Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-16
Paul Kruger. Boer Leader
Incidents in Career of Man Who Delayed
March of an Empire.

Stephenus Johannes Paulus Kruger,
the last president of the Boer republic,
was one of the empire builders of south
Africa and the life long enemy of Cecil
Rhodes. For % years Kruger thwart-
ed the ambition of Cecil Rhodes and
delayed the march of the British EN-
pire from Cape Colony north toward
the equator.
He lived long enough to see the
death of his greatest enemy and to wit
ness, in lonely exile, the triumph of the
greatest foe of his people. In his life
he was one of the worlds rugged, he
roic figures. In his death he was still
a world figure, pathetic in his loneli-
ness, an exile by his own choice.
| Of Paul Kruger much has been writ
ten about his wonderful feats of en-
durance, his fearlessness as lion
hunter, his marvellous strength, his
bravery as a soldier, his ability as a
ruler. his skill as a diplomat. Much
more might have been written.
Personal Appearance Unique.
In personal appearance "Oom Paul
could not be called handsome. He
was over G feet high, but fat and
unwieldly, and had a waddling walk
His face was dull, fiabby, and ex
Ipressionless. His small bleared eyes
were half hidden by the heavy lids
Long, thin, struggling hair covered
his head He shaved his chin and
upper lip, but allowed an untidy
fringe of hair to grow all around his
face. In dress he was slovenly and
careless. He was a good enough
talker, better listener. When ready
for an interview he lighted a long
clay pipe and puffed at it frequently
and vigorously. 1t was only when
he spoke that the naturally deter
mined character and shrewd, hard
headed common sense of the mar
came out. He was credited witt
possessing more power of logged re
sistance, combined with daring ad
venture, than any of the other BOel
leaders.
How He "GOt Religion
Kruger was one of the most re
Iigious of men. He was brought III
in a pious Dutch family, and was
never a bad boy, but it is said tina
many years ago, when Kruger was {
IMAM. ilC SOJ IClSlOll
in a most striking and characters
tic way. One day he handed an opeI
bible to his wife and asked her t
read several chapters which he haC
marked. While she was reading h
left the house. For several days HI
was missing, and finally a party o
friends went out to look for him
They came back without trace of The
missing man, only reporting that the!
had heard some one singing far of
on the mountains. A day or two
later another searching party wen
out. This time they found Kruge
in condition of almost complete ex
haustion, having gone entirely with
out food or water during his absence
He had gone up into the hills t.
wrestle with himself in prayer.
Religion WINS Austere.
Kruger's religious creed was aus
tere but simple. Whatever God sends
lis right and must be endured withou
murmur. If death comes it is RICH
and there must be no unseemly mourn
ing. If there is a famine, all right
If there is a drought or if plaques
afflict, all right still. All this is Godi
|
will.
In 1894 there was a locust plague
in the Transvaal. The locusts came il
thousands and tens of thousands. Thei
coming darkened the sky. They ate VI
everything. The farm crops were de
stroyed. but Dom Paul forbade them t
be killed.
1T is the will of God that the 10
Gusts should come" said he. So the!
lived and thrived until there became
several generations of locusts in thu
Transyaal.
, Was n Mighty Hunter.
1t was in his boyhood and earl!
manhood that Paul Kruger achieved
his fame first as a mighty hunter ant
afterwards as a soldier. He lived con
stantly in danger from savage beasts
and still more savage men. He killed
his first big game when years OLE
and slew his first lion when he wa!
only IL
The storys told of his strength ant
prOwess as a hunter are many an'
marvellous. When a boy of 16 h
was sent by his father To take home
an empty oxcart and span of oxen
With him went his little sister. Paul.
said his father at parting, take goo'
care OF your sister
Five miles from home a full grown