Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-01-12

had not been used for long time.
While tinkering with charge the gun
exploded. tearing his left thumb in
shreds. Kruger's companions wanted
him to give up the hunt and hurry to
the nearest surgeon. but the intrepid
young Boer refused. Taking out his
hunting knife he placed the laccrated
thumb on the stock of his rifle and am
putated it himself. BY tying about the
stump a piece of rawhide he stopped
the flow of blood. and. winding around
it a red handkerchief. he continued the
sport.
All through his life Kruger has had
narrow escapes from death. and his ca
reer. if detailed fully, would be thrill.
ing. When only fourteen years old he
and his little sister strayed away from
the laager down in Cape Colony, where
the elder Kruger had settled on pmi-
grating from Germany. and while play
ing were suddenly attacked by Loop
ard Young Kruger'S only weapon was
n iackknife. hut shielding his sister
with one arm. he met the vicious spri g
of the leopard with the other. AMI after
bloody struggle succeeded in stab
bling II to death.
y
and his second to Rhodes. whom he de-
tests like poisonous reptile. Put for
Rhodes Mr.. Kruger says. all would he
peace and quetness in the TranSvAal
So long as this man is in South Africa
there is no rest for the Beers. and their
secret service agents may be found on
every street in Johannesburg, on the
lookout for Uitlander conspirators.
in, Ia
complishmcnts. Is by far the best
preacher in the Transvaal and the
Dutch Reformed Church boasts Of
some capable men there. He occupies
the pulpit in modern brick edilice
across the street from his home about
once month. and always talks to
standing room only lie uses no notes.
hut speaks off-hand from a text. and
does not hesitate to sprinkle Il little
huinor in the discourse. In his speech
es before the Rad he quotes scripture
generously, and even more so in con
versation
As for his private life. that seems to
he exemplary. After rising he prays
for long time in his room. and talks
over with the Lord" the questions of
the day. When he develops convic-
tion in this way he proceeds to act up
on it, Kruger's piety once nearly cost
him his life. \ good many years ago
he suddenly disappeared. and when he
failed to show up Il searching party
was made up to hunt for him. At the
end of three days they found the future
President. who was then field cornrt
lying face down on the open veldt lie
had been proving three days and nights
mi a
was nearly dead.
Mr. Kruger is now 76 years old. and
has been elected To the Presidency -four
times. His salary is $4,000 with 81
500 for coffee. This he drinks black
and so hot that the burghers say it
will scald the hair off dog. His life
has certainly been remarkable one.
and at different stages he has been Il
farmer herdsman, hunter. soldier.
clergyman. ambassador triumvr. H.
nancier. head of the army. and is now
serving his fourth term as Pres ident
Mrs. Kruger has been Mr.. Kruger's
constant helpmate through all the
years of his public life, and their afrec-
ton for each other seems to have
grown with eacli succeeding year. she
is Mr. Krugers second wife Erugcr's
first wife was an aunt Of Miss Du
plessis. and bore him one son. who
died. Sixteen children We're the fruit
Of this second marriage and of those
seven are living. The girls are com.
fOrlahly married 10 hurglIers in and
about Pretoria, and the boys take an
active interest in the army. one son in
law, Captain Eloff, has made himself
famous 10y building the most expensive
mansion in south Africa He has no
crued n fortune in real estate opera
lions, and is supposed to me worth ~
uOO,0OO One of kruger's SONS acts ny
his secretary aud another is captain of
an infantry company. Mr.. and Mrs.
Kruger live in little two-story cot
tage, painted white and covered in
frnnf with Innlninm nrInrn. ,.inn..