Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-22
THREE DIAMOND KINGS.
Comparison Of Alfred Belt, Cecil
Rhodes and Barney Barnato.

F-nm the New yosk Sun.
| The death OF Alfred Belt in London or
Monday recalls his association with Cecil
Rhodes and Barney Barnato in exploiting
the Kimberley diamond mines. Barnato. IN
| Ill health and suffering from dependency
committed suicide by jumping overheard
from Cape liner in 1897. at the age Of
forty-five. Cecil Rhodes was less than fifty
when he died. and Alfred Belt was fifty
three. 1t Is probable that all OF these grea'
promoters succumbed to the strain OF man
aging their business affairs. which In the
case of Rhodes and Bet We're colossal. and
IN that of Rarnato intricateiy speculative
and hazardous.
Barnato was merely "a daring and reck-
less gambler withcut education or refine.
ment; but It was no small thing for a man
who began life in South Africa as clown
IN a circus to become in a few years
power on the London and Cape Town ex-
changes and SIT in the legislature Of Cape
Colony az the members from Kimberley. One
OF Barnato's transactions was the sale of a
diamond mine, of which he was chief owner,
for $2f. 100000. It was not until he matched
his wits against the wfles OF the specialists
on the London Stock Exchange that he suf-
fered eclipse.
But for time he carried all before him,
and the rush to subscribe for shares offered
by the ex-clown, whose original SUM name
was Isaacs, exceeded in enthusiasm any
thing OF the kind known before in England
At one time he was rated at $S5, 600, 600, and
he had the doubtful distinction of being
mentioned as one of the underwriters of the
Jameson raid. 1t was charged against him
in the old days that he got his first start
in finance" as an illicit diamond buyer.
Their association with Barnate was only
an incident in the lives Of Rhodes and Belt.
They were made of finer clay, and each in
MS way was an idealist, Belt as genius OF
business, Rhodes as an empire builder.
They had to work with Barnato as a
gambler born under lucky star. until he
could be eliminated as a factor In South
African affairs; but Rhodes and Belt con-,
tinued to be partners IN things financial and
political after Barnato's star had paled In
the speculative skyrand he had found his
level Alfred Belt was probably the great
est business man in the world at the time
OF his death. his interests Including copper
mines in the United States, gold mines In
South America, Siberia and Corea, and
parts of the world, besides his enormous
investments in South African mines. lands
and industrial and traction companies.
Both Belt and Rhodes went to South
Africa originally in search of health very
young men. Rhodes without any resources
all and Belt as the sen OF a prosperous
Hamburg merchant. Born in the same
year. 1853, they became interested In the
Kimberley diamond mines at about the
same time made great fortunes at an early
age, and succeeded in forming what may
justly be called the diamond trust, since il
controls the price of diamonds the world
was Rhodes, but he was always able to
enlist his friend Belt in the promotion eff
his railroad and charter company enter
prises. If Belt was involved in the high
handed Jameson outrage he had Rhodes
TO thank for It. The firm name and bust
ness might have read: Rhodes & Belt,
Expoters Of Africa from Cape Town to
Cairo"
The two men had many tastes in common
as lovers of the arts and as collectors.
Rhodes was an oxford man and read the
classics in editions specially brought out
for him. They were both generous givers
for educat ional and charita BILE purposes.
Beit was man who Stunned notoriety,
and his methods were subtle and soundless.
Rhodes was proud of his fame, and did
things on a lavish scale and in a royal way.
as one who should have been born in the
purple and could not but make noise In
the world. Had Rhodes lived to old age
there is no knowing what part he might
have still played as British statesman;
had Belt lo,ng survived he would have be-
come a Millionaire. Barnato would never
have been anything but a happy go-lucky
gambler.