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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 3, 1909)
ISS FORTUNE or misfor tune which? Hnrry A. Greenlee faced (i ticklish problem. "Miss Fortune" mennt a brido nnd $75,000. "Mis fortune" meant death, perhaps; at any rate, failure and five years' work for nothing. But now it's to bo nolthor the one nor the other. "Miss Fortune," truo to her promise, in to become "Mrs. Greenlee," and "misfortune" is no more young Greenlee is oven now on his way back to Australia to claim not only tho hand of the' girl he loves, but tho $75,000 prizo offered there for walking wholly around tho world! Ho ban dono it In ftvo short years. In that timo he has beon In every country but one on tho face of tho earth; he has set foot on every conti nent and groat Island. Ho has fought, starved, thirsted, bled, sickened everything but died. But it's all for gotten now. Ho has won all because ho has dared all, according to a writer In tho New York World. And in daring ho says ho has seen over a hundred men die of them three were tho chums and traveling mates who Bet out with him. The others woro men they fought and killed to savo their own lives in dif ferent places on tho face of trfo globo. Dut who offered $75,000 for this globe trotting and why did Miss Fortune promise her hand to anyone? Read and you shall learn. Of chums there wcro four when this story began, five years ago in far away Australia Jack Jones, Dennis McCluskey, Fred Ryan and Harry Greenlee. All young Greenleo is but 24 now tlicy were filled with tho spirit of do nnd dare; they loved ox citcment; they wanted to sco the world. Not that Greenleo wasn't qulto n veteran at that sort of thing already. As a youngster ho had run away from homo to bo n bugler boy in tho Boer war, but oven UiIb wasn't enough tor him. Tho Bushmen's leaguo of Australia Is a very powerful and wealthy organ ization. Somo of the richest men of that Island, which Is n continent of itself, belong to it. A few of them got together ono day and offered a prizo for a feat which no one ever yet hnd accomplished. "Fifteen thousand guineas for tho man who walks around tho world, vis iting every country, without begging, borrowing or stealing." Two Fortunes to Win. That, says Greenleo, was tho Bush men's offer. The quartet of young fellows noted It. And 15,000 guineas Is $75,000 a fortune. And when tholr girl chum and schoolmate, Miss Mary Smith Foituno, now a beauty of New South Wales, offered to marry tho ono who could do it, that made two for tunes, didn't it? At least thoso Aus tralian follows thought It did, any way, becauso all four loved tho girl more than nny ono would have con fessed to tho other three, friondB as they were. Greenleo says ho was willing. Ho Is still willing. And so all four determined to mako the try, each resolving to ilnish, each one hoping tho other throo would drop out, but all four firmly resolved to stick together ami share thler com mon danger as long as they stuck to their aolf-appointud task. They started from Molbourno on Juno I, 1904. With them they carried tho Jtiuornry pre pared for them by John Rutherford, president of tho Bushmen's leaguo. All four woro brass badges of identifi cation nnd carried on their persons Masonic emblems all four had at tained tho thirty-socoud degree in tho craft, "It was tho ono thing that put mo through," said Greenlee, earnestly, ro ferrlng to hiB Masonic connections, when lie arrived In New York, his 33,000 mile Journey of moro than flvo yours nt uu end, Tasmania was the first stage of the globo encircling trip, and it .proved an easy ono tar thoso hardy young fel lows from .'vstrnlla. Their lintbrs M home were full of confidence. Gross ing that island without nny more ad venture than would befall a man cross ing tho state of Now York on foot they took ship for German South Africa. And then their real dangers began. In fact, It was all off as far as Miss Fortune waB concerned. Time nnd again sho wrote to tho four begging them to come home, after she had heard what was happening, oftentimes months afterward, but it was no use. Their minds were made up. The four had to fight their way through wllderneBB teeming with savage tribes, even cnnnibnls; Knf llrs and Sassacunia attacked them over nnd over again. Hunger and thirst were ever present, but on nnd on and on they tramped through Jun gle and morass, hoping, ever hoping, and Journeying always to the north, is Paylno the Penalty. To day, becnuse of his experiences, young Greenlee Is not tho enthusiast he used to be. In fact, his suffcrluga have made him all but h physical wreck. And when ono listens to IiIb tale, It Is hard to realize how ho could have dono all this and come out of it alive. "Wo went on north," said young Greenlee, while ho wns in Now York, "from Gorman South Africa up through tho Congo Freo State and through British East Africa to Aden. A short time before wo left Aden, Jones and Ryan went nhcad a bit, and it was a few days before we came up with them they wcro in a fight with a band of tribesmen. Neither had guns becauso of their religious scru plea. Wo woro too late. 