The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-14
DUG FIRST DIAMOND
Erred THE FIELD AT KIM
BERLEY
ARRIVAL OF CECIL, RHODES

ARRIVAL OF CECIL RHODES
Came to Join His Brothers, and Was
In Africa Not to Make a Fortune,
but to Benefit His Health-Fond
of Animals, but Was Not Popular
With the Pioneers of South
Africa.
Residing upon his ranch in Southern
California is a gentleman, the Hon. John
Study, late of Kimberley, South Africa,
and an ex-colohial minister of finance.
who. from a personal knowledge of the
subject describes how the first diamond
was discovered, which led to the building
up of the beieaguered city of Kimberley,
and how Cecil Rhodes laid the foundation
of his colossal wealth ard rover
1T was in 1885, says Mr.. Study, that
| first met Herbert Rhodes. the pioneer
of the Rhodes family fortune, at Du
TitsDan, where we joined in the rush to
Old De Beers, and in which latter place
we worked together upon very friendly
terms.
''In a short time Herbert Rhodes was
followed by Frank, now Col Rhodes,
when the two brothers entered into part
ncrship, working good paying claim.
upon Road No s.
Both brothers were very popular at
the diggings. Herbert was a strong,
fault, 1t was his big hearted generosity,
which, at times, carried him to lengths Of
expenditure perhaps not warranted by
the extent of his find, and who surely
deserved better fate than that horrible
one of being burnt to death, which sub
seouently overlook him wflen gold pros
pecting on the coast Of Zanzibar.
: Il had worked for over year at old
De Beers with fairly satisfactory results,
when 1 went out. in company with G.
friend, upon that memorable hunting
trip which led to the discovery of New
Rush, or Kimberley, and. incidentally, to
the making of the fortune end fame of
the Ri. Hon. Cecil Rhodes
NEW DIAMOND FIELD.
''It was on Sunday afternoon, re-
member, that we had pushed our way
when, in searching for some cartridges +
had brought down near clump of
minora bushes. / found prospect to
which I at once called the attention of
my companion.
On making careful survey of the
ground. seeing that it was similar
formation to that Of old De Beers, 1 sat
down and sorted out some of the dirt,
11ybe in fxra T ,oio
out as many small diamonds.
with this evidence of an important
discovery before US, we decided to give
up the Shoot and returning to camp at
old De Beers, 1 Immediately urged upon
my partner the advisa bility of starting
for the new ground My partner, how
ever happened to be man of a very
conservative disposition and was sceptical
Of the value of my discovery, asking If
there were not enough diamonds right
where we stood to satisfy cur needs, in
stead OF madly rushing all over the coun-
try, and in the hunt of a shadow perhaps
lose the substance.
STILL impressed with the belief that
l had made big find, / went over to the
tent of an old Nata! friend, Popham
by name, with whom at the time was
Herbert Rhodes. L told them of my
discovery and we three at once decided
to organize stampede for the new
field.
"Popham and Rhodes got away in less
than two hours, and 1 fully intended to
accompany them, but deferred to the
wishes Of my partner, to remain with
him at old De Beers; sending on four
Kaffir Zulus, however, to help stake out
our claims.
ct was but a few hours after, through
the fundamentally Of the friend who
1 had taken with me on the hunting trip,
that the news was spread abroad through
the camp, and before a. m. in the next
morning old De Beers was deserted, and
in twenty-four hours later there were
from 5000 to 1000 men on the ground on
which now stands the city of K mberley.
'In a few days the country all around
that clump of minora, where 1 had shot
the cartridges. was staked out, and it
was almost on that spot, right in the
center of the crater of the extinct mud
volcano now forming the celebrated De
Beers mine, that Popham, Herbert
Rhodes and myself secured three of the
best paying claims.
CECIL'S DISGUST.
cit was about five or six months after
this when we had all moved to New
Rush, that Cecil Rhodes. the youngest
brother, unexpectedly turned up at the
diggings.
Cecil Rhodes was, both in appearance
and character, quite different to his
brothers, being at that time tall ard thin,
darker in complexion than Frank Rhodes,
but not so dark as Herbert.
Ills constitution appeared to be very
delicate and it was generally understood
that he had come out more with the idea
of building UP his health than making a
fortune.
'eIIe took up his abode In a tent close
to my own, and for some months, on ae-
count of the intimate relations existing
| between his brothers and myself, l saw
q good deal of him. in fact, dining with
the three almost every night.
while, as l said before, Herbert and
Frank Rhodes were open hearted, gener-
Gus fellows, Cecil, on the other hand, was
| of an altogether different character, be-
| ing very reserved and hard to draw out.
He was, at first, evidently not bubbling
| over with delight at all he witnessed and
| heard in his new surroundings, taking
| rather unkindly to the situation, which
| did not tend to make him popular In the
| camp, and even his brothers seemed lit
! tie shy of his presence.
"On the morning of his arrival in camp,
| Herbert Rhodes asked me to take his
brother Cecil down and show him over
| the claims, where they were working
| from eighteen to twenty Zulus. To this
| request | readily agreed, and while In
| the pit picked out small diamond from
| the side wall and handed it to h1n-llis
| first stone in South Africa. He was, how
| ever. very reticent at all he saw, only
remarking that he had no idea 1t was