Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-18
NOTED MINING EXPERT
DEATH OF R. E. L. BROWN IN
ARIZONA.
Had a S., OOO, 900 Claim Against the
Transvaal Republican,
perience in Idaho.

perience in Idaho.
Word was received in Washington today
of the death, in Arizona, Of r. E. l.. Brown,
a mining engineer of international reputa-
ton and known at the State Department
through the negotiations entered into by
this government looking to a settlement Of
his $5,Oo0.O00 Zone million pounds judgment
against the former South African republic.
Mr.. Brown was not only an unusually sue
cessful mine operator, but also man OF
striking and picturesque personality.
In the Occur d Alenes, where he was in
terested in silver and lead mines, he was
known Barbarian Brown. and in the
Transvaal as Marc Antony Brown. These
titles were not won by any manner of buff
foonery. On the contrary, they were be-
slowed upon him as a recognition Of his
force of character. During the lawleSSneSS
in the Occur d Alenes at the time of the
Homestead strikes Mr.. Brown published
paper in the interests of the mine owners,
which he styled THE Barbarian" and in
which he fearlessly exposed conspiracies
against the public order Before President
Harrison sent troops to quiet the disturb
ances in Idaho, Mr.. Brown converted his
printing establishment into an arsenal and
wheeled cannon into the street to prevent
the rioters from assaulting men and boys
engaged in distributing copies Of THE Bar
barian."
In South Africa just before the Jameson
raid, in addressing public gathering, Mr..
Brown warned the working men Of johann
nesburg against casting their lot with the
wealthy revolutionists who at that time
were seeking to overthrow Kruger's gov
eminent. This admonition. which subse-
quent events showed to be sound and
timely. fell like bomb into the camp Of
the millonaires. for Mr.. Brown at the time
was consulting engineer for the Barnato
mines and was himself interested in many
of the big mining undertakings on the Rand.
This speech won him the title Of Marc An
tony Brown and served to establish him In
Jameson and the wealthy leaders Of the
cabal were lodged In jail in Pretoria Mr..
Brown was enabled to act as mediator
between them and the Transvaal authori-
ties.
Mr. Olney. then Secretary Of State. recog-
nized Mr.. Browns diplomatic strength In
the crisis. and cablod him request to pre-
pare a report on the situation and submit 1t
to the State Department at Washington
Browns S., oOO, 900 Judgment.
Mr.. Browns Judgment of S5,0O,O0O
against the Transvaal government is
matter of interesting contemporary history.
When Witfontein, a valuable extension of
the Rand. was thrown open for mining all
the big financial houses in johannesburg
made ready to seize as much as they could
of the coveted area. By the law Of the
land 1t was necessary to wait until the
nearest landdrost read the proclamation
opening the land to mining entry. Licenses
were then to be issued. But before the
men the field could stake out claims the
law required that they should be advised
as to the number of the licenses and other
details. There was neither telephone nor
telegraph communication between the Wit
fontein reef and the landdrost's office. So
to comply with the law the big syndicate s
pressed jockeys on fleet mounts into service
to transmit the necessary technical infor-
nation to the men on the field On the day
appointed Mr.. Brown appeared with other
mine operators at the head of a cavalcade
of jockeys. But no sooner had these rival
horsemen started dashing across the veldt
toward Witfontein than Mr.. Brown calmly
set to work with signal corps. and hello
graphed all necessary instructions far in
advance of the swiftest riders. By the
time these reached the field Mr. Browns
men had staked Off / 900 claims. Long lit
igation followed. the high court of the
Transvaal ultimately deciding that his ac-
ton, though alert and novel; was legal, and
ne was awarded Judgment in sum
amounting to s.. oO0060.
President Kruger was incensed at the
nndlngS of the court. and Summarily dis
missed the chief justice from office and en-
joined the IranSyaal treasury from paying
judgment.
Case Cited By Mr.. Chamberlain.
The case is still pending. Before the war
was declared between the Beers and the
British Colonial Secretary Chamberlain
cited the Brown case as an instance of the
inability of foreigners in the Transvaal t.
obtain justice there Up to the time of his
death Mr.. Brown was working to secure
recognition from England concerning the
validity of his Judgment against the former
republic. The State Department has tha
matter in hand. Congress, in it's recent
session, called for report of the case and
the history of the interesting matter was
printed a public document.
Although Mr.. Brown had accomplishe
much as mining man. operating prop
critics in British Columbia, Washington,
Idaho. Mexico, Spain and South Africa, he
was but young man at the time of his
death, being not more than thirty seven
years of age. He was excellent writer
as well as f1nancier, and 1t is said that for
his contributions to the London Statist he
received compensation at rates higher
even than kipling enjoys. Mr. Brown was
a great traveller, occasioned by his world
wide interests. He had offices at II frog
morton street, London: at GO Broadway
New York; in the Real Estate and Trust
building, Philadelphia: in the Croclle"
building, San Francisco, and at the Bank
His death was due to quick consumption
brought on by severe cold which he con-
tracted recently in London. Accompanied
by his wife, nurse and physician he went
to Phoenix, AriZ., a few days ago in the
hope that the dry air of that latitude
would restore him to health, but the emf
came suddenly.
Mr.. Brown was a native of PHILADELPHIA
His death will be mourned by the many
who knew him. He was man whose com
partnership was greatly sought for his III
telligence and wit We're of a high order
He was particularly interested in literary
men and artists in America and abroad
Mr.. Brown was Knight Templar a mem
Der of the Mystic Shrine and of otner
orders.