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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (March 28, 1913)
Tamesrd Re Tlie TraicErtd of fte iamems American Ivory Poaclier A " copyfTJr AY A dcS Uncrowned IWW) 4 fex WRobert Foran COPYMCtr Y 'fiDCWAY CO'. VERY ono will remombcr tho dra matic story, recently given to tho world throuch the dally ureas, of tho death of Jnmes Ward Rogers, tho American elephant-poacher, In tho Congo. Tho namo Rogers proln ably conveyed nothing to many millions all ovor the world until tho story of his tragic end was pub- Hnhnri hrnnrlpnnt Vnt nn mnnv -whn have traveled in Stanloy's "Darkest Africa" tho territory which witnessed tho truly retnnrknblo end of an adventurous careor tho details of tho dramatic chase through the Jungles and Us still mora dramatic conclusion will not bo a mere plpo-drcam. There must be many others In America besides myself who havo been through this section of Central Africa and to whom Rogers was known personally. And to us tho story brings rogrots. for Itogers was a fine typo of mah, oven though Ills latter days were spent In outlawry and de fiance of lawfully constituted authority. In order that the causes which led up to the tragedy may be bettor understood, It is neces sary to touch lightly upon history and political facts. Many may recall that the British govern ment leased the strip of the Congo territory known as tho Lndo Enclave a long strip stretch ing along the banks of tho Nile from tho south ernmost extremity of Lako Albert to Klro, on the edgo of Sudan to tho lato King Leopold of tho Belgians, for the duration of his lifetime On Ills death, It passed back Into British hands and, Incidentally, under tho control of tho Sudan officials. Prior to this that is to say, under Leopold's rule the Lado Enclave was tho happy hunting ground of a band of British and foreign ivory poachers, Tho Belgian administration of tho lA&a was n mero farce. Ofllclnls wero few and far between and the natives did as they willed, without fear of lot or hindrance. It must bo re monibered. however, that if any of tho poachers wore caught red-handed with the poached Ivory, thoy wore Bent to tho Belgian Congo capital, Leo poldsvillo, on the Congo rlvor, to undergo ton years' hard labor In a chain-gang. ThlB little pleasantry of punishment was the worBo Imaginable. Thoy wero chained round tho meek and fastened to a long string of tho worst native malefactors. Their legs wero rlvotod Into chains and round their middles wero othor heavy chaliiB, supporting tho enormous leg-Irons. All day these poor wretches worked in tho forests or in tho opep, under a biasing sun, goaded on to further labor by tho extreme brutalities of their hard-hearted guards. Whlto man and negro wero treated nllko. No favors wore shown to any of them. It may be safely stated that tho death of Rogers cIoscb the long chapter of lawless ele phant poaching in. tho Congo. Far yoars tho Lado Enclave was known as "No Man's Land;" but It Is not so now, for tho Sudan government -assumed control in Juno, 1010, and sot about ex terminating tho poaching industry. On my arlval at Mongalla, tho southernmost post of the Sudan on the Nllo In thoso days, 1 had tho good fortuno to meet my old comrado in Arms, Capt. C. V. Fox of tho Egyptian army, and discused at length with him tho prospects of rout ing out tho ivory-poachers. At the time 1 Httlo thought that, a trlflo over two years later, Captain Fox would be tho central figure with Rogers In ono of the most dramatic and exciting stories of real ndventuro which has ever come out of tho Congo, or, for that mattor, Africa. But we who know our Africa have learn ed to be surprised at nothing. ' Part of this remarkable story comes to mo di rect from my old friend Captain Fox and part from othor friends in Africa. Captain Fox's story lacka a good many detnlls, for tho modesty of Uio British soldlor Is rolleded throughout his nar rative. Thoro are many points you and I would liko to have cleared up, but either Fox's modesty or his sonso of what is duo to a dying man'H last reqiieBt prevent the elucidation of tho blank paces. For