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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 16, 1913)
k LIEUTENANT PAUL GRAETZ MANOFGRIT, - By W. ROBERT FORAN (Copyright, by Itldiewiiy Co.) pmmm&&&& WO years ago, or a little moro, all Lu- ropo was electrified by tho news that Africa lind been travorBod by Lieut. Paul Graetz of the German army In nn automobile Ills thrilling adventures on this daring and plucky expedition are of too recent occurrence to have been entirely forgotten. To have crossed Africa In an auto- mobile la no mean boast, whon ono lemembers that thero are no roads find no repair or gaflollno supply f)torf en route. The Capn-to-Calro railway that f;reat dream of a truly reat empire builder, Cecil Rhodes Is fant Hearing completion; and In a year, or perhaps a little moro, travel ers may Journey In luxurious com fort by train and steamer from Capo Town to Aioxnndrla. Thoy who do this will be ablo then to realize to tho fullest posElblo extent what tho ploifters of travel In tho African hin terland had to contend with. Ono would think that to bring to a successful termination such a gl can tic feat as that which Lieutenant Graetz set himself in his famous Af rican automobllo expedition would ly nufllclent to satisfy evon tho most gluttonous appetlto for adventure Yet It Is typical of Lieutenant Oraotz that tie should not rest contont with this one truly great achievement. His project, undertaken on behalf of tho African World, waB to cross tho great and practically unknown re gions of Central Africa from tho In llan to the Atlantic ocean, by way of tho Zambesi river, Lako nang weolo, and tho Congo river How ever, not by nutomobllo this tlmo, but by motor boat. This offorcd some thing unlquo In tho way of African travel. It meant hardships and dis appointments innumerable, but what of that7 Ho mapped out a routo that would take him from Qutllmano, tho port on tho coast of Portugueno East Africa, to tho mysterious Lako Hangwcolo, by way of tho Wvor Quaqua, Lacor donia, Itlvcr Shire, Port Herald, Chi cunna, Fort .Tohnstono, Lako Nyassa, Karonga, and then ncross tho wator hed to Fife. Tho motor-boat was upeciauy prepared lor tins pari or mo i journey, ueing nucu wuu wneoia lor . tine on land From Flfo ho decldod to travel by way of-tho Chnmbosl river, Kablnga, and thus arrive at the shores of tho umall Inland soa. Lako nangweolo, upon which no white man had over sailed. After spending somo tlmo ex ploring this unknown wntor and col lecting specimens of aquatic and land life, Oraetz planned to push on to tho -Atlantic by way of tho Luapula, Lako Woru, Pauln, Kasengo, Lukongzolva, Klambl, Stanleyville. Coqulllhatvlllo, Yumbl nnd Lcopoldvlllo, and thus to tho mouth of the Congo. Take up n map of Africa and traco out this routo for yourBolf, and you may realize in part what this stupen dous Journey of six thousand miles (allowing for the necessarily tortuous routo to bo followed) moant to Lieu tonant Oraetz and his companion, tho French cinematograph oparator, Mon clour Octavo Ficro, i Oraetz had heard of tho magic Lnko Dangweolo from tho Awomba tribe. It had a slnlstor reputation mmong tho natlvo trlbos rosldent both near and far from its shores, Tho 'Awomba people told him that nang weolo was studded with Islands, on which wero to bo found colossal ole 1hantB and gigantic Blrnffos, whllo on "ItB walerB swam hugo sca-sorponta nnd other sirango cfoaturos. From tho surface of tho lako hot springs roso and fell like fountains in tho air; and pestilential winds, swooping across tho reedy marshes, carried death to nil living beings. r P. health rosort UiIb; rathor Danto'B Tnforno! No nativos ventur ing upon its waters, in tholr frail, fantastically shaped canoes had over returned. It was regardod by some trlbos as a eort of Hadoo, whoro do partod souls Bufforod continually Mm tnoBt dreadful torments; whllo others again thought that It was tho ap proach to Paradise, whoro tho spirits of tholr dead relatives onjoyed per fect life under