Evening star., 1938-09-25
The Worlds Oldest
Living Man.
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.


century and half old and who came to
the United States, he said, to find himself
new bride. His credentials did not ap-
pear very sound, although he unquestion-
ably was an aged man.
The latest candidate is South African
native. He Is named Ramonotwane and
is known as the Grand Old Man of
Bechuanaland. He is reputed among his
own people to be about 140 years of age,
but this is doubted. However, British
scientists who have interested themselves
in his case have established to their own
satisfaction that he is In his 124th year,
which, to say the least, may be consid-
cred ripe old age. The aged Turk re-
ferred to now is dead, whether or not his
claims to antiquity were sound, so it
seems that Ramonotwane bears the palm
OF Methuselah for the time being.
His case has a special appeal Just now
because OF the recent discovery in South
Africa OF skull which anthropologists
have called the missing link between man
and his anthropoid ancestors. It is esti-
mated that the creature, a near-man.
who once owned this skull in the life,
f1ourished some 100000 years old, which
Is quite spell.
Anatomists generally agree that 1t is
impossible to determine with certainty
the age OF man who has passed the 90
year mark, SO antiquarians and historians
are resorted to to trace with authen-
ITCHY the credentials of centenarians,
But 1t seems to have been established
that this ancient South African was born
IN the year OF the Battle of Waterloo.
1915. Born in the Khama country, Ra-
monotwane dwelt there until he was
about II years old. Then he was taken
captive IN Matabele raid and placed in
one OF the great native King Mzilegazi's
kraals. With facile adaptability he ac-
cepted his status as a member of the con-
querlng tribe and was trained to war.
He proved so stout young warrior that
he became one of the braves of the great
king, who was known-bitterly known to
the Boers-as the Black Elephant, a chief
skilled in warlike strategy who worked
horrid execution on the European set
tiers.
During his career he passed many
dangers, not, however, without marks to
show. He has lump on his forehead
with q war club from some Kafir or
other enemy. Also the thumb and little
finger of his left hand were shot off in
Boer attack on the Matabele in l847.
The Beers had been settled in Matabele-
land for some years in 1a47. but were by
no means free from raids conducted by
the fierce Zulus.
Inc old man is in remarkable state
OF preservation. True, he is totally blind,
but he has half of his teeth, which is
more than 50-year-old Europeans and
Americans can boast. The expression of
his face in repose is half -wearied one,
but in conversation he is animated and,
at times, even gay. He delights to tell
OF his early battles, his hunting adven-
lures and all the jungle and veldt vicis-
situdes of his youth and manhood.
He did not marry until he was 80
years of age, which is late age for that
experience for native. His explanation
is that he was too busy fighting. Since
that first marriage, which he remembers
well, he has had many wives. so many,
indeed, that he cannot recall their exact
number, nor has he any accurate idea of
the number of his offspring. He does
know distinctly that his eldest son fell at
the time Of the Jameson raid in 1893.
RamonotWane's life is impressive in
that he is the only South African, native
or European, who saw the Great Trek of
the Beers, an event the hundredth ami
versary OF which recently was celebrated.
This was the trek which took the Beers
into the far hinterland behind the
Drakensberg, the trek which opened UP
the far country across the high veldt and
resulted in the Orange Free State. Mile
by mile the vast numbering wagons crept.
laggering at night against attacks of
Kaf1rs and other natives as well as
against the ever-present lions. 1t was
the most memorable hegira of modern
times, with the possible exception of
the Mormon trek across the Great Plains
Of the United States to Utah. The two
occurred close to the same time.
The Beers were moving away from
growing British domination on the coast.
They did not like the British, who in
sisted upon forcing them to abolish
slavery. Moreover, they wanted a wider
country, freer air. The old Boer voor-
trekker felt cramped if his farmhouse
was within sight of another's chimney
saw this. From the bush he watched
the great wagons ox-drawn, move slowly
over the veldt, mastering seemingly i'm
passable mountains.
Thomas Parr, the Shropshire lad, has
the longevity record so far as authentic
records 60, but, of course, Ramonotwane
is not dead yet. Parr was born, 1t Is be-
lieved, in 1888 and died untimely In
1885. He was the son of a Shropshire
farmer and worked for his sire as a
farm hand. In 1918 his father died and
he inherited the small freehold farm He
proceeded to work his inheritance as his
forefathers had done before him. He
gave some thought to marriage but de-
cided not to rush headlong into matri-
mony. Perhaps he had heard something
about marrying in haste and repenting
at leisure. 1t was not until he was 80
years old that he married his first wife.
BY her he had son and daughter.
His wife, after living to decent age,
died. He began to feel lonely after some
years had passed, so at the age of 122
he married second time-a sort of
lady's man. In 1885 the Earl of Arundel
heard OF him and decided he was such
curiosity that the King, then Charles I,
would like to see him. So the earl took
the Shropshire lad up to London, where
much was made of him. He was given
dinners and taken to the 18th century
equivalent of night clubs. There prob
ably were women in the picture, too.
The upshot was that he died Of indi-
gestion. He could not stand the pace.
DR.. William Harvey, the famous dis
af ha al -