Instance, we would Ilka to know who Is the doctor reforred to by Rogors and Captain Fo--Maybe wo shall never knowl Rogers' llpa aro sealed by death and tho lips of Captain Fox are -eled by a dying man's Jast 'charge Tho "doc--tor" must go down to posterity as a flguro of jnyatory, unless tho Belgians disclose his namo. We know that ho was tho boon companion of Rogers and we have tho lattor's ctatemont that iho was Innocent of poaching Ono must sympathize with Rogers, even if ono .disapproves of his breaches of tho law. His is a .plcturcsijuo llguro and ho died as, 'no doubt, ho rouli have wished- to have dlod with his face o tho front and shielding his comrado, the' mys terious doctor. Rogers was an American who, at dlfforont times, was a resident of many cities In California. He had spent many years of IiIb llfo In an un wuonchablo search after adventure with a big A until ho found his heart's doslro In Central Africa. Ho Joined In tho rush to tho Klondlko in tho lato nineties and after his return ho entirely disappeared until the nown came of his death In Africa. After trying first ono thing and then anothor In Africa, ho turned hid hand to olophant poach ing, and here ho found his true olomont of ad vonturo. Ho got tho natives of tho Ludo Enclavo under his control so that thoy did his ovory bidding and acted ns his allies. Ho established an or ganized administration over the wild, trackloss country, and, nmong. those naked savagOB, who had hitherto known no muster, was virtually a iJing, oven if ho was un uncrowned monarch. Time after time ho evaded capturo by Sudan nnd Hclglan officials. And, finally, wo know that ho ludod a hot pursuit for ever six weeks. Entering tho Lado Enclavo with his whlto com tfanlou, ho sot to work to mako tho unruly and hitherto unsubdued natives subservient to his willand oven more than that, for ho made them stanch allies. On tho approach of govern wont officials tho natlvos would glvo him amnio warning so that ho could escape. Then ho trav elod about the country until ho saw a good slto for his headquarters, whoro ho could storo his Ivory, nmmunltion and supplies. Tho next thing to do was to train a band of natives to act as soldiers. All now being ready, he prococdod to mark down tho good herds of elenhants In his vlolnltv. His native spies woro trained to bring him early Information of tho approach of n good herd. No sooner did ho get news of some big tuskers than ho Bet forth through tho thorn scrub, under a blazing tropical Bun, to track thorn. Creeping on all-fours through tho bushes and flfteen-foot-hlgh grass, ho mado his way Into tho centor of tho herd nnd selected his bulla. Ho would follow them up until ho had killed off all tho best tuskers in ttoo herd. Then would come tho cutting up of tho elephants and tho hewing out of their giant Ivory teeth. At last tho Sudan government determined to stand this brazon lawlessness no longer. A mes sengor was dispatched to Rogers warning hjm to como In and surrondor, or else, declared the offi cials, he would not bo spared. His answer was typical of the man: "If you want mo, como and get me." Now Captain Fox, Inspector of tho Mongalla province In the Sudan, did want Rogers nnd. moreover, wnnted him badly. Ho accepted tho challenges, after first sending word to Rogers that ho proposed to bring him Into Mongalla, "dead or allvo." Rogors laughed when he read the message. Back camo the answer, on the foot of the same official note: "I am waiting. Come and got mo." Captain Fox set forth from Mongalla in pursuit of this daring outlaw with the meager force of a Sudanese non-commissioned officer nnd six Sudan ese soldiers nnd a few natlvo carriers and mules for tho conveyanco of supplies. Up tho banks of tho Nllo went the little party of aoldlors and their whlto leader and over In advance of them was tho fearless rinrnrn imiWi. ing in his sloovo and content In tho belief that be could outwit tho most determined .pursuit. But ,? "e en , in ,"' ho had mi.iiiri.orf th Mni. , " "Li ..." whlt0 companion, saying "Well, you're a cool ono," Rogers admitted grudgingly. "Do you know I havo you coverod with my Colt?" "Yes, but