'The moment wo came up wo start ed firing on our common foes, but tho assegais of the natives killed both poor Jones and poor Ryan beforo wo got tho range with our rifles. Then we hnd to light to savo ourselves. When at last tho tribesmen fled no match for our long range rlllea wo counted 52 dead bodies. Wo had to burn the bodies of our friends to keep tho sav ages from eating them after wo were gono. "After that it was pretty gloomy, you can hot. When we got to the coast at last wo took boat to tho Canary islanda and thence to Quccub town, Ireland. Wo walked about 300 miles around Ireland, then went to Scotlnnd and England. In London I called at the war office and showed my badgea and my Victoria Cross, which I won when n bugler boy in tho Boer wnr. I know Buller and French nnd Kitchener, nnd tho king gavo me this ring." Not Attracted by Kaiser. Young Greenleo allowed a Masonic ring almost hidden by other rings of diamonds nnd precious stones given him by various personages all over tho world. "Wo went to Germany after that and met tho kniser," he continued. "I don't euro much for him, heia so sar castic looking and conceited. Wo might have beon monkeys tho wny he looked at us. But I liked tho empress. Sho gavo mo a beautiful diamond brooch, which has since been stolen. "It would tako six months nt least to toll all tho plncefl wo visited, and It's hard to know which to loavo In nnd which to loavo out. Most of it waH Just a case of walking, dny after day. In short, wo visited every coun try in tho world with tho exception of Thibet, 'tho Forbidden Laud.' We had plenty of good flglits, but wo carried good rifles and rovolvers, nnd always camo out best. Tho Chlneso emperor, now dead, gavo us n letter which was an opon sesame everywhere In his kingdom. But in China, where wo spent 3V5 months, wo got Into two serious rowB with tho Boxers. Wo crossed over to Vancouver and wont down to Moxlco and camo back through Central America. On leaving Califor nia wo got lost and woro for four days without food, and threo without wator. That about finished both of us, but McCluslcoy was the worse off. Ho con tracted fover, and I Just mauajjed to get him to hordib'.J-K, whore hV died. Tho Masons there burled hlnn Then I felt pretty much like g'vli'g up. Wo four had been friends nil mtr lives, but McCluskey and myself wore Just tho 8nmo ns brothers. Somehow I ulnnagod to get across tho aontlnont, however, nnd now my Journey Is fin ished." Greenlee Always a Rover. And Greenlee looked pretty well fin ished himself. He Is the eon of Henry Greenlee, owner of a rich sheep ranch, or aa they call them in Aus tralia, sheep station, In Mnmonglng, Now South Wales. There Greenlee, McCluskey, Jones, Ryan and Miss For tune nil grow up togothor, Miss For tune ulwnya tho loader and queen of tho littlo set. When only a youngster Hnrry Greenlee was always, of n roving de position. When ho Joined tho forces in South Africa as a buglor ho was tho youngest soldier nt the front. Ho so distinguished himself at Vorlnging that ho won tho coveted Victoria Cross, tho biggest honor an English soldier can receive, which 1b bestowed only for exceptional bravory. Tho prize which Greenleo now wins represents u pretty largo sum and tho expenses were nil. Still, none of the young men needed tho nionoy nil wero sonn of well-to-do men-In Austra lia. Tho winner Is tho nephew of Greenleo, tho millionaire Scotch shoo maker. When young Greenleo was asked how he succeeded in working his way across the world and what sort of work wns offered to tho party when they went "broke," ho explained tho system. How it Was Done. "Whon wo went to n town or city," ho Bald, "wo showod our credentials and tho Masons of tho different towns and cltleB lookod after us. MaJ. W. A. MonBch, tho mining expert, Is looking after mo in Now York