The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-27
NOT A SURPRISE.
Diamond Kisg Had Been Failing for Two
Years asst.
(By Associated Prers.)

LONDON, March 26.-The death Of Ce-
| Gil Rhodes came as no great SURPRISE
| to those few who saw anything of him
during his last visit to London during
4 the winter Whether it was due to his
/ experiences during the long siege of kim
! berlev, or the accumulated anxieties re
/ garding the war in South Africa. with
I accompanying changes of public feeling
| in England towards him. there is no
/ doubt he was almost completely broken
Town within the last two years.
Even lis appearance changed. Els
once fineIy-chiseIed face had become
i bloated and his always huge frame filed
| out until he became SO stout as to make
walking a matter of difficulty. He was
frequently attacked with severe heart
troubles during which he exhibited tho
| stoicism which marked his extraordinary
! career.
Up to the last Mr.. Rhodes kept firm
| grip on all those vast South African
| interest created aha controlled by him.
| Except that he was more irritable ana
! more dictatorial. there was no outward
change in his method Of handling men,
| millions and empires.
| Towards the social life, however, he
soured yisibly. Once his days work at
the offices of the British Chartered South
| Africa Company was over, he shut him
self up from the curious In an unfre-
quented London Hotel, where he utterly
denied himself to all except half
dozen favored intimates. Dr.. Jameson
vas his constant companion More cs-
| pecially did Mr.. Rhodes shun the pres
I ent Government leaders He bitterly ex-
| pressed his contempt Of British army
| methods in South Africa. and proba bly,
never quite forgave Mr.. Chamberlain and
| Lord Miner for not consulting him or
! endeayoring to utilize the powerful finan
cial-politica1 machine which Mr.. Rhodes
ma inn a Tor .7nI
| Of South Africa.
With increasing feasibility; which he
did not hesitate to vent on Duke or pleo-
ian who crossed his path, he grew moro
and more restless as the en6 of his
| life drew near He was never contented
! to stay long in one place. His closing
! days devolved into an un:sasins, l.uI-
| poseless quest of change of S enc.
Financially, Mr.. Rhodes death is not
| likely to have any vc:y far-reaching re-
I suits, IS all his erteiT rises were syste-
matizcd . thorot; E.y as not to need
| the nlaste: 1nird y hitch was necessary to
/ their inception.
The news Of Mr.. Rhodes death reached
London too late to excite comment either
| on the Stock Exchange or in tile after
! noon newspapers. The bulletin announc-
! ing his demise, which was sent from Cape
/ Town a 6:35 p. NJ, reached the news
| paper offices just as the final editions
| were going to press. Some OF the half
! penny sheets soon turned out posters
\ announcing the event, but number of
! last editions did not contain even the
| bare announcement Of Mr.. Rhodes death.
Throgmorton Street was deserted when
the news arrived, SO there was not even
furry on the curb market. THE tick
ers'' soon Disseminated the news in tho
! clubs and hotels. where it formed the
| main topic of conversation. but the event
I had been SO thoroughly discounted that
| it can hardly be said to have created
! a ripple of excitement.