| Show STORIES ABOUT BARNATO Showed Cecil Rhodes a Bucketful of Diamonds I was the evening of a day nearly ten years ago when three men who held the chief interest in the diamond mines at Kimberley sat down together to arrange ar-range the terms of the projected amalgamation amal-gamation The three were Cecil Rhodes Alfred Beit and B 1 Barnata of the Kimberley mine Each one had a concession con-cession he required from the otherr but the requirements of the last two are of no public interest The concession conces-sion Mr Rhodes required was entirely different It was this I want the dierent I power to go to the north to carry out the expansion there and I think the company might assist me in the work I believe everything they give will be returned but even if it were lost it is I a very fair case for the doctrine of i ransom In other words Mr Rhodes insisted on getting the power to use the profits of the De Beers mine for the acquisition of the unoccupied regions re-gions of the north Mr Belt said lit tie but supported Mr Rhodes but the notion of using the diamond mines to create an empire did not recommend Itself as good business to Mr Barnato even when i was backed by Mr Rhodes Mr Barnato was amused at this proposal and argued against it for a long time But Mr Rhodes was de ecmined to have his way and insisted on their agreeing to his conditions as he had agreed to theirs He sat therewith there-with them all night and till 4 oclock in the morning At last the other two gave way Mr Barnato observing Some people hae a fancy for this thing some for that thing but you have a fancy for making an empire Veil I suppose we must give it you Another story which is current also in London Is that some years ag when the company had 220000 carats of diamonds dia-monds to sell Mr Barnato made Mr Rhodes an offer for the lot in one parcel par-cel Mr Rhodes having considered the offer replied Yes you shall have them for that on one condition And whats the condition That you let me see a sight no human eyes ever saw yet Whats that inquired the puz I zled dealer Why said Mr Rhodes a bucketful of diamonds in a heap i Done exclaimed the buyer delighted to have the diamonds on his own terms So they poured the stones all together Into a bucket and emptied the bucket in a heap and gloated over the sight and had photographed Mr Rhodes laugh came in when he had the diamond dia-mond market all to himself for six weeks during the time required for resorting re-sorting the diamonds into their 160 classifications |