and Is sending me bnck to Australia. And that waa tho way all nlong. We never eeuod to aak for money. Wo did not beg. Work was given to ua. e Wero at tempting a task that hrtd never boon performed, and in tho interests of the thing they all helped ub out.'' , Young Greenleo takCB back many orders and medals, nnd hla fingers aro covered with rings received from friends he made In different pnrtB of tho world. Mr. Glor, secretary of tho ShrluciB in Cincinnati, gavo him a threo-carat diamond ring ns a sou venir. Even, tho pope did not slight young Greenlee; ono of . his most cher- HAGPY GRCEYLC ished poHseslona is n rosary given him by Pius X. "Tlioy all remind mo of terrlblo times," said tho globo-trottr. "How over, It's all over now and I Bail on tho Majestic to got my two rownrds." HONORS TO BRITISH SEAMEN United States Army to Be Credited with Graceful Act of Inter national Courtesy. By a graceful act of International courtesy tho United States army lias given honored sopulturo to tho bones of a bravo and distinguished party of BrltlBh seamen who lost their lives in a winter storm at Sandy Hook In 1783, soon after tho American army had won independence for Uie colonies after a prolonged and blltor struggle with Great Britain. Tho United Statna army has further oxpreseed officially tho intention to erect an appropriato monument ahovo tho bodies of thoso long dead heroes of tho English navy, and Mr. Bryce, tho famous historian and ambassador from tho court of St. JamcA to tho United Status, ban ox pressed hla country'n appreciation of tho graceful act. It was just at-oU one year a go that oomo workn en who wcro making cx cavntlons for government work with in tho reservation of Fort Hancock, nt Sandy Hook, uncovered tho bones of 11 men, all apparently Interred many years ago In tho nandB of tho beach. Thoro was much speculation for n time as to the solution of the riddle. Tho skeleton8 wcro gathered up re spectfully and turned over with mili tary regularity to tho custody of tho quartermaster's department of the United States army. Then began an investigation, conducted with the us ual military red tape, but, after nil, with the customary directness of army affairs. Rov. Charles H. Wells, a gen tleman with n tasto for antique things, wrote a letter in which he suggested that the solution of the puzzle might well bo found In tho Inscription on n mural tablet In tho sacristy of Trinity church, which ,ln tho nrchalc orthog raphy of more than a century ago, wns found to read as follows: "At Sandy Hook lye interred tho bones of the Honourable Hamilton Douglns Hallyburton, eon of Sholto Charls, Earl of Norton, nnd holr of tho ancient family of Hallyburton, of Pltourr, In Scotland, who perished on the cost with twelvo moro young gen tlemen and one common seaman, In the spirited dischargo of duty, on tho 30th or 3lBt of December, 1783. "Born on tho 10th of October, 17C3, n youth, who, In contempt of hard ship or danger, possessed of nn amplo fortune, served soven years in tho British navy, with n manly courngu and deserved a better fate. This plain monumental atone la erected by hla unhappy mother, Kathcrlno, Conn tcso Downgcr of Norton, to his dear memory and that of his unfortunato companions. Investigation by tho military au thorities of tho department of tho east proved that tho Bolutlon suggested by Rov. Dr. Wolla was correct. Then tho question nroso what should bo dono with the bodioa of tho gallant heir of tho Earl of Norton, who had died a hero's death whon barely 20 years old, and with the remains of his plucky associates, who had found, with him, untlmoly graves in the frozen sands of Sandy Hook. Tho wholo story wns finally laid beforo tho war department in Washington In tho form of official correspondence, nnd a fow days ngo there camo to Gen. Leonard Wood, commanding tho department of tho cast, Willi headquarters at Governor's Island, tho various documents in tho caHotogothor with this momornndum, dated from tho nltlco of the quarter master general, Washington, nnd sub scribed by J. B. Aleshlro, quarter master gonoral, U, S. A.: "Respectfully returned to tho chlol of artillery, with tho Information that tho remains within reforred to have boon rolntorred in gravo No. 30, Cy press Hills National cemetery, Brook lyn, N. Y., nt which thoro will bfc erected by the department a Buitnblo monument, inscribed with tho names of tho decedents and tlto cLcum Btanca of tholr death. "Tho British ambassador has boon Informed