THE LATE CECIL RHODES

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 15

THE LATE CECIL RHODES

DISPLAYS OF POPULAR LOVE

A MAN OF HiGH IDEALS

THE GRAVE OX THE MATOPPO HILLS. THE SPECTACLE AT THE GRAVE. CAPETOWN, April 7. Extraordinary manifestations of sorrow were witnessed at Maf eking during the passage of Mr Rhode-*' 1 , coffin through the town. Two thousand of De Beer-* Company workmen, with their wivos and children, at Kimberloy pa^etl by Mr Rhodes'^ coffin. Two thousand whites and 7000 natives accorded the coffin similar reverence at Mateking. April 11. The funeral of Mr Cecil Rhodes formed a picturesque proce^-ion m the hills and gorgo-5 of the Matoppos. The grave is cut in rock on the summit of a steep kopje. Twelve oxen finally drew the coffin to the graveside. The Bishop of Mashonaland consecrated the ground and officiated ai the burial. One thousand whites and 20t>0 natr.es witnessed the obsequies. Mr Rhodes'^ grave i^> cut three feet deep in the rock, and encircled by huge boulder's. A weird and thrilling wailing wa<- kept up by the native--, while there was a. .sacrificing of oxen, and rites similar to those observed at the death of the chief Unsiliirazi. The spectacle wa^ a very touching one. Sikombo, the Induua orator of the Matabele, eulogized Mr Rhode-,. LONDON, April 7. The Kaiser and President Roosevelt were- delighted, and intimated their warm appreciation of Mr Rhodes'-, action in leaving legacies to the United States and Germany. April 8. " It i> believed that Mr Rhodes has left Lord Ro-ebi<ry, Earl Grey, Lord Milner, Mr Kelt, Dr Jameson, Mr L. Mitchell, and Mr Hawk«iey trustee-* for the remainder of his fortune, which i^ estimate! at between three and four millions, with unlettered discretion to expend the -<ime in the advancement of the federation of the Anglo-Saxon race-. April 9. Khama'-. brother and a number of other chiefs paid their last respects to tue remains of Mr Rhode-, at Franei-.-towu. There w<j- an immense concourse at Buluwa\o. The procession iiifhuled Colonel Hhode- and Dr Jameson. The body l- lying in state in the drill hall. Mr Rliode-'s funeral train is draped ivith mourning. The latter part i-> arranged a- a mortuary chapel, and lighted with wax candles. The coffin is covered with the I'nion Jack. A pilot engine and an armoured train, which act as an escort, precede the funeral car. Extraordinary displays of popular love and respect have been shown all along the route. Hundreds of persons travelled long distances to witness the ceremony. All the post blockhouses furnished guards of honour, who pre-euted arms as the car passed. Business is suspended, and all buildings are draped in black. Kipling's elegy eulogising Cecil Rhodes's greatness of ,soul will be read at the grave. April 10 Mr W. T. Stead continued on friendly

terms with the late Mr Rhodes whose political will he publishes. Mr Rhodes aspired to create a great society, copied, in regard to organisation., from the Jesuits, with "a view to securing that his vast bequests be applied to the realisation of his main ideal of race unity with an ultimate federation of England and America, thus securing the government of the world in peace t'Qr all eternity. He meanwhile recommends that Freetracle be fought for if necessary by British retaliatory tariffs. England, he says, is destined to convert her present economic opponents, including America, into friends. His documents are idealistic beyond comprehension. An impressive service was held in Sr. Paul's Cathedral on the occasion of Mr Rhodes'-; funeral. The King and the Prince of Wales were represented. A vast congregation attended, including the Lord Mayor and the Agents-general.