The Indianapolis journal., 1899-11-15
RICHEST In THE WORLD.
81. h" and His Adventures I'm south
Africa-Once a Tramp.
PHILADELPHIA Record.

Philadelphia Record.
Within twenty years four men have been
made multi -millionaires in South Africa.
They are John B. Robinson, estimated
wealth. s400.0OO.00O: Albert Belt. sl00,O000Oo
Cecil ]. Rhodes, $50 100000, and the late
Barney Barnato. who left an estate valued
at over s5.O0oOOo. All of these men were
poor before the diamond mines of Kimber-
ley and the gold fields of the Transvaal
were discovered, and this was especially the
case with John r. Robinson, who was abso-
lutely penniless in the latter part of 1873.
This story is Of John r. Robinson, who is
unquestionably the richest man in the
world. This man, with his immense wealth.
does not travel round the world in a pri-
vate yacht; he does not possess a palatial
private railroad car; he does not parade his
stupendous riches in an ostentatious man.
ner; neither is he given to perform acts of
charity.
The career of Mr.. Robinson in Africa Is
far stranger than fiction; the acquisition of
his wealth reads more like fairy tale than
an actual occurrence in real life. Many have
made fortunes in South Africa during the
early days. but the majority. and especially
those mentioned in this article, acquired
their riches by bulldog grit and sagacity.
With Robinson II has been different; his
wealth, beyond the dream Of a Monte Cris-
to, was secured simply by pure, unadulter-
ated luck.
John B. Robinson and his wife arrived in
South Africa from England in the early sew
enties, possessing about 500 wnen they ar
rived at Cape Town. The couple decided 10
make their way TO Bloemfontein, capital of
the Orange Free State. Ii was a long and
tedious journey in those days, but, alter a
months travel in a bullock wagon Robin
son and his wife arrived at the little capital:
Ihey DECIDED 10 open grocery and general
merchandise store. and those OF the Orange
Free State burghers who did trade with
Robinson asked for credit, which was freely
extended to them. He was new to the bus
lneSS, but the burgherS were old hands at
buying on credit The grocery keeper did
not progress; trade, il is true, became brisk
but it Was nearly all on credit. The crisis
came in the latter part of 1878 JAS Robin
son increased his credits he was going
deeper into debt. His creditors were clam
oring for their money, but he had none to
give them. One morning in 1878 an Orange
Free State official took charge OF the Roo
inson store. A day or SO later the whole out
lit was sold at auction. Burghers from all
parts or Bloemfontein came to see the
sport, but none of those who owed Robin
son money made any effort to pay him:
mayhap they had never intended TO do so.
While the auction was gong on Robinson
stod by In dazed manner, hardly realiz-
ing what was taking place
AS the not African sun sank In the west
tndt evening Robinson, then nearly forty
years OF age. found himself homeless and
penniless. South Africa is the worst place
IN the world TO be without money; ii was
SO then, II Is so now. Robinson had heard
stories OF the new diamond fields at Kim
berley. He had been informed that several
nad made their fortunes at the diggings.
he decided to go to Kimberley. The dues-
ton was, how? Kimberley was nearly two
hundred miles from Bloemfontein Mrs
Robinson suggested that they walk there
Inc husband shouldered his little belongings
and started for the diamond Mecca A few
miles from the Orange Free State capital
the couple stopped at farmhouse and
asked for nights shelter. They We're
gwen supper place TO sleep and a
breakfast the next morning Thus day I'm
and day out for three weeks Robinson and
MS VIE depended on charity until they
arrived at Kimberley a peculiar looking
pair they were when they arrived at the
then busy diamond dggings. The two
travellers were footsore and weary from
tneir long march over the hot African
karoo and hills. Things looked extremely
black for them, but II is an old saying that
Ii Is always darkest just before dawn This
his better half.
It was the unexpected that happened AS
Robinson was walking along the rude
streets or Kimberley, dragging his feet in
iistless manner, he kicked shining OBJ
ject from under the dust. 1t proved to be
a fire uncut diamond Robinson then knew
little OF the value of those precious stones
nor their quality. Now he has diamond
stant the value Of an uncut stone. Within
two hours after he had found the diamond
ne SolC II Tor $l,2o. 1hiS was more money
than he had ever possessed. 1t was tn.
turning point In his life. Since the day
he arrived at Kimberley everything that
Robinson has touched turns TO gold
Like others who were then at Kimberley.
Robinson soon went to buying diamonds on
the sly from the negros. In those days
the natives stole the gems with impunity
selling stones worth a small fortune for a
mere song. or exchanging them for a
bottle OF Cape Smoke" tbrandy). valued
at about 81. Within year Robinson was
a man Of independent fortune and growing
richer daily
Ii was i'm 1883 that gold was found in the
Barbertson district of the Transyaal Rob-
inson was among the first 10 arrive at the
gold diggings. His investments there
all added TO his wealth. When gold was
found I'm 1855 at johannesburg Robinson
hurried TO the scene He paid an old Boer
farmer 5000 for a section of his farm.
Old prospectors shook their heads, stating
that -. b. was getting foolish I'm HIS old
age with his money. and IL he carried on
that way he would lose every penny that