Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1907-02-08
THREE DIAMOND KINGS
Comparison of Alfred Belt, Cecil Rhodes
and Barney Barnato.

and Barney BarnatO.
The death of Alfred Belt in London
recently recalls his association with Cecil
Rhodes and Barney Barnato in explor
ing the Kimberly diamond mines. Bar.
natO. in i'll health land suffering from
despondency, committed suicide by
jumping overheard from Cape liner in
1897, at the age OF 45. Cecil Rhodes
was less than 80 when he died, and AL
fred Belt was 53. 1t is probable that all
OF these great promoters succumbed to
the strain of managing their business af-
fairs, which in the case of Rhodes and
Belt were colossal, and in that of Bar
nato lntrlcately speculative and hazard
Gus.
Barnato was merely daring and reck-
less gambler without education or re-
refinement, but it was no small thing
for a man who began life in South
Africa as a clown in circus to become
in few years a power Oh the London
and Cape Town exchanges and sit in the
Legislature of Cape Colony as the mem
Der from Kimberley. One of Barnatos
transactions was the sale of a diamond
mine. of which he was chief owner. for
ST, 500, 600. 1t was not until he matched
his wits against the wiles of the special
lists on the London Stock exchange that
he suffered eclipse.
But for a time he carried all before
| him, and the rush to subscribe for shares
offered by the eX-cloWn, whose original
slum name was lSaacS, exceeded in en-
thusiasm anything of the kind known
before in England. At one time he was
| rated at $S5OO0,OOO, and he had the
doubtful distinction of being mentioned
as one of the underwriters of the Jane
son 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 Barnato was
only an incident i'll the lives of Rhodes
| ad Belt. They were made of finer clay
and each in his way was an idealist. Belt
as a genius of business, Rhodes as all
empire builder.
They had to work with Barnato, as a
gambler born under a lucky star, until
| he could be eliminated as factor III
| South African affairs; but Rhodes and
Belt continued to be partners in things
| financial and political after Barnato's
| star had paled in the speculative sky and
| he had found his level. Alfred Belt was
| probably the greatest business man IN
! the world at the time Of his death, his
| interests including copper mines IN the
United States, gold mines III South
| America, Siberia and Korea, and shares
| in steam and electric railways IN all
| parts of the world. besides his enormous
| investments in South African mines,
| lands and industrial and traction compa-
! MES. !,
|
Africa originally in search OF health as
very Young men, Rhodes without any re-
sources at all and Belt as the son or a
| PROSPEROUS Hamburg merchant. Born III
| the same year. 1858, they became inter-
| ested in the Kimberley diamond mines at
| about the same time, made great Tor
tunes at an early age, and succeeded IN
forming what is justly called the dl a.
mond trust, since it controls the price OF
diamonds the world over. The stream
| of imperial expansion was Rhodes, ollt
| he was always able to enlist his frlend
| Belt in the promotion of his railroad ana
| charter company enterprises LII belI
was involved in the high-handed Jane
son outrage. he had Rhodes to thank fof
| If. The firm name and business might
| lave read: Rhodes & Beit, Explorers
of africa from Cape Town to Cairo.
The two men had many tastes III com
| mon as lovers of the arts and as collec1
tors, Rhodes was fln Oxford man ana
road the classics in editions speclally
hronoht ont for him. They were both
~nnerous givers for educational and char-
! itahIn purposes. Belt was a man VINO
! stunned notoriety. and his methods were
subtle and soundless. Rhodes was proud
| Of his fame. and did things on LAVISH
scale and in a royal way, as one VINO
should have been born i'll the purple
| ond could not but make Il noise III the
world. Had Rhodes lived to old age
! there is no knowing what part he might
| have still played as a British statemah.
had Belt long survived he would nays nave
become a Millionaire. Barnato Wouiu
never have been anything but a happS-
go-lucky gambler.-New YORK sun