of tho rolnterment of tho re mains, bb above, and of tho Intontlon of thin goyeruniont to erect a monu ment at tho grave, as Indicated." Thus In tho curt phrases of mili tary parlance and olllcialdom, is sketched, a century and a quartor nf tor tho ovont, tho outllno of a Btory of English gallantry, worthy of tho best traditions of England's "hearts of oak," and its eoquol, worthy of tho bWt Instinct's of the American soldier. f1; vn". (V In. n ' . r; Anil I i' a rl-y x.iiiru; mm. Honcntti a high, upturning wreath Of inlntlrtop hn tmn Crylrift tlio whlla with ro. i sl pi il "I'retrml that I'm your slatrl" The problem stnml.i like Hits, I wts- OliouUl lie lmve hltmcil lirr? Arohln Cromble. From Out BY CHARLES (Cupvrisiii. uy As tho train rolled steadily on Its wny, Horace l.olth leaned upon tho car window sill gazing out upon the New England laudscapo. There waa nothing particularly attractive In tho prospect, but It waa many years Blnco ho hnd taken this route which led to his old vlllngo bomo of Chelsea, and ho was endeavoring to recall certain IcaturcH of tho Journey whlcn had otico been ramillar. It was u tar cry rrom thoso old days to the present, when he had gained recognition us a successful business man In Now York. Suddenly his musings were Inter rupted by n Jcrit of the car and the sharp call or thobinkemnn for another station Ho turned around nnd wntclied tho passougera who were outorlng and leaving the car. A slight woman with a baby In her arms, attired in black, took tho sent directly In rront ol him and drew his attention lor a moment. The train started again and he leaned back In his former position. Presently tho baby climbed bark on tho Beat, In one nand u rubbor doll nnd the otner clutching the plush cushion. In hor efforta to attract Lolth's atten tion tho doll fell to tho lloor and two red' littlo lips Inmicd an Imperious command : "Man, get baby's doll," sho lisped, nnd Loith, reaching dawn, obeyed tho mandate. When ho returned tho doll tho owner mulled rapturously. She wan a very attractive child and Ltth settled hlumelf to watch her and lis ten to tho prattle alio poured out In broken nentencen Glancing at the mirror In front of him, lie became nwnro that ho enl obtain a lull view of tho llguro of tho unby'a mother therein. Her face, howover, was prrtlally hidden by n crepe veil. After nwhllo oho ap peared to grow icstlesa and throwl back tho veil, disclosing two Hushed cheeks and n pair of dark blue eyes drooping under long lashes. It wns n Her Face Was Partially Hidden by a Veil. gcntlo nnd singularly beautiful face. Almost unconsciously ho moved a littlo closer bo na to obaervo her bettor. A chord in his memory seemed to hnvo been touched. Surely lie had scon hor Bomewhero before. When nnd whoro could it hnvo been? Not on tho stage or in a picture, lie felt cer tain. Ho thoug'it long nnd enrneatly, but tho riddle remained unsolved. Then by different channels his mind traveled back through tho years, to tho homo of hla boyhood, tho littlo vlllngo, tho rlvor ho used, to awlin In and his farowcll to Chelsea. And nt this point memory supplied tho missing link. It was she Lucy Mayburn tho Bruno littlo girl lie had loved bo long ago, Ho muaed on, thinking tonderly of tho night he left for tho great city, when ho kissed her good-by and promised somo day to claim her as his wife. He oven ro called tho tears that glistened on her faco under tho starlight of his lust hours at homo. A mist obscured his vision and something suspiciously like a Bob lingered in hla throat. Ton years had passed How quickly ono forgots, nnd sacred promises aro broken, whllo youthful affection dlos In the cold atmosphere of the Hlrugglo for famo and riches. A nameless long ing oppressed htm. How ho wished lie could talk to her. Perhaps through the baby lie might maungo It. Tho child responded to nn Invita tion to como and hear hla watch tick. No porauaalon wns needed to keep her on Ills knee, for sho waB easily amused. Presently tho warm at mosphere, comblnod with the motion of the train, exorcised a soothing ef fect upon her, tho blue eyes closed languidly, and baby drifted into tho ebadowlaud of slumber. It wus a now mlo for Lolth to play, this of nurso to a Bleeping Inrnnt, but ho performed It with a zest which would havo aston ished hla many bacholor assoolntes. had they been witnesses. To the mother's offer fo rellovo him ol his burden he roturned a hasty negatlvo and begged to lm allowed tho pleasure o'f ru'taJnfng