davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
NEAR DEATHS DOOR, ,!
Belt, South African Diamond King,
Not Expected to Live.
Took Prominent Part In Cape and
TransvasA Affairs and vita NJ
Rhodes Was Responsible
for the Boer War. tn

While Alfred Belt, the richest man
South Africa ever produced, is not
dead, it is said that there is very little
chance of his recovering from the
stroke of apoplexy that be suffered re-
Gently. -
Mr.. Belt is now at his home in Jo-
hannesburg and is being attended by
DR.. Jameson, his friend of many years.
DR.. Jameson tries to put the best pos
sible construction on the illness, but
his partners in London in the firm OF
Wernher, Belt & Co., privately9admit
that they expect the worst.
No one knows how rich Belt isyand
he has said that he could not come
within SIS, 100000 of his holdings. 1t
is certain, however, that he is much
richer than Cecil Rhodes, whose part
ner he was for years. There have been
many estimates of Belts wealth, rang
ing from $200,00O,O00 to nearly bill
lion dollars. 1t is probable that his
wealth will be found to be not
far short of $3OO,0O0,0oO, which would
| make him one of the five richest men
in the world. Heowns mostof the Kim.
berley diamond mines, and it is mere
conjecture as to the amount of riches
buried in the peculiar clay, and not
yet brought to the surface
Belt is one of the most remarkable
men in the world. Outside Of South
Africa and London his nameis seldom
mentioned, and he is unknown to popu.
lar fame. In London he isseldom rec.
ognized on the street and in the clubs
he is seldom seen. He is of retiring
disposition and has no desire for fame
in political life. While he possessed
more influence in South Africa than
any man except Cecil Rhodes, he was
content to keep in the background
and pull the wires for his subordinates
to do the actual work in the limelight
of the public. He and Rhodes, were re-
sponsiEic for the Boer war, and much
of Rhodes success was due to the re-
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
GEN. MANUEL "A. MATOS.
Leader of the Anti-Castro Revolution in
VeneZuela.)

Venezuela.)
rifles and ammunition were brought
to Fort dc France on board the Brit
ish steamship Ban RICH, which was re-
christened the Libertador.
On January 2, 1902, the expedition
slipped away at night. President Cas-
tro declared the vessel pirate craft,
and offered $4,000 reward for its cap
ture. The entire Venezuelan navy
was sent to hunt for it, but despite
these precautions the expedition land
ed near Barcelona two days later. The
expedition included $50 men, Gems.
Penaloza, Duchame, Nicholas, Kolando
and Moves Navarro. The ship was
armed with rapid-fire guns and COW
cred with steel plates.
In proclamation which Gen. Matos
issued just before sailing from Fort
de France he called upon all of his
countrymen for assistance.
"Our country is moaning and per-
ishing," he said. "Our primary object
is to remove one man from his public
post, in which he has committed every
error and every excess, and who has
compromised, not only Venezuela's
good name, but even her national in
tegrity."
After several small battles had been
fought, Gen Matos left the scene and
cruised for a time on the Libese]ador,
touching at various points along the
coast, where the revolutionists were
in control He landed in Trinidad in
March. to be at a cable center, from
which he might direct his forces. The
fighting at this time became heavy
and losses and defeat were reported
for both sides.
In June Gen. Matos issued procla-
nation in which ne announced pro-
yisional government, with himself as
president.
Don Pedro Ezequiel Rojas, former
minister of foreign affairs. was made
foreign representative. The army,
under the command of Gen. Pedro
Duchaine and Gen. Valenlis Perez, it
was announced, would assume control
Of Venezuela. The 80 per cent. duty
on articles imported from the West
Indies was declared abolished.
In September President Castro is
sued a decree in which he denounced
Gen. Matos as traitor and pirate
Meantime fighting continued on {
small scale, often near Caracas.
Gen. Matos broke down under the
strain, and the revolution dwindled
although his forces remained in the
field In November he landed at Cura
Gao with his son in a small boat, and
has since lived near Willemstead.
His health has continued poor, and
there. has been little fighting since his
partial retirement.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
FRESH ARMY GOSSIP.
Chafee to Be Chief When Gen.
Young Is Retired.
President VIII Have Some Important
Appointments to Make In 1908
a1d 10O4-Miles to Retire
Next August.

