The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-03
DOM PAUL TELLS HIS STORY.
CLERGYMAN, HERDSMAN, LION
HUNTER, GENERAL, ANIBASSA-
DOR, STATESMAN, ETC.

An Interesting Talk with the Fa-
nous President of the Transvaal
and Character Sketch of One of the
Most Remarkable Men Living.
Anecdotes of His Personal Bravery
Never Before TOId-He Saved His
sisters Life by killing n Leopard
with a Jack-Knife When 10 Years
OId-The Shooting of go Lions on
4he Great TreI<-In n Period of Re-
ucious Fanaticism Kruger Prayed
Three Days on the Mountains and
Almost Died of Excitement and Ex-
posture.
Washington, Sept. 1.-Stephanus Jo-
names Paulus Kruger, President of the
Transvaal, is the most interesting public
character to-day to interview. Upon be
ing introduced you first conclude that he
has been greatly overestimated. He seems
nothing more than a shrewd old hunter,
who. by constant contact with wild ami
mails and savage KafIirs, has developed
p,arness that makes him suspicious of ev-
ervthing and everybody. He does not
have the penetrating eye" usually as
cribed to great men. On the contrary, a
puff Of flesh underneath his eyes, as a
rule permits one to see but narrow
CLEAN, giving one the impression of
ehiftiness.
His legs are so short and slender that
YOU wonder how they bear the weight of
a heavy, thick and solid body. His head
is big, with nose and ears to match, and
his neck concealed by beard, hair and coat
collar so that you cannot determine
whether or not he INDUCES in neckwear. AT
home he is usually putting a short briar
pipe and as he handles this you notice
that the thumb of his left hand is missing.
There is a story in connection with this
that his honor will tell you between puffs
If he is in the mood. 1t gives an idea of the
grit which is a characteristic of the old
Beers.
Stories of Physical Courage.
Mr. Kruger, when young man, was out
hunting hart beeste one day with a rifle
which had not been used for long time.
While tinkering with a charge the gun ex-
ploded tearing his left thumb in shreds.
Krugers companions wanted to give up
the hunt and hurry to the nearest surgeon,
but the intrepid young Boer refused. TAX
ing out his hunting knife, he placed the
lacerated thumb on the stock of the rifle,
and amputated it himself. By tying about
the stump a piece of rawhide he stopped
the flow of blood and winding around it
his red handkerchief he continued the
sport.
Physical robustness and courage have
contributed greatly toward Kruger's sue
cess as the leader of a nation. He is alb
eolUtplJr fqor1pCc fbO1oh reckless and
since boyhood has known how to act
quickly in an emergency. Unlike other
famous men, little has been told of his
personal history. None but the older gen.
Grafton Of Beers know much about it, and
they regard it as a sort of divine narra-
tive that is not to be irreVerently dis
cussed
Ali through his life Kruger has had
narrow escapes from death, and his ca
reer, If detailed fully, would be thrilling.
When only IA years old, he and a little
sister strayed away from the lager down
IN Cape Colony, where the elder Kruger
had settled on emigrating from Germany,
ana while playing were suddenly attacked
by leopard. Young kruger's only Wea-
pom was a jack-knife, but, shielding his
sister with one arm, he met the vicious
spring of the leopard with the other and
alter a bloody struggle succeeded in stab
ping it to death.
One is hardly warranted, either, in
Speaking slightingly of "Oom" Paul's legs
Tor they once ran a race that made him
famous all through the native tribes in
south Africa. A Kaffir chief had become
celebrated for his running ability and
had never been beaten until challenged
by number Of young Beers, who chose
hfuger to represent them. 1t was decided
mat the two should run for twelve hours
ana the man leading at the end of that
U,ne was to have some sort of prize.
AT the end of eleven hours the Kaffir
dropped in his tracks, unconscious while
Kruger kept on to the finish, and, accord
lus TO one of his companions, was so
fresh then that he took part in hunting
trip
Dom PnuI's Piety.
1t is the appearance of rough hardihood
ana unkempt personal attire that first inn
presses one on meeting "Oom' Paul, but
when the man begins to talk and unfold
GRADUALLY his mental power you forget all
e'se out Kruger, the diplomat and careful
s'ate sman. He gave the writer a short in
teIV-eW recently for publication with the
understanding that the Boer side should
pe represented from his own viewpoint,
4I9t lhquiring if l were spy from Cecil
t'uOues. Dn being assured to the contrary
ny number of Raad members who were
present., he followed it up by another Gus
toinary question, turning on me suddenly
ana asking: What Is your relgion?"
- hese two inquiries give. an insight into
ihflger's life. His first duty, he believes,
Is 70 God, and his second 10 Rhodes. whom
e dctestS ike poisonous reptile. But
i'r Rhodes, Mr.. Kruger says, all would
ee peace and quietness in the Transvaal.
90 org as this man is In South Africa
mere is no rest for the Beers, and their
2fet service agents may be found on
every street in johannesburg, on the look
Oul Tor Uitlander conspiracies.
FROM ali ward aunparapces Dom
Faul is intensely pious and though the
English insist that it is all hypocrisy, there
Is no proof that Kruger does not live in
sulct accordance TO his preaching. He
was confirmed in 1912 by the Rev. Daniel
Lihdlay, an American missionary, and
rom that day to this has led severely
CHRISTIAN life after the precepts laid down
Wy John Calvin. He can quote nearly the
whole Bible, and this has served him we'll
IN secular way, for he has learned from
gFnlr la, l-ak