The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-27
CECIL JOHN RHODES.
Sketch of the Life and Work of the
"~NapoIeon of South Africa,

Cecil John Rhodes, former premier of Cape
Colony, and one of the instigators of the
raid Of DR.. Jameson and his followers into
the Transvaal, was born on July 5, 1853, the
youngest son of an English clergyman, and
was educated at Oxford. In 1873 he left Ok
ford on account of a serious lung trouble
and went to South Africa in search Of
health. He continued his studies while liv-
ing in Natal and returned to Oxford each
year until he took his degree at Oriel Col
lege. He was treasurer general of Cape
Colony in 1884, deputy commissioner of
Be~chuanaland from 1884 to 1885, director of
the British South Africa Company, whose
charter was mainly granted as a result of
his efforts in 1889. and he was chairman of
that company until 1896. Mr.. Rhodes was
also a director of the De Beers mines and
premier of Cape Colony from 1890 until 1896,
when he resigned as one of the results Of
the jameson raid. Later Mr.. Rhodes ap-
peared before the parliamentary committee
of inquiry in London appointed to establish
the blame of the raid. and he also served
with the British forces in Matabeleland. At
the outbreak of the present Beor war he
was in Kimberly and contributed largely to
the success of the defense of that place
against the Boer forces.
1t is hardly too much TO say that Mr..
Rhodes made his fortune in diamonds. Dia-
mO0QS n2u Deen discovered IN South Africa
a few years before he got there. Finally
he, too, caught the fever, and il was not
long before he had staked all he had in a
few claims. These he shared with his
brother Herbert. who later relinquished his
share and went to the north. where he met
his death while hunting elephants. Cecil
plodded away in the Diamond fields. where
ne S|uperlntended MS gang or kaffirS. He
was successful in his ventures, and it was
not long before he found himself the pos
SCISSOR Of some e1, O0.O O0. He was elected to
I'll g. - - =
adroitness was made prime minister in 1890.
He sought and won riches, but ii is unfair
TO assume that he did so solely for his own
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. With the advancement Of
his personal fortune he also strove to real
lie an early dream of bringing Africa under
British dominion.
That's my m English" he said
many years ago, moving his hand over A
map of Africa w to the Zambesi. Coupled
with the acquisition of wealth he labored
necessarily toward that end.
Mr.. Rhodes's financial schemes included
the combination of the four leading mining
companies under the consolidated De Beers
mines, which yielded vast results. Soon
after its formation came the discovery
of the great T~ransvaal gold fields and their
exploitation by Rhodes & Co. His plans
for territorial expansion for English inter-
ests on a great scale led TO the formation
Of the British South Africa Company. This
was formed 10 open I'D. improve and adj
minister Mashonaland and all other Bechu-
ana countries up 10 the Zambesi One Of
IAAG 12DAN f11 A%1 va dll IIE
defeat and death of King Lobengula. The
result of the Jameson raid and the subse-
quent investigation in nowise impaired the
power and prestige Of Mr.. Rhodes in South
Africa. TO which he returned after the par
liamentary inquiry. for in September OF
1898 he was again elected TO the Cape Par
lament.
on his last visit TO Europe he was re-
ceived with favor on nearly every side. He
had several interviews with the German
Emperor. who gave a dinner in his honor.
He obtained from the German government
a franchise 20 build a railway and telegraph
line through German territory in Africa
This was a long step toward carving out
one of his great dreams of a "Cape-to-
Cairo railway. In England. Oxford Uni
versity honOred Mr.. Rhodes with the degree
of d. c.. L. His rehabilitation with the
British public, therefore. seemed to have
been well nigh completed.
The Rev. DIR. w. l.. Thompson. returned
missionary. writing in the New York World
three years ago said Of Cecil Rhodes:
He Was a genial and entertaining COM
panion. Wearing the old SLOUGH hat he af-