you won't daro to shoot," Fox laughed qulotly. "Won't daro! Why not, I should like to know?" Rogers answered back. "I have ovor a hundred armed men outsldo and you only have four men with you, so my men tell mo." "Nevertheless, you won't daro shoot me or mo lest my men. You aro undor arrest, Mr. Rogers, for Illicit Ivory-poaching, murdor, entering a closed district without a permit, and carrying a gun without a license." "So that Is what I am charged with, Ib It?" Rogers smiled grimly. "Havo you no other charges to prefer?" "You're wounded now. Let all that rest until you aro better." "No, I'm a dying man. I guess. Do you know you're In tho Belgian territory, that you aro sur rounded by my men, and that yoii stand mora chnnco of arrost than I do?" "You aro mistaken. I am not In Belgian terri tory and wo neod not discuss the chances of my arrest." Captain Fox deemed It wlso not to excite the man any more and silently withdrew from the room. Onco outside, ho set to work to disarm tho followers of tho dying Rogers. This was soon accomplished, for they were cowed, now' that their leader was helpless. In the middle of tho night a natlvo servant camo to Captain Fox to Bay that Rogers was dy ing, and that he wished to speak to tho officor. The soldiers did not want him to go Into the house again. But Captain Fox was not to bo deterred. As he entered the house, Rogers turned to his CELERY AS DUCK FOOD Winter Buds and Root Stocks Are Relished Best. ho had misjudged tho caliber of tha mnn whn had boon sent after him. Day by day tho Httlo party kept on down the Nllo, up tho Nllo, ncross the Nllo, first in thu Congo territory and thon In Uganda territory. Doubling and redoubling on their tracks, they never gavo up hope. Something of tho spirit which must havo pos sessed both pursuer and pursued can bo gleaned from the story of tho final meeting between these two icon. Vor. out, wot and hungry, Fox and his party roachKi a village lato one night. Here they learn od that the poachers had shot a native for dis obeying an order glvon by Rogers. This had happened only that morning, so now thoy wore hot on Jie trail of Rogors. Do8plto their pitiable condition, on learning of thia murder Captain Fox and his weary mon at onco sot out in the dark In pursuit. They traveled all that night and the greater part of the noxt day. Toward sunset thoy came In sight of an immense vlllago squaro, around which were posted a hundred of the armed native followers of the poapher. Slowly Captain Fox advancd until ho Btood In the center of the armed men. "Where Is tho whlto man, your master?" he aBk ed nuthorltatlvoly. Tho armod natlvos watchod him sullenly, with-' out vouchsafing roply. At last, after what Boem od liko hours to tho captain, ono of the- natives pointed Bllently toward a largo house in tho cen ter of the village. Fox approached tho house Indicated, with his rifle cocked and rendy for Instant use in case of need. He halted a few paces from tho houso and summonod Rogers to como out nnd surrender No reply camo to tho first summons and bo ho repeated It twice more. All remained ns silent as tho gravo and Fox began to suspect treachery. But ho kept his eyos on tho door. Suddcnily It opened; nnd a natlvo servant camo out and Bnluted Fox. "Tho commandant wnnta you to como In," ho said, In his natlvo dialect. "Ho Is sick, and can not come ouf to you," At first It looked suspicious, but Fox decided to risk any trap. Ho walked toward the house uw loft his rlilo outside loaning against tho wall. ' hen ho called to his soldiers to remain on guard nnd allow no one to leave tho houso while he was in it. Then ho passed In through tho doorway. Ho found hlmsolf in a large dark room, lighted by a singlo lllckorlng candle. For a moment hlB eyes failed to sou anything, but gradually ho be came accustomod to tho dark light and mado out tho flguro of a white man lying on a camp cot. Besldo him sat anothor whlto man, who was un known to Fox. Ho had heard that there was an othor whlto man with Rogors, whom the natives callod "Doctor," but his Identity had nover been learned by tho government. Surrounding tho bod wbro ton armod native followers of Rogors, who eyed tho soldier with sullen suspicion. Fox. stood lnsldo the door and lookod from ono whlto man to tho othor. "Which is Mr. Rogors?" ho asked, breaking tho Btralned silence. ''Mr. RogorB has been allot," replied tho whlto man Bitting besldo tho cot, with a growl of an Ror. "Yes, and by your men." Tho man on the bod spoko thickly nnd bb If in groat pain. "I am sorry, very sorry, indeed, that you havo been woundod, Mr. Rogers." Fox walked slqwly forward to tho bod. 