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
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1W lif f
aids ot(j ."jgjJ
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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
