The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-07-01
Paul Kruger Bids Defiance to
Joe Chamberlain.
MOST PROMINENT MAN OF The DAY
Like Patrick Henry His Motto is
"Liberty or Death"

Once again President Kruger has be-
come the man OF the hour, and few in
teresting "reminiscences of his career by
man who knew him intimately will
prove timely. This remarkable man,
writes a correspondent, was born Oct
10, 1926. His parents were Boer farm
ers, residing in Cape Colony, too poor
to supply Paul with shoes. The future
ruler of the South African Republic had
to trudge over the African veldt in his
bare feet He was christened S. J. Paul
Kruger, but the two initials were soon
disused, though President Kruger uses
them in signing state papers. Fear was
unknown to Kruger from boyhood
When he was in his seventeenth year his
father asked him to take home his span
of oxen and an empty wagon. He was
accompanied by his little sister.
paul. said his father, take care of
your sister," ..
81 WILL" he said simply.
In those days travelling in Cape Col
ony was anything but picnic. Wild
animals were plentiful and many a trav-
eler became preyvtQ these beasts. a
Everything went well until Paul was
within about five miles from home.
Here large panther made his appear
ance. The oxen took fright and bolted
The jostling of the wagon threw the
little girl to the ground where she was
at the mercy of the ferocious animal.
Without moments hesitation young
Kruger jumped from the wagon and
ran to his sisters assistance.
The panther stood with cleaning eyes
over the PROSTATE child.
Kruger was unarmed, but without
moments hesitation he engaged the pan
ther in hand-to-hand battle. It was
fierce battle. Time and again the angry
beast clawed Kruger cruelty, but his
courage and strength never failed him.
Like bulldog he held his grip upon the
panther's throat until he strangled the
beast to death. Kruger was badly lacer-
ated Blood flowed from many wounds,
but notwithstanding his injuries he car
ried his fainting sister home.
This exploit made him the hero of the
sturdy Beers in that section. 1t was
the first indication of the latent powers
that dwelt in the coming ruler of the
Transvaal
From boyhood Kruger hated the
English with hatred which has only
increased with years. His boast was
that some day he would raise an army
to fight the English. When Kruger was
young his people moved to the Orange
Free State, and later to the Transvaal.
The first time met Paul Kruger was
at Pretoria in 1879. Though past fifty
years of age, he was Hercules in phy-
sique, standing over six feet in his stock
ings, and strongly built, without an
ounce of superfluous flesh on his body.
He and Joubert were then arraying the
Beers for the great struggle with Eng
land, which came in 1885, securing for
the Beers the right of self-government.
In those days Kruger was poor COM
pared with his wealth of today. He had
large family, to which he was devot-
edly attached.
When l met him over fifteen years
later, although the president of the re-
public, he was as unassuming as in ear
lier days. He asked me to be his guest,
and in his parlor in Pretoria we talked
Of old days.
Kruger has aged considerably in the
fifteen years. He stopped somewhat, but
the fire of youth cleaned in his eyes
and age seemed unable to dim his ardor
My conversation with him was carried
on through his secretary. "Oom" Paul
can speak English luently, but under
no circumstances will he carry on con-
yersation in that language. This proceed
ure when in conference with British
officials gives him an oportunip.y to col
lect his thoughts before replying.
He is an inveterate smoker and coffee
drinker, and is hardly ever seen at home
without long pipe in his mouth. AT his
side is large cuspidor, which he uses
freely.
The motto of President Kruger for
years has been Patrick Henry's memo
rable utterance, "Give me liberty or give
me DEATH" This sentence, translated
into the Boer language, hangs hand
somely framed in his parlor.
This heroic Boer rulersis almost de-