The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-15
Passed a Restless Night, with Physi-
clans Watching Alternately
at His Bedside.
SYNDICATE ALREADY FORMED
To PREVENT A BREAK IN STOCKS IL
THE RICH MAN DIES.
All Cecil Rhodes's Shareholders to
he Taken Over-Brief sketch
of His Career.

LONDON, March IA dispatch from
Cape Town says Cecil Rhodes was weaker
to-day. He passed a restless night, and
his physicians sat at his bedside alternate
" all night long.
The Pail Mall Gazette, this afternoon,
says il understands that, with the view or
preventing a disIocation of the markets.
syndicate of South African magnates has
been formed for the purpose Of taking over
the whole OF Cecil Rhodes shareholdings
in tho event of Mr.. Rhodes's death.
Cecil John Rhodes, the "uncrowned King
of Rhodesla," former premier of Cape
Colony and one Of the alleged instigators
of the raid OF Or. jameson and his fol-
lowers into the Transvaal. was born in
1855 and was educated at oxford. He was
treasurer general of Cape Colony in 1884,
deputy commissioner OF Bechuanaland
from 1854 to 1855. director of the British
South Africa Company. whose charter
was mainly granted as result of his eff
forts. in 1889. and he was chairman Of that
company until 1886. Mr.. Rhodes is also
a director of the De Beers mines and was
premier of Cape Colony from 1890 until
1896. when ne resigned as one of the results
appeared before the parliamentary com
mittee OF inquiry in London appointed to
establish the blame of the raid. and he
has also served with the British forces in
Matabelaland Mr. Rhodes has been re-
ferred TO as the Napoleon of South
Africa" and, with DR.. Jameson, was I'M
derstood to be strong advocate of the
federation of South Africa. The former
ca1xg
wealthy, and his residence near Cape
Town. Groote Schuur, signifying a granary.
is said TO be a magnificent place and one
OF the great sights of South Africa.
considerable portion Of the mansion was
destroyed by fire some time ago. but il IS
understood to have been rebuilt on i'm
proved plans His geological garden con
tanned all the rarest specimens OF animal
and bird life Of South Africa.
Perhaps Dom Paul Kruger knows. and
perhaps he does not. just how much his
personal hatred for Cecil Rhodes influenced
him when he flung his ultimatum in Eng
lana ) race and practically declared for war
just when all things were making hopefully
for peace That murderer" was Dom
Paufs gentlest word in speaking OF Rhodes
when, indeed, he would so far overcome
his loathing for the man as 10 refer to him
at all. Next to religious fervor the pre-
dominating sentiment In Dom Pauls mind
was hatred for this grand Englishman
who lowered a colossus among his coun-
trymen in South Africa. just Dom Paul
there.
When in ISL Cecil Rhodes's health gave
way and he was obliged TO leave college he
consulted a physician. who told him he
must go 10 a milder climate. He a
Dethodical old doctor. and in his private
memorandum OF the case he wrote as a
footnote, Cannot live six months" He
was a thin-faced, lanky lad of eighteen
years then, with dull eyes. His cOuntenance
nothing OF force. That was only thirty
years ago. Now he is the diamond king
the gold king, the railroad builder the null
Ji-millionaire among mult-milliOnaires. In
his private humdrum capacity. in his public
capacity he Is the founder OF a vast empire.
a statesman who in Gladstone's time was
himself, since Gladstcnes death counted
second TO none in all the vast British do
weight OF personal power
1T IS no use for US 10 have big ideals"
said Rhodes, once In conversation with his
friend, Chinese Gordon, unless have
money to carry them out" That sentiment
was the keynote OF his early career in
South Africa. He had big ideals and he
needed colossal fortune TO carry them
cut So he went and got the colossal for
tune, just as carpenter would go and get
his tools TO do piece Of work. His one
ideal. around which all other ideals CEN
tered. a vast United States of South
Africa. His dream was a compact feder-
ated nation like the United States OF Amer
lea He stood first and above all things
for the right OF the governed TO a voice in
the government. No taxation without rep
resentation. No rule of an oligarchical ring
are the cries with which he has made
South Africa ring until they eliminated in
the demands for representation which made
Dom Paul throw down the gauntlet. How
thoroughly he was imbued with American
ideas ne was constantly showing I'm his
utterances, private and public. When the
home rule ag tatiOn was going on I'm Eng
land he exclaimed. impatiently why don't
they go and read the Constitution of the
United States instead OF specializing on this
and doubling about that? There is no spec
ulation or doubt about il. Home rule is not
an experiment. 1t has been worked out and
solved In the United States for more than
hundred years"
Another time. commenting on the vilifica-
ton that was being poured in the English
papers on South African ambitions and on
him personally, he said: THAT is the sort
OF talk that led TO Bunker Hill l am loyal
The Cape Is loyal. But continued injustice
and misrepresentation will ALLEVIATE the
most loyal. If England interferes with US
well. the United States of South Africa is
not an astounding name"
As to- his wealth, II is up somewhere
among those prOdigious figures where a mil
Hon or so does not matter either way. Some
place IL at S15, 90 600 and some at $50 600 COO
and a figure between the two is probably
about right. IL is impossible for those who
see him now 10 think OF him as ever having
been a weakling. sent abroad TO die. He is
six feet one inch tall in his shoes. and
heavy and muscular I'm proportion. His ap-
petite Is a marvel. His gray eyes some
what ssin<en in their orbits. have an almost
melancholy expression. in curious contrast
with the bold resolution of the other fea-
lures. In speech Rhodes Is simple and d.
rect and IN manner frank He has waged
several fierce wars with natives and he is
building railway and telegraph line from
Cairo 10 the Cape. 10 say nothing OF the
lines he has built in the Cape country itself
he has founded an empire and he Is but
forty-SiX years old.