his charge, air; had 0 of Past L. DOYLE w. u. uiiHpmtui.) turned to converse with the stinngcr who mnulfefltud such admiration of her child, mid they discussed tho sleeping beauty exhaustively, from her dimpled fare to tho dress and tiny shoes alio wore. At last Lolth casually remarked that his destination waa 'Cholsun, and learned that she was bound for tho same place. The conversation drift ed Into other oiiunueln and sonn he hoard how sho had left her limne In aii eastern city threo years neroro, when her husband died, retui nln with bur baby to the homo of hor child hood. Tho vlllngo qulol oppressed her, however, she said, and sho longed to tako her baby nnd go far away trom It. "1 used to live In Chelsea long ago." remarked Lolth, whon she had finished hor story "So long ngo, however." ho continued, "Hint you would hardly be likuly to romomber me." She looked nt him curiously, but shook hor head. "There was on littlo girl thoro," ho resumed, "that I wns very fond of. Her nnme wan Lucy Mayburn. Poor littlo Lucy! I shall never forget our farewell. And H was nil my fault that wo did not meet again. I was Inlso to my vow, solllsh and forgetful of nil olsc In the cursed light to mako monoy In big Now York. 1 wonder It you know her?' Tho woman tnrnod palo nnd thon Hushed nervously, controlling her agi tation by nn evident effort. "I know her," she replied, softly, "but sho Is not there now bIic bIio went away." "So she lias ijono?" quorlnd Lolth; "inurrled, 1 suppose. Who was tho lucky follow who won hor?" Ho felt suro thai she had recognized him now, but allowed matters to tako their coui'bo ami awaited her reply with a bravo shew of composure "Ills nnme wns Logan," alio said, tremulously, "Lucy Mnyburn was truo to hor prpmhio tor soven long vuara: hor promlso to you. But oho wua an orphan, practically alone in the world, ami a day camo when a good kind man offered hor n rofugo from her lowliness. Sho wns frank with him and told him tho truth about herself, that tho best alio could offor him was her respect nnd u broken hoart. And lie accepted tho conditions. When he baby waa born sho realized that gIio had found peace, If not actual hap piness. Then camo sickness and othor trials. Sho had many troubles" Tho voice of tho 'uponkor faltered and broke, her eyes filled with tears, and turning away hor face, sho sobbed bitterly. Sho had betrayed her solf. but alio no longer enrod. Lolth laid tho sloeplng child gently beside him nnd bent over his old sweetheart, "Don't cry. Lucy," ho whispered; "don't cry, dear I wa,s a brute to piny with your feollngs this wny." Sho glnnced up with startled eyes. "Then you know mo?" bIio fullered. "Yort, Lucy, I know you," ho said, softly. "And pet haps, dear, It was ordained by Providence that wo should meet like thin. Listen, little ono. Can't you forgot tho weary years anil let mo fulfill the promise, made so long ago? Let tho paat bo na a tlronrn and awaken to the linpplness of tho present, Lucy. Whutover I may havo done, no othor woman bus over held tho pluco In my heart occupied by your Image. And It isn't too Into now. Let mo enro for your child, nnd we will tako up tho broken thread or our lives where It snapped " Tho othor pnssnngcrs In the car wore watching curiously tho two act ors In a little drama which tlioy could not understand, hut noithei Lollii nor tho woman boslde lilin wero conscious of- tholr BU'ToundlngH, ami tho baby slumbered peaeolully on. The long, warning wlintlo or tho locomotive shrilled through tho ulr, no tho train neared Chelsea. Lucy timidly slipped her smnll hind into Luith's big brown one, smiling through hor tears, nnd ho knew Hint ho was forglvon. When tho train como to a stop Lolth swung the slooplm; baby on to IiIb broad shoulder, and with his long-lost lovo beside him stopped from tho car Into tho purplo twilight shadows that brooded over tho quiot scenes or hla boyhood home. Close to Nature. Tho ossontlal charm of tho farm re mains and always will remain: tho euro of crops, nnd of cattlo, and of or chards, boea and fowls; tho clearing and Improving of tho ground; tho building of barns and houses; tho dt rect contact with tha soil and tho ele ments; tho privacies with nature with bird, benst and plant; and the closo acquaintance with the heart and virtue of tho world, John Burroughs. What sweet enjoyment It la to bo able to shed a littlo happiness around us! What an easy and agreeable tusk Is that of trying to render pthora Ifo'iipyi Bhker. the