DR. "JIM"

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 96, 16 January 1918, Page 8

DR. "JIM"

MAN WHO ROUGHED IT WITH RHODES

The feature of the late Sir Leander Starr Jameson's life (says an obituary article in tho "Daily Mail"), was not the Jameson Raid, but his courage and sincerity. His career seemed broken after the fiasco in.1896, but he set himself to build it up again, and within eight years ho became Prime Ministor of Cape Colony. It was an almost incomprehensible- achievement, but it was understood by those who had come under the influence of his attractive and stimulating personality.

Born in Edinburgh, Jameson came-to London young. He was an M.D. at 24. Soon afterwards some weakness of lung showed itself; South Africa was recommended. Ho heard of a partnership at Kimberley—then in the flood-tide of its wealth—and promptly set up there. It was ai land of lions and ogres, diamonds and gold, big perils and rich rewards for daring endeavour, and Dr. "Jim" absorbed and expressed tho spirit of the country.

Dr. "Jim" and Rhodes, The young doctor soon made the acquaintance of a young English diamonddigger named Cecil Rhodes. They took to one another at once; lived together in a little tin house; took long walks and rides together; talked eternally of everything, especially Rhodes's great imperial schemes. The chief of theso was for a chartered company to "defelon" a vast territory to the north. The ruler of this territory was LobenRula. From him a "concession" had to he won. That was the first step. Ono afternoon Rhodes showed the doctor a telegram. It was'from tho agent who was trying to secure the concession. Ho was being threatened; he would not remain with Lnbengula. "Look hero," said Rhodes, "will you go?"

By this timo Jameson had a very valuable practice. It used to bo said lie was making (£IO,OOO a year. Probably that was an exaggeration, but he was assuredly in the way to become rich. Ho thought things over rapidly. Then he said, "Yos, I'll go." He left by coach at four o'clock the next morning. ' With Lobengula.he had instant success. Me stayed three months, him of gout, secured his good will, and enabled the British South Africa Company lo be formed. 'J'ho next step was to lead a column into the country—a lisky task, for, in spite of their permission, the llatabele were opposed to strangers comiug in. It was thought that an expedition , fivo or six thousand strong would be required. "Tho Doctor" had a fores of 500, hut he made it suflicient. Skilfully he avoided any fighting; penetrated to the heart of the country; planted the British flag where Salisbury now stands. Then came the rising. Jameson immediately raised a settlers' force of 1000; sought out the Matabele, beat them at the Shangani and the Imbembesi Rivers, frightened Lobengula into fleeing, and crushed the rebellion.

The Raid and Retrievemcnt. Tins as in lew. L»r. "jini ,, was the Hero o.i fajuui Airica, wiuc-h lie mid relieved lroni a peril that migiu liavo become alarming, tie came a) .iMigiand ;;i InJo. iu>. was decorated uy Lord oaiisuirry. Xhc- l'niici ot \\ales tool; me cuair at his lecture to tlie nieiuuers oi me Imperial institute, lio was me "lion" of the season, liis position seemc-u seuure.

Ac ttie end ol that year came the Raid, "i'ooi old Jameson/' Khoiius Mid, when ne neard of it. "Twenty years we have boon friends, and now ne goes and luiiis me. !i Tnu plan was to carry out an liiienial revolution, but when Jameson was ready witn his force at i'iisani, on the Jiaiisnud border, the Johannesburg Reiorniers lield buck. >So Jameson decided to "rush" them. Afterwards lie siov what a mistake he had made. ''JJad luck and 1 were alonu responsible," lie used' to say. His rash nurry played into the old President's hands. Iho force surrendered. Tliey were handed over to the imperial (Jovenmien t, brought to London, tried "at Bar," and sentenced to various terms of penal servitude, altered bj the Jiome Ofiiet; to imprisonment.

Jameson's period was ten months, but he was released before it expired.Ho was in wretched health, and never after the Raid was he ;v sound man. The outbreak of war in 1899 found him in Rhodesia. He went to Laclysniith, served as a surgeon through the siege, and then in 1900 determined to force his way into politics. When Rhodes died, in 1(102, he succeeded as Leader of the Progressive (afterwards the Unionists), and in 1904, only eight years from the day when his career had seemed to he ended, he was Premier of Cape Colony, the man to whom all the British in South Africa looked for guidance in those difficult days.

The Way to Union. As Premier ho came to England for tho Colonial Conference of 1907, and held his own easily among the statesmen of tlie Empire. The next year, after a defeat at the polls, he resigned. He had tilled his four years of office- with useful work for the country. The.path to Union had been prepared. When Union came ho was quite willing to serve in a Coalition Ministry under General Botha. But this idea was negatived bv the Dutch, so it was as I/cader of the Opposition thnt lie figured in t-lin first Union House of Commons. His altitude there was. in fpncrnl, one nf watchful moderation. His nim was not to hinder but to help General Botha. 111-health compelled him, in April 1012, to resign, and he sailed for England. In ifH.'t lip w:ts elected president of tho British South Africa Company.

In August, 1316, ho accented the chairmanship of the Prisoners nf War Committee of the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John.