Mai. Gen. Adna r. Chat flee, now COM
handing the department of the east
at Governors island, is to succeed Gen.
S. B. NJ. Young as general commanding
the army, upon the retirement of the
latter in January, 1904. This announce
ment was made by Gen. Corbin, via
Cleveland, O., in speech before the
board of trade of that city, when he
announced that the president has de-
oded to appoint Gen. Chaffee to sue
coed Gen. Young as head of the army.
It was given out some time since
that Gen. Young was to step into Gen.
Niles shoes when the latter goes on
the retired list in August of next year.
The succession to Gen. Miles as the
head of the army is now arranged for
up to April, 1906, on which date Gen.
Chaffee will retire. 1t may be interest
ig to note, also, that Gen. Corbin will
not retire until five months after that
time. Should his star continue in the
ascendant it would not be at all sur
prising should he fall heir to the stars
of lieutenant general by succeeding
Gen. Chaffee in 1906.
The president will have some impor-
tant army appointments to make dur
ing the coming year, for three vacan-
cies will occur in the grade OF major
general as result of retirements.
Maj Gen. Robert p. Hughes, now in
command of the department of Cali
fornia, will retire in April next. Maj.
Gen. George w. Davis, now in COM
mand of the department of the Phil
ippines, goes on the retired list in
July, and Gen. Miles retires in Au-
gust. The latter's retirement will
promote Maj. Gen. Young to be lieu
tenant general, SO that there will be
three vacancies as major general.
The officers now in line of advance
ment to those vacancies are Brig. Gems.
Wade, Sumner and Wood. Gen. Wade
has been waiting for long time for
the two stars of a major general, and
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
SPECK Won STERNBERG%
Just Appointed Special Charge d
Anaire: at Warrington by the +
German Emperor. Y

Baron Speck Won Sternberg, the Ger
man consul general at Calcutta, has
been appointed charge d'affaires at
Washington during the indefinite abb
sence of the ambassador, DR.. Won Hol-
leben, who has gone to Germany on
sick leave. Chancellor Won Buelow re-
CARDS the business at Washington SO
important at present as to require a
special substitute for the ambassador
The inference follows that Baron
Speck Won Sternberg will succeed Dr.
Won Holleben as ambassador, should
the latter's health prevent his return
Chancellor Won Buelow months age
was understood to have the baron il
view as DR.. Won Holleben's ultimate
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26

will undoubtedly be promoted in
April. Sumner is also practically sure
of promotion. Gen. Wood does not
retire until 1924, and if he is made
q major general he will kill the
chances of a long line of older men
who hope to become major generals
some day. Gen. Wood has already re-
oeived the most generous treatment in
the way of promotions, and it is
question whether President Roosevelt
will decide that he has earned another
jump.
Gen. Chaffee sprang up from the
ranks, and every grade was won by
him by hard fighting. Gen. Chaffee
is not yet 60 years old, but is still as
keen and alert a soldier as can be
found in the United States army
At the age of IS the young Ohioan
enlisted in the Sixth cavalry regiment
of the regular army. AS private, SER
geant and first sergeant of company K
he made his mark early in the civil
war, gaining a commission as second
lieutenant in the regiment on May
~, 1863 Then came Gettysburg. On
that terrible field gallant and meri-
torious services earned him his
brevet to first lieutenancy. A spe-
cial mention for his services in the
battle of Dinwiddie Court House
brought him his captaincy. At Get
tysburg and Chickamauga he was
wounded. and years afterward he suf-
fered the same penalty when before
Santiago.
After the great civil war there was
work to be done in Indian warfare,
and in the principal campaigns of 30
years Chaffee was conspicuous as
leader. Twice again he was breveted
by congress for gallant feats of arms.
His services in China and in the Phil
ippines are too we'll known to be re-
counted at this time.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
OPPOSED TO CASTRO.
Gen. Matos Back of the Big Revolt.
ton in Venezuela.
mas Expended $4,000, 900 Of His Pri-
vate Fortune In Attempts to
Overthrow the Present Cor
rupt characterization.

