"BARNEY" BARNATO,

West Coast Times, Issue 10534, 19 July 1897, Page 4

"BARNEY" BARNATO,

It is no very pleasing picture of the late Mr Barnato which " One who knew him " presents to the readers of an Australian contemporary. The sketch of his life which is given supports the statement that the late millionaire was " one | of the most striking examples the century has ever seen of a man who, from the humblest origin and circumstances, had reached the topmost pinnacle of riches and power, holding in his hand the

gold producing properties of the Transvaal, and controlling the rise and fill of stocks wherein were invested countless millions ; who started his career with no capital but bis brains and determination, an elastic conscience, unlimited sang froid, and a rapacity as boundless as that of the late Jay Gould himself. " Barnato's first appearance in South Africa was in the humble guise of a " penniless professor of legerdemain." Fortunately for him the rush to the diamond fields had just set in, and he was one of the first to secure a good claim. Combining the business of a diamond dealer with that of a digger, he established branches in London and on the Continent, and rapidly grew in wealth, so that in a few years he became an important personage on the diamond fields. Then followed his election to a seat in the Legislative Assembly, a step which the writer declares was made possible by the compulsion put upon the miners to vote for him by the Companies employing them. At the same time the Barnato Bros, amalgamated with the De Beers Company, and from this combination arcse the great De Beers' Consolidated Mines, Limited, which controls the diamond markets of the world. Barnato, as a life Governor of this Corporation, enjoyed a salary of £10,000 a year. Quick to note the possibilities afforded by South Africa for becoming rich, Barnafco was early on the scene when the auriferous districts of the Transvaal were exploited, and secured large belts of very rich country for comparatively small sums. Then came an era of incessant companyfloating, and through it all the astute Barnato became richer and richer. He was one of the gold kings of Johaunesburg, where he seems to have exercised his great influence with the Boer officials in the direction of healing the breach between them and the Uitlanders. He was on friendly terms with President Kruger, and it will be remenr bered that after the Jameson raid he mediated with the President on behalf of the prisoners. Personally he was short and stout, with keen glancmg eyes and a little, tightlywaxed moustache. He was a fair boxer, an amateur actor of much more than average ability, " abstemious in his habits and quiet in his domestic life," aDd generous with his wealth, especially to those of his own race. He must have been immensely rich when he died, though of late the Transvaal goldjringa have had anything but prosperous times. There was, at all events, probably not the slightest reason for Barnato's fear that he would die poor.