The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-15
Jumps Overheard While on His
Way From Cape Town to
Southampton, England.
RICHEST MAN m THE WORLD
Sketch Of Ills Wonderful Rjse-he Vas Re-
puted to be Worth Malt Billion King
Of the Loadon Money Market.

from Funchal, island Of Madeira, off the
west. coast ox Morocco. says that on the
arrival there of the British steamship
Scot, which left Table Bay (Cape TOWN.
on June 2 for Southampton, 1t was an
nounced that Barney Barnato. the
South African diamond king, who was
among the passengers, had committed
suicide by leaping overheard. His body
was recovered.
The late Barney Barnato was In many
respects the most remarkable speculator
of the century. OF all the Englishmen
who have taken part In the development
of South Africa, two only have secured
q worldwide reputation. These have
been Cecil Rhodes and Barnet Isaacs.
more often and less respectfully styled
Barney. Barnato was an assumed
name, a sort of stage name. for he began
his life in South Africa by exhibiting a
trick donkey about rs years ago. He
was then about 20 years Of age.
Bmnato was an English Jew, and illus
trated In an extraordinary way the
financial genius Of his race. Up to the
point when his fortunes began to de-
cline he made money by leaps and
bounds, and in 1896. when his good for
tune was at It's zenith, It was estimated
that he controlled interests worth in the
neighborhood Of e1oo. 1000, 900. twas the
fashion to call him the richest man in
the world; at that time he was virtually
the'king of the London moneX market.
In the autumn Of 1895, when the boom
In ''Kaffirs," the shares OF the compare
lively new gold mines OF the Transvaal
South Africa, was at It's height, every
man, woman and child in London with
money to invest invested 1t in "Kaffirs."
The center of this tremendous financial
outburst was Barney Barnato.
BarnatO was born in London. But
little is known as to his early life, except
that he received his instruction from a
private tutor instead OF attending the
public schools He was a younger son.
and at the age Of 20 went to South
Africa, then a much more savage terri
tory than II Is now and but scantly popu-
lated Englishmen or persons of English
descent, to seek his fortune. The Kim
beriy diamond mines were just begin
ming to be productive. With his few
pounds of capital he began dealing in
diamonds In a small way. He was clever
and pushing. Everything he touched he
made successful.
Rival Of Cecil Rhodes.
In 1885 Barney Barnato was a definite
money power in South Africa, and be-
gan to be spoken of as the rival Of Cecil
Rhodes. Unlike in temperament, and
even more unlike in personal ambition.
the two men started In to be hot op-
ponents. But in 1888 they reached the
ests could be better promoted by COM
bining forces, and the De Beers consoli-
dated mines were the result. one of the
most valuable pieces Of property Of the
kind In the world.
While In Africa he married and had
three children. He always professed 70
have boundless faith in the future Of the
Transvaaa, and his personal popularity
among all classes of Afrikanders was
very great. In London, where he spent
most Of his time for several years past,
he was constantly besieged by flatter-
ers, beggars and projectors Of all sorts
Of enterprises. He finally became quite
inaccessible to all except intimate
friends. His only reception hour was
the hour OF breakfast, which he always
took with his wife and a thoroughbred
bull pup. He affected a rather loud
style Of costume. and invariably wore
white silk socks. He had a keen sense
OF humor. and could tell a good story
with genuine comedy effect. He was a
generous patron Of the drama.
His private generosity was frequently
expressed, and In the autumn OF 1896 ne
sent $4,000 to the lord mayor Of London
for distribution among the London
poor.
Barnato took a prominent part in the
complications Immediately following
the Jameson raid. and at the height of
the crisis had an important interview
with President Krugar In regard to the
grievances OF the Uitlanders, which was
believed at the time to have mollified the
harsh feeling OF the Transvaal executive
toward the raiders. He subsequently
subscribed $4,000 TO the fund, which
paid of the fines.
About n month ago In was rumored
that his health was suffering from the
severe tension OF speculation, and In the
latter part OF May II was reported from
Cape Town that ne was suffering from
nervous prostration and had been placed
under restraint. This was subsequently
denied by his London representative.
who said that Barnato was suffering
from n slight attack OF Cape fever. not