The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-05
A MEDAL FROM DOM PAUL.
A Trick bicycle Riders Meeting
With the TransvaaI President.
From the New York Tribune.


From the New York Tribune.
Charles Fitzpatrick, the one-legged trick
bicycle rider, is especially interested in the
South African war, because he is PERSONAL
ly acquainted with Dom Paul. Mr.. Kill
patrick spent six months in the Transvaal
ard gained considerable knowledge of the
! character of the inhabitants. He declares
with pride that he was the first man who
ever received a medal from the sturdy
president of the little Dutch republic
fitzpatrick was riding his wheel at Jo-
hannesbrug, and was invited to go to Pre-
| toria and give an exhibition before the
school children. Many adult Beers were
present at the entertainment, and Kilpat-
rick wound up his clever performance by
| shooting glass balls thrown in the air
| while riding at full speed. It was this
that caught the fancy of the waTlke Beers
and they cheered the performer to the
| echo.
fitzpatrick was taken before President
| Kruger afterward and they talked togeth-
er through an interpreter. Dom Paul ex-
! pressed great interest in Americans and
| American institutions. He asked particu-
| larly 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 they2" promptly asked Dom
| Paul.
George Washington and Abraham Lin
! coin" replied MIR. fitzpatrick.
"Umph," grunted Dom Paul. Then turn
! ing to the Interpreter, he said:
Tell the young man that / probably
know more about the history of George
| Washington and Abrahama Lincoln that
| he does"
| AS Fitzpatrick was taking his leave. the
! President pulled a Transvaal sovereign
! from his pocket and gave il TO him. Then
he took 1t back and handing il to a Mr.
! Weinthal, who was present told him to
! have the following inscription engraved
| upon it:
From President Paul Kruger, South
African Republic. 1896"
| The English newspapers of Johannes
! burg in commenting on the gift the next
day. declared that Fitzpatrick was the
most fortunate man in the Transvaal
President Kruger had given him a medal
and it was Inc first thing that Dom Paul
had given away in his life.
| Fitzpatrick believes that there are no
more hospitable people in the world that
the Beers He told about being caught in
great rainstorm while riding his bicycle
He finally reached a Boer farm house in
company win a friend The two weary
and drenched cyclists were Immediately
| invited into the house, where supper and
a bed were prepared for them. After
| breakfast the next morning Fitzpatrick Of
fered money, but his host refused to ac-
cept a cent. The. Boer and his family
could speak no English, but fitzpatrick de-
| clared that they knew instinctively That
! the forlorn travellers they had entertained
were not Englishmen.
According 10 Fitzpatrick the Beers hate
only the British They scrutinize every
stranger they meet and that it Is en-
barrassing at times, but they seldom make
a mistake as TO a persons nationality
| They are particularly pleased to meet
! cordial reception in their country homes.
! They have supreme confidence in Dom
| Paul. ond also in their ability 10 defeat
| the English
! According 10 Kilpatrick's view the Kaf-
frs are more friendly toward the Beers
than toward the British.