tho protection of tholr Rods. It was known to ho Bunounded by thick nnd tinponotrablo rushes, mak ing Its exploration a mattor of groat difficulty The great prlzo which Oraotz hoped to socuro In addition to oeiug me lim explorer or tills won-1 to clear awuy the untasted monl and I of operations with romarkabio fortl derful lake set doop In tho heart of , pack the mntor-Iaunrh ready for a ro-jtude. Hut wo wero a hardlor race tho wilds of Africa, was spnclintMH of nowed Blurt. Oraqtz o'ul Fioro hnst-1 thon. Civilization 1wb weakened our n aptjcies or gigojilic nurruio. which were commonly belloved by tho nn tlves to mako tholr homo on tho shores of tho lako Thoy weru known to be unusually fierce and dangerous, but this did not deter Gniotz and his plucky companion from tholr ndvon turous quest after them. Lieutenant Oraetz loft Dorlln on February 25, 1911, accompanied by Fiero and his motor-launch, tho Snrot- ti. Elaborate arrangements wero mado at Qiilllmano for their plunge Into tho wilderness. it last all was ready for thi start 1$3&&&3X . and the two explorers sot forth on their adventurous Journey. Mllo by mllo thoy mado their way up tho Qua qua, Shire, nnd-so to Lako Nyassa. Wo will pass lightly over this sec tion of tho groat Journey, for It waa similar to many another African trip trip by boat on river and lako. Hut onco they had reached Karonga their" real difficulties commenced. Tho motor-launch had to bo pushed on Its whools across tho watershed by tho so-called Stovenson road which Is no road at all in tho generally accepted meaning of tho word to Flfo and thenco to tho Chambosl river, so that Lako Dangweolo might eventually bo reached Whoro obstructions Impeded progressand thero wero countless numborB of such places they had to bo ovOrcomo. Trees had to bo felled, Btrcama bridged, hills climbed, and bush cleared from tho solf-mado path. After days and days of toll In ter rific tropical heut, tho voyagerB reach od tho banks of tho Chambesl river and ngaln took to tho water courses. This part.of the trip wns full of dan gers, unexpected and entirely Impos sible to guard against. All wont well with them until thoy had nearly reached tho shores of tho mysterious Lako nangweolo. Then disaster, dlro and dreadful, overtook them. Within sight of tholr goal thoy woro ovorcomo by a cruel, rolentloss fato. At dawn on Soptembor third, tho blood-red morning sun triumphantly roso over tho summit of tho dark chnln of tho MuchemwaT mountains, bathing all nature In Its glorious beauty. It bartfl them rise and con- tltllln tlmlr Inurnuv i1mtn tlm Mm.. besl to tho luk... tlmlr inn.r.i,nno,i.for. ' destination i M slx-thlrty the two white mon cm-1 barked, and a few splnutos later tho I African Borvanta woro rowing lustily ' up tho Chambosl toward Dangweolo. for whenever possible thoy saved , tholr gasoline and rowed. Moreover, thero woh) many Bhallow channels' to i bo negotiated and those wero the i moro easily navlgatod without uso of tho motor For a time nothing -unusual hap-' nonoil. Thorn n. -i f tt ' beyond occasional birds along the rlvor banks. At " last a convenient plnco to land and partako of break fast waa found, nnd tho two mon ran tno launch Into tho bank. Tho cook and servants busliv Htlrrnd thnm- solvoa to proparo tho delayed meal. Hut suddenly thoy stood petrified with astonishment. Not moro than fifty paces from them, closo to the rlvor bank, stood threo mighty buf falo, watching them with wondering eyes' Thoy had appeared sotfllontly through tho- undergrowth and reeds that no ono had had warning of tholr approach. Thoso woro no ordinary buffalo. Thoy woro gigantic nnd Bug gostlvo of prehistoric typos. Sllonco, doop and Improsslvo, Hko that sllonco which foroshadows death, rolgned for a brlof moment. Then Lloutennnt Oraotz awoko to tho dan ger that threatened them. With tho almost automatic precision of tho ad venturer In savago lands, ho unBlung his rifle. Tho Frenchman, Flore, fol lowed his example Oraotz fired tho momont his chook rosted