The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-24
STORY OF BARNATO|
BIOGRAPHY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN
DIAMOND KING is OUT.

All His Triumphs Came of Nerve and DAr
Ing Coupled With Knowing How-Tw
Great Strikes of His Life Scored a
Times When Everybody Was Giving nj
In Despair-Left London With jus
Money Eoough to Jingle and Cam,
Rhodes-Barnato in Politics
New York, Dec. 23.-T. P. O'Connor
reviewing in mis- London Weekly Sun {
recent book by Harry Raymond, "B.
Barnato: A Memoir" writes as follows
Barney Barnato was the third child
| and second son of "a worthy and pIou:
Hebrew" Isaac Isaacs. Isaac Isaac:
lived in the great land of Jewry which
has Aldgate for its center. He was no,
wealthy; but then ne was never in the
extreme poverty which makes the pool
! Jew as common a phenomenon in the
East End of London as the rich Jew is
in the West. Barney Barnato had great
vicissitudes Of fortune, but ne never
knew hunger or the last depths Of pow
! erty. He received a slight education al
| the Hebrew free school, well known
| Jewish institution in Bell Lane, Spital-
| fields, to which many Of his race owe
their first chance I'm life. At "A years OF
age Barney Barnato's school life came
10 an end. The man of action and of af-
Fat in,
when youth in the West End in dream
ing OF high collars and Latin verses
Barney had already started in the race
for wealth.
There are plenty OF legends with re-
gard to the ingenious devices of the boy
trader; stories that forecast the daring,
the quickness, the insight, ard the deter
mination not to be "done," which, on a
vast field, were TO give him a supreme
position. "He was never without money
of his own" writes his biographer; and
so. when at the age of q, he received a
letter from his elder brother telling him
Of the glorious prospects in Kimberly,
he had f100 at his disposal, ard was able
to start out for the new world.
REACHED KIMBERLEY.
He arrived there with some ESQ or EGO
in his pocket, larger equipment than
most seekers for fortune are able to
command. He had already shown that
power OF making himself popular which
ne displayed later-or was it that the
small Jewish community, with its clan
nishness, it's good nature, its readiness
to admire pluck and enterprise, was in
its usual mood of good fellowship
whatever the reason, Barney was pre-
sented with a watch, which remained
with him throughout all his dangers
and fortune.
He was full Of energy and determine
ton, as ne was to the last; and with his
youthful imagination fired by the public
reports of the wealth of the Diamond
fields, corroborated by the more guarded
statements in his brothers letter, he de-
termined before leaving London to go
straight away TO the fields without de-
lay, wasted no time in arranging for his
conveyance up country by a train of
wagons belonging to the Diamond Fields
Transportation company
There is all the splendid exuberance of
youth and health IN Barney's own de-
scription Of his eventful journey,
1t occupied nearly two months, ore Of
the jolliest times 1 ever had. The ac-
commodation consisted of permission to
walk along side a wagon when it moved,
and to sleep under it when it stopped.
made my first acquaintance then with
mealie porridge and biltong, and have
keen relish for both still. 1 had not been
very well or bright for some months be-
fore leaving England. but the wagon
journey. or rather tramp over the weld,
put me right, and marched into Dutoit-
span fit for anything.
There is picture OF a youth-strong.
resolute, joyous-in tragic contrast to
the wearied, excitable, overworked mil
lionaire drudge that found life intolera-
BILE not much more than twenty years
after.
MAMIE BECASlE h'BARNATO."
On arrival at the diamond fields, "the
name of Barnett Isaacs disappeared for
ever" His brother had adopted Bar
nato" as a stage name. Barney fol-
lowed his example, and ''henceforth be-
came B. 1. Barnato."
mond fields are situated, was sufficient
ly uninviting place at this epoch. 1t
was:
A region of fat plains covered with
thick blue grass after the rains, but
otherwise barren OF all vegeta tior except
that the mimosa marks the courses Of
the beds of the torrents. There was no
building timber within hundreds OF
miles. everything had to be brought by
the OK wagon over 200 miles Of broken
happy, indeed. was the man
who could secure decently large packing |
case wood TO make hut, and was able |
10 render it waterproof by irgeniously |
mailing on tin Innings. To possess a |
good strong double tent was to live In |
a luxurious mansion.
Barney threw himself into the new life |
with all the zest OF youth, and with that !
grim teracity, determination TO sue |
iced, and power of practicing economy |
wen necessary, which are the gifts Of /
nearly all his race. Mr.. Louis Cohen I
and ne were partners for thirteen |
months, and during thai entire period |
hey messed and slept together in ore /
siu4u nut 1neE INeu idEse4N on IlSaIfS
oorridge which they usually cooked with /
heir own hands. The winter was rough,
he cost OF living dear; it was the hard /
.st OF existences.
WITH HIS BROTHER.
Al the end Of the year Barney entered /
nto partnership with his brother, and
nus was laid the foundation OF the great
;n1IrSatiOn of the great firm Of Rarnato
Bros.
From 1874 10 1850. the brothers in part
lership directed their whole energies %