The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-27
CECIL RHODES DEAD
SOUTH AFRICA'S GREAT DEVELOP
Err is NO MORE.
a STRENUOUS LIFE FINISHED.
DIED A sADDENED AND DIsAP-
POINTED MAN.

Tbe Man Who Had Carved an EN-
pire for Britain in South Africa,
Made an Immense Fortune for
himself and Had "a Name Known
Round the Globe, Died in a Little
cabin, Close by n Railroad Track,
and with the Sad Sea Waves
sounding Upon His Ears-Govern-
mcnt VIII Give Him Public
Funeral.
Cape Town, March 26.-Cecil Rhodes
died peacefully at 5:57 p. m. He slept
during the morning and again in the
afternoon, but his breathing became
more difficult and his strength percep-
tibly diminished until he passed away.
DR.. Jameson Was There.
At his bedside were DIR. Jameson, DR..
7 w. Smart, the commissioner of pub
lie works; Col. Elmhurst Rhodes, direc-
tor of signalling of the South African
field force, and Mr.. Walton, a member
If the assembly of Port Elizabeth.
Mr.. Rhodes last words were the
names of his brother and some of the
others present, which were meant to be
good-byes. I The only person who at
tended him during his illness and who
was not present at his deathbed was
DR.. Stevenson; all the others, his boys
and personal servants, were admitted
at the last.
The bodys will be taken to Grottes-
chuur. the residence of the deceased,
near Cape Town, on special train To-
morrow. There it will probably lie in
state for a day or two and the public
will be admitted to view the remains.
II has not yet been determined where
he will be buried. 1t was the wish OF
Mr. Rhodes to be inferred at Matoppo
Hills. Rhodesia. Certain of his friends
will proceed to Matoppo Hills to deter
mine whether it is practicable to carry
out this wish.
The features of the dead man are
placid. and a death mask of them will
be taken.
Mr.. Rhodes was conscious until 500
U. m. when he muttered few words
and sank quickly. The immediate
cause of his death was two successive
attacks of heart failure.
VIII nnVe n Government Funerai.
The government has decided to give
Cecil Rhodes a public funeral. Ills
remains will be brought. here from
Grooteschuur for the burial service,
which will be held in the cathedral.
The body will then be taken PACK 10
Grooteschuur and will eventually pe
inferred at Matoppo Hills.
Since Mr.. Rhodes took his bed three
weeks ago his friends had been most
anxious that he should recover sufil-
GENTLY to be taken back to England;
The cottage where he died was a SIM
pie seaside cabin, small and close to
the railroad. It was i'll fitted to be
a sick chamber, although the utmost
was done to improve the Ventilation
and make it more comtortap pie,
DR.. Stevenson slept by ms
patient every night that he might be in
readiness to administer oxygen, which
Practically kept Mr.. Rhodes alive.
The news of his death spread through
Cape Town between and o'clock
this evening and caused profound grlet.
All places Of amusement were imnle-
diately closed. An open air concert
was stopped and the audience uncover
ed, while the band played, The DEAD
March," The people then silently dis
persed.
Cecil ]. Rhodes was born in England,
the son of a minister of the Estab-
lished Church. He was educated at
oxford. Shortly after his graduation
he went to South Africa, where he be-
came engaged in diamond mining.
With his partners he secured control
of the Kimberley fields, and amassed
a great fortune. He entered politics,
and was invited by Premier Seaman
to a seat in his cabinet. In politics,
as in mining, he was successful, ana
on the retirement of the Seaman min
istry Rhodes became the premier OF
Cape Colony. He obtained concessions
in Matabeleland and other countries in
South Africa, and opened mines ana
built railways and towns. That divi-
sion of South Africa called Rhodesla
was brought under English domina-
ton by Mr.. Rhodes and named in ms
honor. AS the head of the South Afrl-
can Chartered Company, Mr.. Rhodes
was held responsible for Jamesons
raid into the Transvaal, and the COM
pany was forced to pay a large sum
in indemnity to the Beers. 1t is also
alleged that Mr.. Rhodes was more or
less directly responsible for the pres
ent war in South Africa. He has had
a prominent place in the political pic
ture of the war, at all events, and has
been under fire. He was at Kimberley
during the memorable siege of that
place by Cronje, and remained there
until the garrison was relieved.