Gen. Manuel Antonio Matos, lead
er of the Venezuelan revolution, 10 the
wealthiest and one of the most promi-
nent men in that country. He is esti-
mated to have been worth $6,OOO,OOO
at the outbreak of the war and to have
expended at least $2,O0O,0o0 for the
revolutionary cause, paying his SOL
diers, who at one time numbered 10,-
900, out of his own pocket.
He has twice been called into the
cabinet to meet financial crises-once
under President Crespo and again un-
der President Andrade. He has al
ways been opposed to the Castro ad-
ministration, declaring it to be cor
rupt. He is related by marriage to
the Guzman Blanco family, and the
superior of President Castro by birth.
Although essentially a civic leader,
he had some experience in the army,
under President Blanco. At that time
he was said to have made large sums
out of contracts. He conducted q
large commission house in Caracas
and had branches in New York and
in various European cities.
He also owned stock in the Bank OF
Venezuela and the Bank of Caracas
Much of his wealth is invested in CO.
Goa and coffee plantations.
The revolutionary movement which
he has headed, says the New York
| Herald, was the result of the avoweC
belief of a group of prominent Ven
ezuelans that President Castro's ad'
ministration was corrupt, was involv'
ing the country in dangerous difficult
ties and leading it to ruin. The rev.
olution began with desultory fighting
and Gen. Matos went to Martinique.
This was a year ago, and at Fort
de France he gathered about him a
hundred eager leaders and 800 re-
cruits. Gen. Luciano Mendoza COM
manded the troops in the field. and
Gen. Matos did not at once avow the
leadership of the movement. Stores,
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26

S~S><SSeSee'|
man is " set him at work, he called
Limantour to help him.
LimantcCr was too new man to be
made at oLce minister of finance, yet
he was wanted for the work of that
portfolio. Diaz sent for his devoted
friend, Romero, then minister at Wash
ington, made him finance minister,
and put in Limantour as his assistant.
He told Romero to let Limantour do
the work.
The new man did. He abolished the
vexatious interstate taxes that Latin
statesmen seem to be SO prone to levy.
He instituted reforms that were To-
cally unpopular until their influence
on the general welfare was made plain.
He had, indeed, to educate the MeXicans
IN modern ideas of applied political
economy.
Gradually, Limantour's experience
made him useful in other fields. lie is
diplomatist, by habit of mind, and his
reading and his travels have made him
acquainted with the craftsmanship and
the statesmen of America and Europe.
He has influenced Diaz' foreign polio:
noticeably of late years. Finally, his
work in reforming the banking system
has made the currency the pressing
issue.
If Limantour has the courage, and
feels he has the backing to take it,
he is likely to be president, even if civil
war does come of it.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26

markable foresight of this German
Jew.
& In the early history of South Africa
there promised to be a big struggle
over the possession of the rich mines.
Rhodes went there backed by the
Rothschifds, and his2one idea was to
carve out for himself a career of des-
tiny. This he did, but he did not con-
troll the entire resources as he expect
ed. There was one man who stood in
his way. That man was Belt. Belt
had only the small hacking of his ia
jther, at best only 100000; but he had
been on the ground for some time, and
had obtained rich holdings around
Kimberley, really the cream of the dia-
mond fields. He was not to be driven
out, although Rhodes tried, and the
two formed a partnership which
lasted until he died.
Rhodes was the forceful partner,
and was always dickering in outside in
vestments, often to his sorrow. Belt
was the careful and conservative part
AcA, anu C'CAJ SCA lac PoV ouC Va oeS - y
in a dollar. AS a result he accumu-
lated money much faster than did
Rhodes. 1t is a fact that Belt made
the bulk of his money outside the part
nership. He was known as the most
successful promoter of the old world,
and all his schemes were put out
with the idea that others were
to put up the money to run them,
while he reaped the profits going to
the man on 1.-The ground floor" His
holdings in the diamond fields were
much larger than those of Rhodes, and
he also controlled the cutting industry
in Hamburg, a source of immense
profit.
OF late years Belt has devoted most
of his time to London and the stock
market. He was the absolute master
of the South African securities, and it
is said that he has made SIC, 900, 900 a
year in stock manipulat ton, outside of
his dividends and company forming.
He has a magnificent palace in London
in Park lane, the most select street in
the city. It is big, three-story house,
covering much ground and furnished
as few houses in the world are fur
nished. Belt had no great desire to en-
ter society and always lived quietly.
He is unmarried, and no one knows
how he will leave his money.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26