'I hopo It Is not sorlous, but certainly you aro mistaken in thinking my sol diers did It." "No!" Rogors thundered at him, partly rlBlng in bod and falling back with a groan. Tho other whlto mnn triod to booUio him. "It wna by tho soldiers you Bont hero to nrrost me," ho contin ued, with bitter hato, "There woro throo of my men on ahead of mo, It Is truo." Fox replied, "but I am convinced hoy would not have shot at you or interfered with you." Tho man on the bed eyed tho soldier stornly, without answering. For a few moments thoro wns sllonco, n "iSS10 ?nU StMnd r,ght ll0r B0 tlmt r Cnn haV0 N?w tn yU . R8orfl ordQrod For ""Kldonly. Now toll mo what you vant with mo." stooli honMF; b0,'"K BtUl armod, wont and v0dfl bos do tho bod. Undor tho rod blankets, covering Rogers could bo soon tho shape , of a SX To?. n 8 P0,n,,n8 Btra,ht a" F' aiTdid not 9nr Wer b,n',n S" tho Bo1' "Doctor. I wish you to hear and hn a wltnnnn tn what I am going to say to Captain Fox. I sur render myself voluntarily to the Sudan govern ment. I want you to see that tho doctor gets Into no trouble ovor UiIb affair, captain. I be lieve I am a dying man, so that I am not going to He about it. This was my show and all my work. The doctor Ib blameless." On tho following afternoon the three soldiers who had boen sent on ahead arrived at the vil lage and gave Captain Fox nn account of their experience. They stated that on arriving in tho poacher's stronghold Rogers ordered them to give up their arms. He seized his Mauser rifle and opened fire with it and a revolver. His companion, the doctor, also fired on the soldiers with a Winches ter. Others attacked them with Winchesters and with arrows. Had It not been almost dark, the soldlera would havo been killed and, as It was, thoy all had narrow escapes, all of them being hit. In the fighting, Rogers was struck by a soldier's bullet? which lodged near tho hip, but he walked to his houso and sat down In a chair, By this time Captain Fox was satisfied that he was on Belgian territory and wrote to the Bel gian commandant to explain tho occurronco. Two days later tho Belgian officer arrived on the scene with a large oscort of troops. The day after the arrival of tho Belgians, Rog ors was onviously dying, and sent for Fox. He was conscious to tho end, ancj doscrlbed his symp toms. "Say, captain, you aro a big fellow and strong. Lift me up onco . more for the last time," he muttered. "I shall not bo hero tomorrow. I'm still pretty heavy, ain't I?" Fox leaned over him and gently raised him on tho bed, with his arma under the dying man's shoulderB. ( "I'm sorry, .Rogers," he said. "But you broughl this on yourself." "I know, old man. You're all right. I would rather have surrendered to you than any one, dood-byo, Doc. Gpod-by, captain. Remember, the doctor Ib Innocent, all my sh " Ills head dropped back as his spirit went to render its last account to Its Maker. Gently Fos laid tho body of tho poacher on tho bed and then turned awny to escape the sorrow of tho doctor, who wns deeply unstrung by his friend's death And so this man dlod', far away from his friends and country. Full of courage and grit to the end, his fato was worthy of a better cause. So did tho curtain fall upon tho most dramatic tragedy Id tho history of the Congo elephant-poachers. HABAKKUK, THE NEGLECTED. Short Chapter of the Bible That Is Little Read. One of tho disappointed stntesmen of the coun try on eloction night found solaco In reading Habakkuk, eighth of tho minor prophets, as found in tho old testament. We doubt If many persons, even such ns aro fairly familiar with the Bible, frequently read this little