along tho butt of his Mauaqr rlflo and tho sights camo on, Hang! tho Bhot rang out, awakening tho bird llfo nnd echoing through the troos boyond them nnd then faintly back again. Tho lending buffalo Btumblod and -fell on his knoes, roso again, shook his pondor ous head In mingled angor nnd pain, und thon, dashing up tho rlvor bank, galloped from Bight into tho bushes. Tho othor two followed their wound ed brother's oxnmplo. Moanwhllo Floro stood ready to flrd In caso of necessity, but thoro wns no furthor nood now. Intermittently through tho undorgrowth tho two men caught glimpses of tho buffaloes' Bhaggy forms as thoy followed tho courso of tho Rtream toward tho lako. Hut presently thoy saw but, two of thorn. What had becomo of tno third, thoy uBked themselves, Thoy wero not out of dangor yet, apparently. Perhaps tho third anlmnl still kept company with his fellows but was hldden by tho bushes; moro likely Btlll, ho had loft them tho surest I possible sign that ho was soverely wounded. Good! Thoy would got him ' yot. "Dos enffer Qraotzll" would read well In museum records and zoological , books, thought Oraetz to himself. I Tho doclHlon to follow nnd kill tho I wounded giant was quickly rached. Droakfast- waa forgotton. Lenvlnc tho ' , cook nnd two of the natlvo folio wors i j onod off on the trail of tho buffalo. It was not hard to follow. Largo smears of blcod were to bo seen everywhere, on bushes, on rocks, on tho lir.ro soil and against "-ecu It showed ;5ilnly. , Tho spoor Ion up tho bank of tho I'liamueFi ami lioaihni undouhtedl for tho shelter of Lako nangweolo. Hour after hour wont by nnd still Mie two hunters kopt stondlly track Ing tho boast. Tho sun cltmbod high Into tho heavens until It was directly ovorhoad, scorching everything and ovoryono with Ma fiery rays. Out tho whlto mon and tholr followora -covered with wood, i was iym8 SC833& thought little of that. Thoy wero pos sessed by an all-powerful lust for tho blood of this now mammoth of the African Jungles. Besides, until they had killed, they could not rest and ent; their sporting Instincts would not permit this until all hopo of success was lost. Tho truo sportsman never desorts a wounded quarry until ho has killed It. At Jast, after bIx hours of fruitless search, nnturo demanded a temporary nan. it was aftor midday. Oraetz decided to havo tho motor-launch brought up to them and a man was sent back to got It. In tho mean time tho two white men rested. In thrco hours tho launch reached them and tho cook immediately began to proparo a satisfying lunch for tho tired and famished huntors. Break fast and lunch would havo to bo merged Into ono meal. This la not an infrequent occurrenco In African travel, and the two mon wero accus tomed to It. Whllo tho meal was under prepara tion, Oraetz sent three of tho "boys" to search further for the wounded buffalo, for ho was positlvo that It must bo somewhere in their vicinity. He offered his followers a liberal "bakshish" and with this Incontlvo to a speedy location of tho buffalo, thoy namonea orr into tho bush. Break fast and lunch wns Just about to bo served whon tho "boys" camo ran- ! nlng back to announce that they had iouiiu tno wounded buffalo lying in tho long grass near tho river. So much good luck had been hopod for. but hardly expected. Oraetz and Fiero roso excitedly to u'clr feet nnd got their rifles. They were onlr JUBt " tlmo, for .at that f!!0mCnt, th,0h,R!! Krn88 partod rlg,lt n1frnt, of, th form(!r' and tno mnl daslled ,out- MiB straight for !' J'"0"' Hoflr!d' ,nnd at tho ?"'"