The early life of Mr.. Richards, says
the Milwaukee Sentinel, is reminiscent
of the struggles of the American pio-
neers who opened up the great west.
At the age of II he was teaching
country school in Wisconsin. A few
years after the war the pioneer spirit
which he inherited from his father i'm
PEELED him to 60 westward. From that
time until he finally settled in Wyom-
ing, where the highest state honors
were conferred upon him, his life is full
of interest. He left Wisconsin in 1869
to seek his fortunes in the boundless
west. He was at loss as to where he
ought to locate, and remained in this
uncertain frame of mind for years.
During that time his travels took him
as far west as the Golden Gate, to tho
Mexican border on the south, and as
the United States from the British pos
sessions. He studied law in Omaha,
and edited a paper there; he was in
charge of vast herds of cattle in Wy
oming when the buffalo covered tho
plains and the red man roamed at
will. He went to California in 1879,
and after brief residence there was
elected surveyor of Santa Clara coun-
ty. Later he went to Colorado, and
again actively entered into politics, be-
ing elected surveyor of Ell Paso coun-
ty, and city engineer of Colorado
Springs. lie afterwards returned to
Wyoming, and became governor, and at
the breaking out of the Spanish war
was the first chief executive of state
to wire President Mckinley that his
troops were mustered, fully equipped,
and ready for action. Finally, later in
the Mckinley administration Gov.
Richards came to Washington as as
sistant commissioner of the general
land office. 1t is an interesting fact
that three Of the men called by Presi-
dent Mckinley to take responsible po-
sitonsin the interior department spent
their boyhood days in southwestern
Wisconsin, within radius of ten miles
of one another. One of them is Gov.
Richards, another II. Clay Evans, for
mer commissioner of pensions, now
consul general to London, and the
third William A. Jones, commissioner
of Indian affairs.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
Jose YVES LIMANToUR.
aye IL Likely to he the Next
PRECEDENT Of Mexico.

Jose Y. Limantour, minister of
finance of the republic of Mexico, is
reputed to be the choice of Diaz for
the presidential succession. He is q
brilliant lawyer. His great and Wis
ib,e work has been the perfection OF
the financial side of the administration
in his country. His achievements
have been substantial. Ten years ago
he was politically an unknown" liz
was rich man, a doctor of laws, who
liked to write essays on public econom.
les. His works fell under the eye OF
President Diaz. He sent for heyoune
author and student, liked him, anG
since his way of showing favor to q
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26

successor. Besides, President Roose-
welt, it was reported two months ago,
had expressed approval of Baron
Speck Won Sternberg, should the en-
peror desire him at Washington.
Baron Herman Speck Won Sternberg
formerly was secretary of the Ger
man embassy at Washington. lie was
one of the German commissioners at
the Samoan conference, and was con-
spicuous in the negotiations following
the outbreak of trouble in China, when
he was recalled from Washington to
Berlin for a conference with the APP
thorities. The baron's appointment
as consul general at Calcutta was rec
ognition of his services. December 5,
1900, Baron Won Sternberg married, in
London, Miss Langham, daughter of
wealthy mine owner of Idaho and a
niece of Arthur Langham, of Louis
Vile, where Miss Langham spent most
of her girlhood.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26

Valley of Ohio.)
lined, for many miles. 1t is but few
miles from McConne!lsville, the county
seat of Morgan county and just
at this time this old land
mark has become an object of renewed
and apprehensive interest to those
who have regarded it with indifference
Gin the past. The action of the ele-
ments has left its mark on this monu-
ment-of probably the glacial epoch
in away which bespeaks it's early
downfall. Occupants of buildings that
stand on the hillside below it are MOI
a little anxious in anticipation of the
result.
1.-THE Devils Tea Table" is wedge.
shaped rock ofqueer formation stand
ing IS feet high and SO by 20 feet
across the top, which is fat. At the
foundation It's but four feet thick and
II feet long. For many years it has
been popular attraction, and people
have travelled hundreds of miles to see
IT,. Until within a short time ladders
gave access to the top of the table,
but during the past few years the rapid
wasting at the base has rendered it
unsafe. The base is of shale rock,
and the top Of sandstone.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
"DEVIL'S TEA TABLE,"
Fam 0uA freak of Nature in che Buck.
eye State That Is on the Verge
Of Collapse.

