Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-11-07
RHODES GREAT ROLE
BOY MINER IN SOUTH AFRICA
BECAME EMPIRE BUILDER.
Went to the Cape as Consumptive and
Through Saving, Became
Great Millionaire.

iilpoFtdntS 20 many Americans VINO
have holdings in the British Chartered
South African company.
To the public at large he is also an
unique figure as the man who more
than any other today, perhaps, is re-
| sponsible for the present Boer war.
| Years ago Rhodes dreamed of the
possibility of forming great South AZ
rican federation to be dominated by
Great Britain and il is yet possible that
he may live to see that dream consum-
mated. although it will be done at the
cost of extinction to the brave people
opposed to it. the loss of an enormous
treasure to Great Britain and of half a
colossal fortune to himself.
Mr. Rhodes struck the tide OF af-
fairs in South Africa at the flood which
led on to so many fortunes. He had
just reached the suh-tropical lei Dorado
at the time when a German trader
brought down from the interior at Pet
ermaritzburg some stones which were
either diamonds or crystals, Judging
| from their appearance. The German
said such stones We're plentiful up in
the Vaal and that he had found Boer
house on which the plaster shingles
We're filled with the glittering pebbles.
The Beers children he said had boxfuls
of them which they used for toys or in
| playing their games Of marbles.
OF course, the pebbles were diamonds
and some of the sagacious spirits who
heard the ola traders story decided
that the land of She's original had at
| last been discovered
| Cecil Rhodes had not yet reached
Pietermari,zburg but his brother Her.
bert. man named Andrew Campbell
and Henry Popham collected force OF
| Basutos and made for the Vaal. where
the first diamond field was opened
! One or two claims were worked for
some months with Indifferent success
until finally the Rhodes brothers learn
| ed that someone had struck diamonds
at what became the old De Beers mine
| and thither they at once proceeded In
order to stake out claims.
| 1t was at this juncture that Cecil
Rhodes came upon the scene. At that
| time he was a young man under 20
| years of age, tall and slender in build
and of dark complexion. His appear
ance denoted that he was in delicate
| health and the fact was that he had
| gone to the Cape on that account hop
ing that the mild climate would help
| him build up. Rhodes was at that time
| the last man one would have singled
out as the coming Colossus. for he
seemed to have no taste whatever in
! the living of a life one leads at the
mines. AS he found himself Tn ere. how
! ever. with the necessity of gaining a
| living in some way, he joined his broth
! or in working their claims, having as
| an heir to the family estate an interest
| in them.
| The first diamond OF any real mag
nitude or quality discovered at Kimber-
| ly, strangely enough was picked from
| the wall ana handed to him by a friend
! who had called to see him in his own
mine.
/ Inc stone was probably worth $4,000
| and the possession OF il seemed to make
| new man of the young miner.
| From that time on he was not in
| South Africa for his health. He work.
ed necessarily and the poor Kaffirs I'M
| der him wished that he had never found
| his way to the diamond fields.
Not only did Cecil develop extraor
binary industry but he soon showed the
streak of parsimony which has always
| been such a disagreeable feature of his
| character.
He Joined in none OF the celebrations
! his companions INDUCED in when a
| streak of good luck was experienced,
! but plodded on at his work with de-
! termination which left no room for
| doubt that he would some day be very
rich man He even denied himself de-
| cent fooo and clothes in order to have
| some money in his pocket to buy out
some poor unfortunate who had dissi-
| pated the money he had made and could
no longer afford to work his claim.
His own brothers, big generous heart
ed fellows, fell victims to the avarice
of Cecil who by persistent saving final
| " was enabled TO control the family
holding and Gust them from 1t alto
| gether
From that time onward Rhodes ca
reer was one glittering march of tri-
umph and it was not many years be-
fore he had gathered practically ali
| there was of Kimberly into his net.
The statement recently made by Mr.
! Rhodes as to the payment to the liberal
| committee shows that he is unquestion-
| ably a patriot who believes in pushing
the British empire to it's apparent des-
! tiny by any and every means.
49, y
J of IT, for the continued British occn-
| pancy OF Egypt must, under the circum-
! stances that have come to light, rest
| largely upon the shoulders Of Mr..
| Rhodes and there is little doubt that be
| has been the leading spirit In the Cape
TO Cairo telegraph and railroad scheme.
Now that his ideas have been pushed
/ 50 Far forward IL Is doubtful II Great
/ Britain dare stand for retreat from an
/ inch OF territory that she has acquired
/ control OF on the dark continent, but
that will serve only 10 show how i'm
/ portant part he has played in the for
| nation of the British African empire.
What Kitchener has been in the mil
! itary service ot that continent Rhodes
| has been TO the financial and CONNER.
/ eial interests. His daring moves have
I rightly won for him the title Of the
! Coloss rs. He is one OF the 'men born
/ TO dictate 10 others. In manner resefy-
/ ed and almost tacit1rn, he yet wins the
/ confidence Of all who have dealings
1 with him and the Chartered company
/ ~ simply piece Of putty in his hands,
/ which he kneads as he sees m.