? tlm Flcre "rcd a,B0' 80 "" l'10 t,W0 rlflo r?orts Bu--ded as one. ,, ,tZ ,Bprang, to ono Bldo to eflcaPe th fu,rlo"B ,chn!'1R,0 of tho maddenod , ., , d 80' 1,ls foot caught '" tnc ,0"K Krn8B BntJ ll c" on "la Tl' ",PV !"f lvatlon. If he ",u "" J'"K'n o woum nave been Impnled upon tho sharp and cruel polntB of tho buffalo's wldo Bweeplng horns. Snorting with extromo fury, tho hugo boast nosed under the llouten ant, who was now lying prostrate on tho ground, trying to toss him. At last Oraotz sprang to his feot and clung with nil his strength to tho hornB of tho beast, in tho vain hopo thai, severely wounded as tho buffalo was, ho might glvo way before his own strength, or that Flere might got a chanco for a second shot, For a few brief mlnutos, which seemed hours to Oraotz, man and beast pitted their strength against each other's, Tho hugo denizen of tho forests was rapidly tiring from loss of blood, but Oraotz was no match for tho strength of tho enormous beaBt. It all hap pened In a few mlnutos; tho buffalo tried to ahako tho man off, and, as ho flung IiIb shnggy head from sldo to Hide, tho point of his loft horn pierced Its way deep Into Oraotz's right! check. He cried out with pain and then folt hlmsolf suddenly hurled up ward Into tho air and consciousness left him. In tho moantlme, Fiero had como gallantly to his companion's roscuo, unmindful of his own dangor. Ho fired, but succeeded only in making tho buffalo moro Infuriated. Tho sav age beaBt turned rapidly upon hlra and tossed him ropeatodly Into tho nlr, tearing his body dreadfully, Thon, as if worn out with its tor rifle efforts to avongo tho attack on itaelf, tho buffulo topplod over dead bosldo tho bodies of Us foes. In a recent lettor Graetz himself boBt describes what happened next. His account Is a graphic, yet simply worded, norratlvo of heroic resource fulness. In my travels In Africa I havo mot two men Col. Eric Smith of tho Horse Guards, and Mr. ncn Jnmln Eastwood, tho chief accountant of tho Uganda railway who have actually amputated their own arms when dlro necessity demanded It, but i can conceive or naming moro cour- ngoous than Lieutenant Oraotz's own solf-accompllBhod surgery. Far from medical nld, with his companion In mUfortuno gored to tho point of doath, sufforlng ludescrlbablo agony, Oraotz acted expeditiously and aavod "Is ow" Ufa by IiIb ready courago In the dayB when anesthetics wero an unknown quantity, men and wnm. en had perforce to bear all manner bodios and wo aro uunblo to onduro pnln bb did our forefathers. Yot to bo ublo to amputnto an nrm or sow up terrlblo wounds for oneself Is a thins that was rarely dono In tho past ages. In Africa, It 'a not nn uncommon thing It Boema only fitting that. In a country whoro tho natlvoB themselves boar pain with stoical Indlfferonco, tho white man, who oxlsts safely only by IiIb own proof of being a superior being, should show tho aamo wonder ful bravory. "I awoke," wrltos Oraotz, when suf flclontly rocoverod to put poa. to pa- on mo nvor Dank, with tho motoi boat at my foot, supported by twq howling native servants. "'Whoro is Flr-ro?' 1 asked. "'Tho others aro bringing him; ho will die soon, too,' they replied. "And tho buffalo?' "'Dead,' was the laconic reply. "A thick flood of blood was contin ually flowing from my mouth and tho right sldo of my faco. Tho natives lifted mo into the boat, nml with ! ovcry moment tho blood (lowed fnstor. "'Quick,' I managed to gasp, 'the medlclno chest!' "Thoy brought It to mo. Thero was only ono thing to do and that quickly. Sew, now, sew! Terrible necessity taught ' me how to ply tho surgical noedlc. With a native holding my shaving-mirror before mo and nnothor supporting mo by tho shoulders, I thrust tho needlo through tho flesh. A Jagged, irregular holo as largo as my hand gaped In my right cheek: my under lip hung loosely quivering. Under tho horrified gazo of tho na tives I Jabbed tho bent needlo again and again into my flesh and cobbled tho tattered ends togother. "Tho pain was oxcruclatlng. Heav en alono helped mo to keep my sotiBes. To this day I do not know how I managed to do It. Tho lower Jaw waB broken In two places near tho oar and near tho Up and from this crushed mass o long splinter of bono with three teeth attached hung loosely by tho nerves and flesh of tile gums. Tho whole outer flesh of the lowor Jaw was scraped loose. Teeth, roots and bones lay white and shim moring through tho hole In my cheek. My tonguo. pierced