work of throo chapters says tho Philadelphia Inquirer. It Is seldom one hears toxts from this book preached upon. As a fact, nothing Is known whatever of Habak kuk unless he bo ldentlflod with one of tho same namo who Is mentioned In tho apocryphal works as having mlnlstorod to Dnniel In the lion's den. Tho namo la not Hobrow, but may havo been as Biiraod for literary purposes, aB was not uncom mon In thoso days. Tho gist of tho first two chapters of the book Is tho grief of the prophet over the approaching Chaldeans. The last chapter is a poem with musical directions, which boiiic peraons think wna written by anothor of tho same namo or titlo. Perhaps not many persons know that In this book Is found tho familiar quotation: "But the Lord Is In his holy tomplo; let all the earth keor silence before him." Plant Is Wholly Submerged With Long, Flexible, RIbbon-LIke Leaves of Light Translucent Green Flowers Aro Peculiar. (By W. I M'ATEE.) Tho names wild celery and canvas fiack duck havo boon closoly associat ed in tho annals of American sport. To a certain extant this association Is Justified, since tho canvaB back ob tains about ono-fourth of ItB food from, thlB plant a greater proportion than any othor duck. However, tho asser tion that the flavor of tho canvasback is superior to that of any othor duck and that it deponds on a diet of wild celery is not proved, to Bay tho least. Tho Bcaups or bluobtlls and tho red-' head also aro very fond of wild cel ery, and are fully as capable of Ret ting tho delicious buds as the canvas back. Sovoral other ducks get moro or less of this food, tho writer finding that even tho scoters on a northern lako in fall lived nlmost exclusively on It for a time. All parts of the plant aro eaten by ducks but tho tendor winter buds and root stocks aro rel ished best. Wild celery buds can usu- UteDMR 3ZP LKISEE2 V y m JL- 1) I ill ) 1W lif f aids ot(j ."jgjJ m Ml ADDUAL SPMQ SOG nil Wild Celery. ally be obtained by the diving ducks, Buch as tho bluebllls, redheads, can vasback and scotorB. Tho non-diving species, as the mallard, black duck, baldpate nnd the geese get an occa sional bud, but moro often they feed upon the leaves. Wild celery is a wholly submerged plant with long, flexible, rlbbon-llko leaves of light translucent green and of practically the aamo width (any where from one-fourth to three fourths of an Inch, from root to tip, This plant may bo distinguished from tho eelgraes, which lives in brackish or salt water, by tho fact that ita leaves grow in bundles from tho root Btock, while thoso of eelgrnsB arise singly and alternate on opposite sides of tho stem. Tho flowers of wild celery are pecu liar. The Btamlnate flowcre attached at tho base of tho plants shed pollen, which floats on tho surface of tho wa ter and fertilizes the pistillate flower Tho latter Is attached to a long slen der, round Btem, which contracts in to a spiral, drawing tho flower under tho water after fertilization. The seed pod into which tho pollenlzed flower develops Is straight or curved, a Httlo slenderer than a common lead pencil and from 3 to 6 inches long. It contains embedded in a clear Jelly, small dark seeds, In number about 50 to tho inch. No such pod is borne by any other fresh water plant. Cause and Effect. "You've got an nwful grouch this morning." "I know it." "Whnt's tho matter didn't you havo a good breakfast?" "Naw!" "What was tho trouble?" "Tho boy didn't deliver tho morning pnper and thero was nothing for mo to do but to talk to my wife during tho wholo meal." Cleveland Plain Dealer. Most Painful Part. "Hero's an Interesting nrtlclo In a jiorlodlcai about making surgery painless," ' "Is thero anything in that article about doing away with tho surgeon'a bull" GUINEAS ARE HARD TO RAISE Young Birds Must Be Watched Care fully Until Past Tender Age Of Very Wild Nature. Guinea hens aro among the hardest of all birds to breed, chiefly because tho young guinea is so extremely ten der. Thoy are nlso of a very wild nature, and when one of them is lost from the hen it may be counted as lost. It is advisablo to keep tho young guineas shut up for a few days after