The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-12
CECIL RHODES STORIES.
Incidents That Let Light on His
Character.

Incidents That Let Light on His
Character.
From the Philadelphia Record.
A Record correspondent, who lately re-
turned from South Africa, writes as fol-
lows: The miners of South Africa tell
many stories about Cecil Rhodes, whom
they term the uncrowned King of South
ern Africa. Many of them are of course,
mere fabrications, but everything con-
corning Rhodes is listened to with interest
in Africa. The two following anecdotes
will give the reader some idea of the char
acter of this great diamond king, whose
life is threatened by the Boer forces
which surround Kimberley:
In October 1894, Cecil Rhodes accom-
panied by one of his brothers; John Hays
Hammond, the American mining engi-
neer, and DR.. Jameson, had returned from
a tour of Matabeleland and Mashonaland.
The party left the East coast at Beira and
landed at Delagoe bay. At that time the
railroad connecting Delagoa bay with Pre-
tora was not completed but to accom-
rnodate Rhodes and his party the Trans
vaal government mad some temporary
rails laid, so that the distinguished CO.
terie could reach johannesburg via Pre-
toria. The private car of Rhodes was sent
from Cape Town to Delagoa bay The
party went from their steamer to the spe-
cial train, consisting of an engine, re-
pair car and Mr. Rhodes private car.
While this party was being whrled north
ward toward Pretoria a well-known
wealthy Boer woman, residing at Bronx
horst Spruit, which is forty miles from
the Transvaal capital received word about
o'clock OF the afternoon that Rhodes
special arrived there, that her husband
had met with an accident at Pretoria, and
was not expected to live through the night.
The distressed wife was heart-broken. 1t
would be impossible for her to reach Pre-
toria until the next day. When she heard
mat the great Cecil Rhodes would arrive
at Bronkhorst Spruit at 430 p. M. she got
herself ready and hurried to the station,
with the hopes that Mr.. Rhodes would let
her go on the train to her dying husband
When Rhodes special arrived, one of the
Boer railroad officials laid the matter be-
fore Rhodes, and asked if he would take
the unfortunate wife on his train TO Pre-
toria. Il can do nothing of the kind"
was the reply Of Rhodes. The decision
of the diamond king was communicated
to the woman, who Immediately went TO
Mr.. Rhodes and on her knees begged him
20 let her go on his train so that she might
see her husband before he died. After she
had pleaded with him for several minutes,
he finally turned round and in q gruff way
said: "Well, If you must get to Pretoria
you may ride on that tool car; have busi-
ness to attend to and / canOt accOmmo~
date you in the private car" The poor
woman was only too glad co ride to her
husband in that way. She arrived at Pre-
toria covered with dirt and cinders. When
the story of Rhodes chivalric conduct be-
came known there was great Indignation
at Pretoria, and many Englishmen at Jo-
hannesburg, considered that he had been
most brutal. The Beers. of course. felt
that he had lily repaid the courtesies that
they had extended to him. Many said that
he had simply acted in that manner to
show his hatred for the Beers but others
said that mis- hatred for all women Is so
strong that he could not bear to have one
especially a Boeress ride in his private
car.
Rhodes and barney Barnato.
During the early Kimberley DAYS. when
Rhodes and Barney Barnato were laying
the founda ion of their great fortunes. the
two were compe itoTs in a large diamond
trade. Barnato was as Slick and as sly
as fox. and no one was known 10 have
got the better Of him in a trade. Rhodes
was aware of this, and was more than
anxious to get the lest of Barney, who
had over $i50,000 worth of diamonds in the
rough sorted ready for the deal Rhodes
went to him and said: "My what q fine
layout you have, Barney. / would like
to see those diamonds all in one heap!'
Before the astonished Barney could OBJ
jet Rhodes had swept the whole pile OF
diamonds into a large wooden bucket 1t
took Barney Barnato three days to resort
his gems, and in the meantime Rhodes had
corner on the market, and sold his dia-
monds before Barney got through resort
ing his lot. Rhodes made about $4,000 by