The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-05

cal crises. And yet Mr.. Peter Gillingham
claims allegiance only 10 Ireland, though
he speaks the Dutch language tiuently,an
is heart and hand with the Beers in their
differences with the Englsh. He has been
in the Transvaal 10 years, going there from
Cape Colony in the capacity of general
speculator. How well he has succeeded in
this no one knows, but Pretorians say
that behind the counters where he dis
penses ginger cakes aud bread, MI. +.
GiIingham, Irishman and Boer caresses
a goodly fortune, which he has acquired
by brisk Celtic hustle, coupled with the
advantages provided by the patronage of
the president.
on leaving New York for a tramp
through South Africa with a fellow news
paper man on a very limited capital one
of the most important points, as il seemed
to us, was to secure just such an interview
with Dom Paul. Several foreign consu.s
offered to give us letters to their repre-
sentatives in the Transvaal, but could not
promise thai they were in such close touch
with the Grand Odd Man of South Africa
as to insure US a welcome reception. IN
this predleament we were directed to c.
O'Connor Mclaughlin, we3l-known New
York journalist, at that time secretary OF
the Irish national alliance, who, lookins
over a time-woTn volume on his desk ,toun,
the name of Mcbride
Here is a man." said he, who VIII
put you on the right track. Our direc-
tory gives him as a weighmaster IN the
mines Of the Landlaagte estate, two miles
from johannesburg, near the Simmer ana
Jack. l have no idea where that is, and
l never heard of the man, but If you
give him this ,etter and tell him you are
good Irishman, heA get you the intro
duction for we are very strong in that
country"
II was not such an easy matter to find
Mcbride after getting TO johannesburg.
Even after the Landlaagte had been 10
Gated it seemed 10 be operated entirely
by McBrides, and it was only after CON
siderable search that Mcbride, the weigh
man, was located in the second level, 1000
feet below the surface, whittier the Amer
lean manager gave us permission to de-
scend on a passenger car,
This was not an inviting expedition,
and it was rather discouraging after the
run TO have Mr.. Mcbride tell us he could
not furnish the introduction. 81 viii give
you a letter to Mccain, though he Of
fered land he will send you 10 GIlling-
ham, and GNlngham owns Dom Paul
Our next step toward securing the in
terview, therefore, was 10 meet Mr.. T.
&c Mccain, proprietor of a little tailor
shop near the Barnato buildings in Jo-
hannesburg and the reception accorded
us there nearly turned us from our pur-
pose. Neither of the two employees al
work on the counter looked at or spoke
to us for some time. What do you
want?" finally inquired large man, with
immense shoulders and a forOidding face
eve want to see Mr. Mccain" we re
piled, modestly 1--WE have a letter from
the National Alliance In New York. We're
good Irishmen, and wish to get an in
PRODUCTION to Mr.. Kruger through him."
At this there was a great clatter in an
adjoining room, and from the doorway
emerged tall man with an exceedingly
red nose, "a gray dragon mustache, and
enveloped in a long frock coat.
I'm Mccain, the tailor" he said, look
ing at us keenly. who are your But,
without giving us a chance 10 answer he
snapped up the Two letters and disappear
ed in the street.
Astonishment gave way to anger at this
shabby treatment. and we were on the
point of giving vent to the latter when
the tailor attracted our attention from
the opposite corner by winking violently
and reckoning.
"You never want 10 make a break like
that" he said, angrily. IF you are
good Irishmen, as YOU say you are, you
ought to know that the English govern
ment has spies all through the Transvaal.
and you never know who you are taking
TO-" With that he led the way to
basement saloon on Commissioner street,
selecting small room in the rear.
"Ben." he said to a tough-looking citl-
zen, VINO answered the electric summons.
"you see these gentlemen? Well, lock
the door on the outside and don't let them
out until ] give the word
Now" he continued, turning to us,
whats your game? If you think you
can come it over old Mccain, why guess
again You are no more Irshmen than
the Prince of Wales. Your names are
not Irish, neither are your faces. You
are spies. by God! and you've come here
Johannesburg Well, you got in the
wrong shaft. don't require stone
house to fall on me before 1 tumble"
Ii was not until we admitted that none
of our ancestors had ever seen Ireland
that the eccentric old taiior's eye softened
and a genial smile ilumined his face.
NOW. boys" he said, that's different.
I see your game. Ali YOU want it to meet
Dom Paul through Irish influence. You're
straight Americans, which is something
unusual to see down here. l like you,
and If you come TO my store in two days
I'll have the way prepared"
McCann's preparation consisted in writ
ing to the boss" who undertook the
mission, apparently with the impression
that in some way it was all for the good
Of ''old ireland The tailor gave us our
credentials, and bid us good-by, with the
parting injunction: For heavens sake.
don't refuse coffee. should the President
offer it. even IL 1t scalds you speeches."
BOSS" Gillingham is the busiest man
in the Transvaal. We had been in Pre-
t1ria TWO days before we found him at
home. In company with numerous spec
ulatoTs and foreign agents we haunted the
sign Of "P. Gnlingham, Baker" under
meath, which is another legend in smaller
type /"And Justice of the Peace"
One Of the men was from Dayton, O.,
had sought Gillingham's influence to sell