The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-23
FIRST THING.
That Dom Paul Ever Gave Away Was
to An American.
New York Irfoune.)

Charles Fitzpatrick. the one-legged trick
bicycle rider. is especially interested in
the South African war, because he is per-
sonally acquainted with Dom Paul. Mr..
Fitzpatrick spent six months in the Trans
vaal and gained considerable knowledge
of the inhabitarrts. He declares with
received a medal from the sturdy preSl-
dent of the little Dutch republic.
Fitzpatrick was riding his wheel az Jo-
hannesburg and was invited 10 go TO Pre-
toria and give an exhibition before the
school children. Many adult Beers were
present at the entertainment and XII
patrick wound up mis- clever performance
by shooting glass balls thrown in the air
while riding at full speed Ii was this act
that caught the fancy OF the warlike
Beers. and they cheered the performer 10
the echo.
Fitzpatrick was taken before President
Kruger afterward and they talked to-
gether through an Interpreter. Dom PAU
expressed great interest in Americans
and American institutions. lie asked par
ticularly about the railroad and postal
systems of the United States.
Fitzpatrick told Dom Paul that America
had had two of the greatest men the
world had ever produced.
Who were they?" promptly asked Dom
Paul.
coln, replied Mr.. fitzpatrick.
"Umph," grunted Dom Paul. Then
turning TO the interpreter. he said:
Tel the young man that l probably
know more about the history of George
Washington and Abraham Lincoln sthan
he does"
AS Fitzpatrick was taking his leave the
president pulled a Transvaai sovereign
from his pocket and gave it 10 him. Then
he took it back. and handing it to a Mr.
Weinthai, who was present, told him to
have the following inscription engraved
upon X:
From President Paul Kruger South
African Republic. 1896"
The English newspapers in Johannes
burg. in commenting on the gft the next
day. declared that Fitzpatrick was the
most fortunate man in the Transyaai.
President Kruger had given him a medal.
and il was the first thing that Dom Paul
had given away in his life.
Fitzpatrick beleSes that there are no
more hospitable people in the world than
the Beers He told about bd.ng caught in
a great rainstorm while riding his bicy-
Gle He finally reached a Boer farmhouse
in company with friend. The two weary
and drenched cyclists were Immediately
invited into. the house. where supper and
bed We're prepared for them. After
breakfast the next morning Fitzpatrick
offered money. but his hosI refused -
accept a cent. The Boer and his family
could speak no English. but Fitzpatrick
declared that they knew instinctvely that
the forlorn travellers they had entertained
were not Englishmen.
According 10 Fitzpatrick. the Eoers hate
only the English. Iney scrutinize every
stranger they meet SO closely that IL is
embarrassing at times. but they rarely
make mistake as 10 persons nation
atty. They are particularly pleased to
meet Americans. and always give them a
most cordial welcome in their country
homes. They have supreme confidence in
Dom Paul, and also in their ability to
defeat the English.
According to KilDatrick's view. the
Kaffirs are more friendly toward the
Beers than toward the English.