they are hatched and feed them on bread crumbs, coarse corn meal and occasionally a hard-boiled egg, ground fine and mixed with the bread crumbs After they leavo tho hen, if the days aro warm and bright, they aro allowed to hunt bugs and worms nnd require Httlo feeding. After they aro feath ered out thoy need Httlo caro, as they are ablo to shift for themselves until tho winter cuts off their supply of food. In winter they must have a shelter and bo fed the same as othor poultry, but must bo kept shut In when there Is snow on the ground, aB they will fly into tbo tops of trees or on roofs of buildings, and refuso to como down. Winter Feed for Poultry. . One of the best and most relished wlntor feeds for poultry is cabbage, Bays a writer In an exchange. Even though thero is an abundaaco of othor green vegftnl lo matter, I should still strive to add some cab bage to tho list. It is truo that thero Ib nothing quite as good for tho hens as a grow ing crop, such nB rye, over which they can range and thus comblno excrcisb with food getting, and every effort should be made to provide It, but often space Is too limited for such crops, and dependence must bo had altogether on substitutes that can be Btored away. No Tlmo to Waste. He lived each day as If he thought That day might bo his last; Yet little was the good ho wrought, And wide tho gloom he cast. Ho lived each day as if in fear That no new day might dawn; But there is little weeping hero Because he's dead and gono. He charmed no other's tears away And made no, othor glad; But tried, somohow, to got, each day; All that his neighbors had. Back to Nature. "Mrs. Penroso seems to bo going in to a decline." "Why do you think so?" "She has become bo hollow chested and pale looking lately." "Oh, that'B nothing to be alarmed at. She's merely gottlng back to na turo by cutting out rouge and padding." Safe Bet. "Oh," said tho man who was fond of quoting, "that mino onomy would wrlto a book!" "Huh!" replied a bystander. "I'll bet he's done it. You Just said he was from Indiana, didn't you?" Trouble of His Own. "Do you believe denudation of the forests is going to ruin the country?" "I don't know. I've been bo busy trying to save my hair that I haven't had time to bother about tho forests." Not a Case of Treat. "How long has the doctor been treat ing your wife?" "Treatln" her? Gosh, if you aeen his bills you wouldn't think thero was much treatln about It." By Contraries. Things go by contraries In this world. Pooplo who havo nothing to Bay aro always talking. Tls dow the this to ale of aprlg; With all ita gladsobdess, With all Its birds upod tho wig. With balds Id airy dress, Thereforo 1 twag- upod by. Iyr Ad try with all by bight To bravely strike poetic flro Ad voice by soul's delight. As Browdlg says the hill's dew-pearled, Tho sdall Is od the thord. Ad thlgs are all right with the world- At least they are this bord; Toborrow It bay sdow sobo bore , ( Or blow bed's whiskers loose; But let us dot put up a roar. For what would be tho use? By dose Is clogged, by eyes aro red. By throat Is sore ad raw, By Jolts all ache, so docs by head, uy urenin is hard to draw, But sprig Is here with all Its cheer. So let us cease to fret, Ad slg ad sblle ad cllg a while To wt'ter fladdels yet. Disgusting Stupidity. "Do you really and truly think I am. beautiful?" she asked. "You aro simply divine." ho replied. "But there aro other girls whom you think moro beautiful than I." "No, I don't think thero is a more beautiful girl in tho world than you." "Thoro aro other girls you think aro just as beautiful, though." "You aro more beautiful than any other girl I over saw." "I suppose thero are plenty of girls whom you consider almost as beauti ful as I am." "I think you aro far moro beauti ful than any other girl that ever breathed." "Well, why didn't you say that in tho first place?" "That was what I meant, if I didn't exactly say so." "Oh, well, go on. My goodness! Must I suggest everything nlco that you say to me?" "What moro can I say?" "Heavens! I'm not going to sit hero-giving you lessons. I thought tho way you started out that you had made love before." "M, i