The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-27
BARNEY BARNATOS WAYS.
MORE STORIES TOLD ABOUT THE
LITE KAFFIR KING.

How Ne Bccame a NHilionsire-His Dealings
with Cecil Rhodea-EGspt' Lost Flint mines
and tho Home or PrimevaI MANA Reeiou
In Central Asia where Only snow Fails.
LONDON, Juno 19.-In the midst OF all the
Jubilee madness which has possessed London
this week. the nows Of Barney Barnato's tragic
end has come as a diversion that might almost
be described as welcome IL tho remark were not
- b~rutally cold blooded. Everything pertain
ing to tho career of this strange adventurer,
this pet and victim Of fortunes Widest freaks,
has been road with greater interest than the
work Of the clevorest romancers of the day.
The stories told about him are almost number.
less, most Of them apocryphh Of course. but
everything about Barney goes now that his
dead body has boen picked up, floating head
downward in the Atlantic.
shall not attempt any review of his wonder
full life story. The principal events In his career
were sketched in considerable detail In an arti-
ole which l sent to THE Sun at the climax of his
financial success in the autumn Of 1895. A few
haphazard incidents not then related will gu flee
TO throw light on one phase or another of his
peculiar character and his amazing luck. lido
not vouch for the accuracy Of all Of them. but II
not true they are good enough to BIO true.
In the first place, Barney Barnato" was not
his true or original name. He was Barnett
lsaacs, the son Of humble Hebrew parents In the
Whitechapel district Of London, until he went
to South Africa to make his fortune in 1873. In
q curious page of autobiography issued q few
weeks ago. Barney thus described how he be-
came a millionaire:'
ut is just twenty-three years ago since I,
considered then q good-looking boy. landed at
Cape Town after u tedious journey of twenty
seven and q half days, the greater part Of which
time / had spent building castles In the air, and
dreaming Of the possibilities of the new world
which I was approaching. Full of hope and
confidence, 1 walked to the Masonic Hotel. and
on the veranda was met by q gentleman. whose
name 1 will ask you to allow me to withhold,
but who, as l afterward learned. held the posi-.
ton OF President Of the Diamond Diggings.
] was startled by the brilliancy Of his shirt
front. on which there blazed three enormous
diamond studs. one only Of which would have
made Pony Moore shed tears. As these only
formed part Of his jewelled adornments, I
thought he must DO a walking diamond mine.
He spoke to mo very kindly, though with rather
apstronizing air. asking me my name and des-
t~ination. ] told him my name was Barney Bar
nato. and that I was going up to tho diamond
fields to Join my brother, and, as l hoped, to
make my fortune. A look Of sympathy, almost
o; pity. sufused his face, as, placing his hand in
. fatherly manner on my shoulder. he said:
"'Go home again, my boy. for l have cleared
that country Of all the gems 1t contained and,
looking at the sparkling b~rilliants which shone
out from every possible part Of him, 1 was al
most convinced that his statement was true. I
was too proud to let the earp Of disappointment
fall, and stood wondering what would be said
to me II I returned homo to admit I had been on
Wild goose chase; this was sufficient to make
I.s adsera 70 nay original intsnsion, whate yer
the result might be, SO I determined to 60 and
book my seat on tho coach which was leaving
the next morning. lest anything else should
occur TO make mo waver.
This year-twenty-threo years after my In.
teryiew. with him-I met In the market square
ct JohannesborR this same gentleman, who had
cleared the country of all the gems 1t contained,
and on my reminding him Of the incident he
asked:
How did you discover the De Beers dia,
mond mines and become Q life Governor of the
companyr
Il replied. BY not taking your advice to &C
home again."
Tho most interesting current incidents about
Barnato deal with his encounters with his grea,
rival In the diamond field, Cecil Rhodes. The
latter Is. OF course. tho greater man in every
sense Of the word, but Barnato was usually able
to take care Of himself even In competition with
the Empire Builder Of South Africa Several
years ago the firm Of Barnato Brothers. which
Barnato had established. was Q very large Gus
toner of Dc Beers for rough diamondA. and a
very good story IL told how the Colossus of the
Cape" outwitted his brother diamond merchant
De Beers. as the story goes. had 22O. 600 caratl
Of diamond to sell, and Barney Barnato made
Nj. Rhodes an oRer for the whole quantity in
one lot MI. Rhodes considered for Q moment
and then replied that Barnato Brothers could
have the diamonds on their own terms ON one
Condition.
What Is your condition r
That you let me see Q sight NO human eye
ever saw yet"
What's thatf" inquired the puzzled Barney
Why" said Mr.. Rhodes. "a bucketful Of diG
monds in q heap"
Done" exclaimed Barney. delighted to have
the deal on his own terms. So the diamonds
were poured all together into o bucket, and the
Two kings Of diamonds" gloated for Q while
over the sight. Then the gems were turned oui
In q giittering heap and were photographed
Ar. Rhodes's profit came. It 10 said, during the
Six weeks following. when he had absolute com
nand OF the diamond market. while the bucket
iui OF diamonds were being resorted into theiI
$50 different classidcations.
The story Of the dnal contamination of the deal
ior the Consolidation Of tho Kimberley and the
De Beers diamond mines 10 not new. but 1t will
bear ~retelling:
1T was the evening of q day nearly ten year.
ago when three men who held tho chief interest
In the diamond mines at Kimberley sat down
together to arrange the terms OF the projected
smaIgamauon. The three were Cecil Rhodea
AIired Bit, and b. L Barnato Of the Kimberley
mine Each one had . concession he required
nom the others, but the requirements Of the
nfs' two are Of no public interest The conces
son Ar. Rhodes required was entirely different
1t was this:
want the power TO 60 to the north to cart,
oul Inc expansion there. and I think the com
pAny might AAaiaf M In The ~oek hAiNaUs
l everything they give will DO returned; but ever
y were lost 1t 10 q very fair case for the doc
rihe Of RANSOM In other words. Mr.. RHODES
.as'ed on getting the power 10 use the profit
VI me De Beers mine for the acquisition of tn,
unoocupied regions o. the north.
mr. Belt said little. but supported Mr.
Hhode'; but the notion OF using the diamond
I'hes 70 create an empire did not
Nsen a. good business TO Mr.. Barnato. even