New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-15

be buried beside his wife IN his own country. In
the mean time there will be a temporary burial
here.
Mr.. KRUGER, who was staying at the Villa Gu
Boichet, had been gradually failing for long
tine. but he was able 70 attend to affairs read
the newspapers and receive visitors until Satur-
day. A change for the worse set n on Sunday.
he became unconscious on Monday and remained
so until his death His daughter and sou-in-Iaw,
MI and Mrs FTichie Eloff were with him at the
time Of his death He had been out only once
since his arrival here. at the beginning of last
month Besides the Elofrs, NJ. KRUGER was
attended by his own physician, DR.. Heynann.
and by his secretary, Mr.. RedeI.
Paris July 1.-THE death Of the ex-President
OF the Transvaal. at Clarens. aroused widespread
regret here. owing to French sympathy for the
Boer cause and personal admiration for the
President When he recently LEFT Mentone his
health was gradually failing through old age.
constitutional disorders and throat troubles,
which threatened to extend to the lungs. His
personal physician. DR.. Heyraann. did not appre-
bend speedy crisis. and Mr.. Kruger himself
resisted the idea that his physical powers were
failing. He had arranged 20 return to Mentors
next fall. leasing again the picturesque villa
which he had occupied on the outskirts Of the
town.
Nevertheless his near friends recognized that
M Krugsrs once rugged constitution was going
TO pieces. Visitors described him as being a pa
thetlc figure OF calm endurance His eyesight
had dimmed. but ne sat much at times with his
Bible open before him. repeating vel known
passages. he avoided references to the Boer
war but when Il was occasionally mentioned
he showed no resentment. and expressed the be-
lief that Providence would eventually render JUS
tice 70 the Boer cause.
Mr. KRUGER received few visitors bf-- .fva1
his usua! seciuson 20 permit the presenta on o.
the superb gift the cost OF y aich was raised
through popular subscription. expressive Of
French admiration, and he also received privat
gifts. one being d considerable legacy from a
Boer admirer. But before leaving Mentone he
returned the legacy 10 relatives OF the dead man
stephanus Johannes PauIus KRUGER. or Dom
Paul" ne better known was born al Bull
heck Farm, near Coesoerg, IN Cape Colony on Oc-
tober 10. Ls25. His father ordinary Dutch
farmer, though Nh Van Cordt. mis- biographer and
State Hlstor!Aa OF the TransvaaI traces a German
descent The boy was brought up according the
customary Dutch system OF e1uCatio 10 read the
Bible. 10 shoot and mind the horses and oxen.
When he was only eight years old the Dutch farm
ers determined 10 seek a home in the deserts
across the VaaI and the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES then
Inhabited only by sayages and wild beasts. So the
Grand Trek began. and year after year it contin-
ued, draining the colony OF It's best blood and best
farmers.
The Krugers did not go until 1899, when Paul was
fourteen, and old enough take active part
In driving the wagons and defending them well
Many stories are told OF his cOylsn herolsn in
sisting the natives from a lager farned only Of
trek wagons n square. and how on one occasion
ne fought by the side OF his mother when the
were absent from the camp. HIS biograDher says
that he took part IN the famous defence OF the
Dutch lager Just the terrible massacre by the
Zulus, which gave the name 10 the town OF Weenen.
or Weeping. IN Central Natal II was in the Trans-
vaaI that the family settled.
KrGger's early manhood was not marked by any
conspicuous distinction except that he early
known. even among the Boer farmers, g fearless
hunter and magnificent shot There ara many
stories about his shrewdness. courage and peculiar
wit. One tells how in rhinoceros hunting he IN
jured hts thumb it OF Joint by Joint with
his pocket knife 10 prevent modification. At eigh
teen he assistant field cornet: at twenty, full
field corneJ-
KrLger's public life began at this time Thence
forward he played conspicuous part in all the
wars and civil struggles Of the TransvaaL In one
expedition against the kafIir chiefs Mapela and
Maka pan he had adventure in which ne gave
one proof OF his fearless spirit The Boer
commando had driven the Kafirs into
IN the mountains, where they suffered severely
from famine. ohstlnately refused 70 surrender.
Kruger, wishing 70 bring the siege to a close,
crept in the dark into one OF the caves where
large body Of Kaftirs lay. and began to talk TO
them in their own language, suggesting that It
would be better for them TO surrender than TO die
Of hunger. and onerinS 20 go 10 the WHITE men 70
negotiate
Suddenly q Kafir. who recognized by the voice
that II not one OF his own people who spoke,
exclaimed 'Nagoa" white man. AT the cry all
the Kaffirs rushed suddenly into the back OF the
cave. He followed them. and not killed be-
cause IN the darkness they could not distinguish
the intruder. Finally. he again addressed them.
Stimulating their accent. and succeeded IN bringing
$50 women ard children OF the cave. himself
remaining undiscovered until they had emerged
ON A FAMOUS MISSION.
In the capacity OF field cornet, in ISL he accom-
panied Commander General A w !. Pretorius to
Sand River where concluded the convention
whereby Great Britain ceded absolute Independence
to the Beers living north OF the VaaL IN the same
year he part in successful expedition against
native chief. and twice wounded he took
part in several other engagements with natives.
and in the civil war which CONFUSED the Trans
wal during Is6-'54 Kruger took conspicuous part
he was afterward chosen eornmanoant general
II 1865 the aiG Of the Free states IN the
great Basuto var, and with 800 men succeeded in
lighting his way through much larger Iorce or
Kaft1rs which tried intercept him In the year