peace war. Secumbo
the leading chief, laid his gun and assagai
before Mr.. Rhodes and signifed that they
were in favor OF peace Cecil Rhodes prom
ises to spare their lives, but said that the
surrender must be unconditional At the
conclusion of the conference Secumbo cried :
go in peace, my father, greatest of chiefs. -
After describing the scene, Cecil Rhodes is
reported to have said: cit was one to make
life worth living
Two of the chiefs were brothers of Loben-
gula, the Matabele king who said to
have been killed at the close of the Matabele
war in 1894.