by tho point of tho buffalo's horn, was half torn from Its foundations. I Bpat contin uously splinters of bono and teeth. "At last tho operation was finished to tho best of my ability, and I ban daged by face aa best I knew how. A strong stimulant gave mo new life and helped me to face the other sur gical oporatlon for Fiero. "In tho meantime tho tent had been erected and a bod prepared for my poor companion, from whom James, the cook, had already cut the clothes with a palr of sciBsors. Ho had re covered consciousness, and softly his pale lips formed tho words, 'trea mauvals' (very bad). He had been pierced and tossed threo times. The left breast muscle hung loose; heart and lungs were untouched. In the left side, between heart and hip, was a great tear. This wound I imme diately sowed together. James wash!' ed, bandaged and put Fiero to bed. Ho breathed regularly, and seemed to sleep. "Night fell dark and dismal a night full of pain, during which my mouth seemed full of red-hot stones. Toward morning a short, troubled sloop gave mo temporary relief froni my awful agony. With the grny light of dawn I awoko to fresh tortures Everything was deadly still. I sum moned tho servants by clapping my hands and they opened the tent door. Then I arose and crossed over to Flore's bed. Tho first light of daj fell on n pale, shrunken face. It was death." So, on tho very threshhold of suc cess, ono was taken and the other left, a shattered wreck. Far from all aid and alono with his native ser vants, Lieutenant Graetz faced the situation as only a man of his call bor could. Ono of tho natives wai dispatched at onco to Kasama, In northeastern Rhodesia, to summon help. ThU was the nearest point In habited by whlto men. Dr. O. F. Randall, tho district sur geon, and Mr. Cookson, tho magis trate of Kasama, marched day nnd night for two days to his relief Hastily further operations were per formed under tho most difficult clr cumstances. And then, on nn Itn provlBod atretcher, Qrnetz was cap rled to Kasama. Ono can imagine tho painful Journoy, a Journey ren dered all tho moro pitiful because ol the loss of his trusted assistant. The rollof party burled poor Fiero at Charonama, but later his' body will be brought to Kasama and ro-lnterred there by tho white fathers of the Catholic mission. To most men this disastrous set back would prove an Insurmountable hindrance to the completion of the program; but with Lieutenant Graeti It was dlfforent. Ho haB started again and will continue his Journey until It Is completed -or until death claims him. Ho Intends to roach the mouth of tho Congo by tho end of the year. A man of superlatlvo grit, who flinches from na dangers and who knows not what the words fear and defeat mean! Ho Is entitled to a placo in Jtlstorj beside Llvlngstono, Stanley, Gordon and tho others, yot probably he will bo forgotten except by those who fully appreciate all ho has achieve'! for science. When wo head ut the end of tho year that ho has traversed tho dark continent from east to west, wo eliall know that ho has done whnt ho Bald ho would do, dosplto tho dim cutties In his path. Shall wo ail recognize whnt this means? Some may thoso who, perchanco, ha70 dona similar deeds, or thoso whe know tho African continent and all Its lurking dangers. Do not forget that lonoly, mangled form lying bo neath tho earth In far away Kasama Vou, who havo never heard of Biich a placo and by far tho greater major Ity havo not may draw out your map of Africa and Bcarch It minutely for tho name, and yet not And It. Rut thero In tho wilds of northeastern Rhodesia lies the body of that other man ,who waB striving with might and main to finish tho work ho had set out to doto cross Africa hy motor- launch, I ASSUMES BIG " ber of tho dlrcctornto of tho National City bank of Now York, filling tho vacancy caused by tho death of E H. Harrlman. This bank, controlled by Standard Oil Interests, is ono of tho lnrgest in tho country. Young Morgan was born in 3867. He graduated from Harvard In 1889 and married In 1890. As soon as his school days wero over ho begarr'hla apprenticeship under his father's direction In tho New York offlce. Ho hnd no bad habits or frivolities.