The St. Louis Republic., 1902-04-13
WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC

, WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
By the death of Cecil Rhodes is recalled
the story of another South African career
contemporaneous with his own and in many
ways equally remarkable. The marvellous
rise to wealth and power of Charles Son
nenperg OF the United States and South Al
rlca fs unfamiliar TO the general public.
The story is told upon the distinguished
authority of General Daniel Z. Siclles 1t
Is the, story of a poor German immigrant
boy who landed penniless in New York
served In the civil war under General Sick
less command and later drifting to South
AFRICA, began an interesting career. To-
day he is a member of Parliament, a multi
millionaire, the owner of an estate of 900 =
600 acres and prominent, still rising. fig
ure in South African affairs
General Sickles tells of this remarkable
man for The Sunday Republic
AS TOLD BY GENERAL SICKLES.
My friend Charles Sonnenberg. has had
a career. to my mind, much stranger than
and served with honor under nv command
never knew him until he presented himself
TO me- mere IN New York, some three years
aga he accosted me with a military sa-
lutte and with the license of an old COM
rade, asked my assistance in finding an old
friend. 1t appears a soldier had once be-
friended him and Sonnenberg had come All
the way from South Africa bent. at what
ever cost. on finding and sharing his wealth
WIN tnat oid comrade in arms.
Chariey sonnenberg came originally to
America with a dollar. After varied expert
ences. he went to South Africa and returned
member OF Parliament Il contemporary of
oeS'l IN hhooss. several times millionaire
ana stili comparatively young man..
To appreciate the dramatic interest of
Ihis man career one must know It from
Ine VEL, pesii,hhlmg- i,hag sonnenberg landed in New
YORK Mithout knowing a word of English
ana with ABOUT a dollar in German money
he was )Gst 10 years old. Like many thou
s sands Oh others: he stepped out Of old Cas-
ne Garueh without friend in the New
World and started TO walk up Broadway.
Ihere was the old disappointment. There
wa Was i,o S so,u M or silver In the street to pick
up, as ne NAG been led to suppose Feeling
very much discouraged even desperate he
walked on and by some odd chance turned
Gown ,'. i ba.eaay a street AT the first corner he
above the door. 1t was the first familiar
object ne had seen. and he went In.
In modest "Lumber'' Business.
The storekeeper answered his German
questions. greatly to his comfort. He asked
for work.
very We'll. said the storekeeper; 'Pu
start you IN the lumber business"
,sLsu sonna, Wnai DO l know about lumber?'
Inc storekeeper produced some boxes of
matchss, taught Sonnenberg to say
sntire Tne cent box" in Englsh-his
the street with the caution not to 60 further
tnan t.e corner OF Broadway. or he might
&e. ns iIS' aii a,tsrn e ne sold the matches. walk
and returned with the proceeds. He had
earned ms supper and nights lodging, A
ployment. permanent ehh-
c,,i,f Ihree years later. at the beginning of the
California with congenfal EMPLOYMENT and
pank account He forsook everything to
20 ION anIist Ihe army, m There was opportunity
way to New York to enlist. He CHANGED to
De ~ S, one OF my -esiments. then recruiting
on stafeh hi,nd Island He served some three
ysr,sd yeas, tro os.ieve, when he was injured and
carried from the front. Later he was honor
aDy srybsr qiscraTged. ssrg. being deemed unit for
america has been very kind to me" he
has since told me. ''and 1 considered il my .