The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-27
CECIL RHODES IS DEAD
DIAMOND KING sUCcUMBs TO
 DISEASE IN cAPEToWN.
For More Than Two Years He Had Been in Bad Health-John Hays Hammond Talks of His
 Dead Friend.

| Capetown South Africa, March 26.-- Cecil Rhodes is dead.
 | After <an illness extending over about l four weeks. but a general breakdown dat ing back for two years or more, the end came peacefully. this afternoon at 5:57 o'clock.
 Mir Rhodes slept but little during the afternoon. although during the morning hours he rested quietly.
 l The physicians announced at noon there was no change in the patients condition, and although he was considered desper- atsly i'll, 1t was not generally known that the end was near at hand until few minutes before death came. It has been planned for several days that Mir. Rhodes should be taken to Lon don, whe-e he would be placed in the of the ship was fixed for today. but when morning dawned 1t was ascertained that Mir Rhodes was too weak to think of a change. The trip was then postponed un- til time when 1t was hoped the patient would be stronger.
 Later in the afternoon his breathing be- came weaker and his strength gradually diminished until he peacefully passed away.
 Mir Rhodes was one of the most prom inent men in South Africa. He was at one time premier. afterwards holding many positions of honor and trust. He was the principal owner of the Kimberly diamond mines, the richest mines in the world.
 His active life in the affairs of the country made for him many foes as well
 as friends He was charged with being the principal instigator of the famous Jameson rad. and to him was charged by | many the responsibility of the present war between England and the Boers. Pre- vious to the present war he was popu-
 lar with the Dutch. but within the last two years he lost many of his friends
 among the native settlers. Those who knew him best contend that he was more sinned against than shining. MT. Rhodes was corscious until 5:55 I.
 m.. when he muttered a few words and
 sank quickly. The immediate cause Of his death was the successive attacks of
 heart failure. At his bedside wtre pr.
 si ner of Public Works; Colonel Elm
 hurst Rhodes. director of signalling of
 the South African fisl1 force, and Dr.
 Walton. member of the Assembly at Port Elizabeth.
 MT. Rhodess last words were the names
 0; his brother and some of the others present which were meant to be good- byes. The only person who attended him ent at his dt ath bed was Dr. Stevenson. All the others, lis boys and personal servants, were admitted at the laet. The body will be taken to Grootes- chuur. the residence of the deceased near Cape Town, on a special train tomorrow. It will p-obabzly lie in state for day or two and the public will be admitted to view the remains. It was the wish of MT. Rhodes to be inferred at Matoppo Hil.s, Rh odesia. The features of the dead man are placid and a death mask of them will be taken. The government has decided to give Cecil Rhodes a public funeral. His re- mains will he brought here for the bu- rial service. which will be held in the l cathedral. The body will then be taken | back to Grooteschuur and will eventual | ly be inferred at Matoppo Hiluls. Since | MT Rhodes took to his bed three weeks | ago his friends had been most anxious | that he should recover sufficiently to be l taken back to England.
 The cottage where he dded was simple | seaside cabin. although the utmost was | done to improve the ventilation: and make it more comfortable. Dr. steven | son slept by his patient every night that | he might be be in readiness to. administer
 oxygen. which practically kept MT. | Rhodes alive.
 Last Sunday he lost all interest in ev-
 erything and since then he dozed tne | hours away His rally from the crisis or 1 Tuesday left but the faintest hopes TOT 1 his ultimate recovery. These were entire. l ly abandoned with the renewed attack at l noon today. T., 1,..
 The news of his death spread in Cape 1 Town between [ and o'clock this even 1 ing and caused profound grief. All places | of amusement were immedlately cioseu, ., 1 An open air concert was stopped ana the l audience uncovered while the band play | ed the Dead March" The people then | silently dispersed.