The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-04-05
THE BOER COMMANDER Is DEAD
Cen. Joubert n Victim of Disease
lie Was u Fighter and Ear mcr AL
IIta I,tGn

"Ch. oouDort victim OF Disease
He Was u Fighter and Eur ncr AL
His Life.
Gen. Plet Joubrrt, the commander
OF the Boer army, died GU The 9th Of
March Of peritoniLis. Tho press Of
England and France pay tributes to
the patriot and soldier, who was an
upright ana honorable gentleman. The
story Df his life Is as follows:
General Pietruskobius Joubort, com.
mandant general of tho Transvaal
forces, better known as Piet Joubert,
or Slim Piet," (Slim Peter) was born
about 69 years ago. He was descended
from an old French HuRuenot family
which settled in South Africa many
years ago. Ho WAS born in Cspc Col
ony, but WAS taken by his parents
when several years old, to the Orange
Free State, whore he was taught from
early childhood to shoot strai ipbt and
hate tho British.
Ho is described as having been utter
~ fearless. OF schooling he had bu,
little and ho mover saw a NEWSPAPER
until he was ID years o.d. In spite OF
this, his ambition prompted him to
read the few books he could obtain and
be succeeded in obtaining fGjr knowl.
edge OF history and language.
In const quence Of the acquisition Of
Natal by the British his faulty moved
fr0m;Natal ana settled in the Trausvaul.
Soon u afterward he became u burgher
Of the South African Republic ana d
daring tighter. IL was clalmedin his be-
half that be could lead body Of men
M Jrc successfully ly,aga nst hostile ra,ivo.
than any other man in the Transvaal
He came to be 30 feared by the natives
that tho knowledge that he was at the
head OF a punitive expedition usually
resulted in their surrender.
1t was during these wars with the
natives tnut JOubcrt became acquainL.
cd with Paul k"uger and Lho two met
became bosom friends. He was elcc' C
defeated Sir George Collcy at NJ j1bi
Hill in 1881, and acted rs presideut oi
the republic in 1881 during President
kruger's absence IN Europe. General
oIbort WAS always in favor OF the use
OF force instead Of diplomacy and Pres
iucnt Kruger On several occasions had
great difficulty in repressing his hot,
headed colleague, notably in 1879,
whom Joubert with Kruger and Pre-
torius was planning the rebellion to
overthrow British rule in the Traos-
vaul. The result vas Majuba Hill aud
the practical independence OF the Trans.
vaal. 1t was Joubart who organ I'd
the army Of the South African Repub.
lie, later on dividing the country lntol7
military departments and each of these
departments into smaller divisions with
commandments, field cornets and lieu
tenants OF various ranks in charge
According to the generals plans
every native became a trained soldier
without leaving HIS farm, and has his
equipment always at hand. SO near
perfect WAS the system carried out that
within lS hours after the present war
was declared the Beer nation was un-
der arms. 1T was also due 10 General
JOubert that the South African Repub
lie succeeded In amassing the ammunl.
tiOns Of war and provisions which have
stood tt en- in such good stead during
the col ilct now in progress.
When the Jameson raiders were
bcked UP in Pretoria jlil Joubert was
strongly in favor Of their Immediate
execution. 1t was not until Joubert
and Kruger had been closcted together
for whole night that the merciful
counsel of Kruger prevailed. In spite
OF these characteristics, Joubert, on
| some occasions, showed considerable
regard for the usages Of civilization.
| When the Beers raided British ter.
! ritOry B1chuAnBland, in 1884, Joubert,
was probably the only prominent Boer
! who refused to support the movement
and his opposition resulted in tho with
drawal Vi the Beers from the territory
seized rs he threatened to resign unless
| be had his way. saying: IL positively
| refuse to hold Office under "A government
that deliberately breaks its convenants.
| and We have made covenants with
| England"