To those not familiar with the to-
biography of the Muskingum valley
there are many natural attractions
which catch the eye and cause the
stranger to wonder at the apparent
frivolities of nature in her bestowal
of things curious upon this particular
territory in the Buckeye state.
One of these freaks of nature is
"The Devils Tea Table," which stands
like challenging sentinel on an en-
inence 300 feet above and overlooking
the river, and is visible, clearly out
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
WILLIAM "A. RICHARDS.
Prospective ComnaissioneP General
Of the Land once HAS, PasssA
Through stirring Career.

A cowboy on the plains Of Wyoming.
surveyor general Of the state. govern
or, assistant commissioner, and soon
to be commissioner general Of the Land
office of the United States, having ju-
risdiction over more than 500, 0OO, 900
acres of unappropriated public lands.
and small army of employees extend
ing into about 20 states of the unionl
This is an epitome Of the career Of
William Afford Richards, who spent
his boyhood in Hazel Green, Wis, where
his father, Truman Perry Richards,
went in the early '3o's to work in the
lead deposits in the southwestern
part of the state, and where he lived
until his death a few years ago.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
v,x~ Generations In Church.

It is not often one can find family
that can show five generations living
at the same time. Some lineage there
was christening of baby in Oldham,
At St. Paul's church. England 1t
was the christening of little boy Silk,
and to do honor to the occasion there
was family gathering which included
the baby, his father, his fathers
mother, his fathers mothers father
and his fathers mothers fathers
mother, i. e., the baby's great-great-
grandmother.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
Prhoners Refuse to Eat.

Dissatisfied with their food, COCOON
victs of a Vienna prison have lately
taken to eating nothing. They occu-
py themselves now by bowling in cho-
rus from early morning till evening
The noise is said to De deafening, and
most distracting, and the authorities
threaten to expel every man of the
1000 unless they mend their ways. The
authorities remind one Of the man who
threatened the shopkeepers that if
they didn't give him his change at once
he would 60 away without it.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
Oldest Team of Horses.

Probably the oldest team of horses
is owned by farmer down in Scho-
harie county, N. y. The combined
age Of the two is 20 years, one being
81 and the other 80 years age. The team
was raised on the farm where they still
live. Notwithstanding their extreme
age, the horses are still doing farm
work, looking well, and taking three
meals q day.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
Autf-Brenkfast Society.

A society has been formed in Man
chester, England, the members of
which eschew the morning meal. The
non-breakfasters contend that break
fast retards activity of both mind and
body, and is a fertile cause of indi-
9cstion, dyspepsia and like ailments.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26

rotary of legation at Constantinople,
where he also for a time acted as
charge d'affaires and was largely in
strumental in inducing the porte to
pay the claims for damages done to
American schools in the sultan's do
minions. Mr.. Griscom was made min
ister to Persia in 1901. He is the son
of Mr.. Clement A. Griscom, the we'll
known ship builder, of Philadelphia.
His success as diplomat in previous
instances warrants the belief that he
will make a useful representative OF
this country at the court of Toxic. He
will undoubtedly be persona grata to
the Japanese government.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
REAR ADMIRAL WALKER.
Retired Naval Onicer who Knowu
More About Canal Rou4e Than
Any Other Living Man.

No man in the world is so thoroughly
informed about the various interocean-
ic canal routes as Rear Admiral Walk
err, retired. He has been member of
the United States canal commission
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
Rnf Hard ia Get There.

There is plenty of roof at the top
Of the creased pole of success.-Chi-
cago Daily News.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26


Retired Naval Officer Who Is an Author
ity on Isthmian Canal Routes.)
ever since it's formation, and has per-
sonallv examined the Panama as well
as the Nicaraguan routes.
When the president of the United
States shall have succeeded in remov-
ing the last obstacle to the building OF
an interoceanic canal by this govern
ment, it is probable ths: he will name
Admiral Walker as one of the experts
to supervise the construction of the
big ditch.
Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1903-02-26
Hint for Housewives,

Housekeepers should always recoL
lect tina: -four will extinguish burn
ing oil