- nnd was always very methodical. Among tho clerks ho was always popular because of his democratic ways. DR. DUMBA, AUSTRIA'S NEW ENVOY Dr. Constantln Theodore Dumba. the now ambassador of Austria and Hungnry, arrived In Washington a few days ago. Tho new ambassador was born In Austria, June 17, 1SE6, and has been in diplomatic servlco since 1879. HIa last diplomatic post was a minister in Stockholm, Sweden, where ho be came acquainted with many Amor lcansat tho last Olympic gamea. Ho has not beon In America before. Dr. Dumba Inherited tho rich es tate of his uncle, Dr. Nicholas Dumba, who was a promlnont figure in Amer ica's industrial and political life, and also was known as a great patron of arts. It Is expected that Dr. Dumba will play as Important a part In Washington's social life as his prede cessor, Baron Hcngelmuller. Tho now ambassador is married, but his wife will notTollow him until next month. It Is consldored probable ho will find tho present quarters of the embassy Inadequate, and look for a moro suitable homo before her arrival. It had been reported that Dr. Dumba twice refused tho appointment to Washington. He now says that ho refused only temporarily, because" his. own affairs demanded his attention In Europe for a while, and because he thought beBt to await tho change of administration In Washington. Dr. Dumba waB asked if Austria-Hungary again would exercise her veto right In case tho election of a now Popo should it becomo necessary In tho near futuro. "I do not think so," was tho answer of the ambassador. "First of all, his holiness is still alive, and I hopo bis llfo will bo spared for a long time. GUATEMALA'S ENVOY TO WASHINGTON conferenoo in Buenos Ayres. While in Washington Dr. Herrarto made many friends in both tho diplo matic and social circles-'' of tho city, and during his stay here will bo tbo guest at many dinners given in his honor. Ho is tho most distinguished physician in Guatemala COLONEL GREEN Desptto the fact that bo has re ceived more than 5,000 proposals, Col. E. H. R. Green, son of Hetty Green, still was slnglo when ho passed through St. Louis tho other day on his way from New York to Texas. - Two and a half years ago tho Col onel told thtr world through tho news papers of hie deslro for a modest, old-fashioned, Btay-at-home, fireside wife, who would not worry about how much qllinony sho would get whon tho big low camo. All tho girls spoko nt onco. Or at least thousands of lotters poured In upon tho colonel from thousands of womon who know thoy wero Just what ho wanted. Tho colonel took a look at tho pile of letters and becamo pessimis tic becauso he felt that all tho girls who proposed could not possibly bo his Ideal. Tho colonel still Is getting pro posals by every mall and has despair ed of living down tho words ho spoko "I know bettor than to tako any of them sorlously," ho Bald between trains. "The women are of all ages and stations In llfo, but I'm a Bhopworu piece of goods. "Whenever I enter a restaurant I see people nudging each other and whispering; that thero is tho millionaire who u looking for a wife and can't find one. 1 suppose I never will llvo dowu thoso unlucky words." RESPONSIBILITIES J. P Morgan, Jr., has succeeded his father In tho management of tho immense Morgan Interests. Ho is, tho only son and now controls n for tune estimated at between $300,000, 000 nnd $500,000,000. The title, J. P. Morgan & Co., will bo retained. Tho son is by no means a novlco at directing financial enterprises, nor is ho so young as to causo any anxiety as to possible rashness. Mr. Morgan, Jr., Is' forty-six yearB old. Ho Is a largo man physically and mentally. Ho weighs 200 pounds and is an athlote. And, what is probably most essential, ho has had his fath er's careful training. Alroady the futuro head of tho greatest financial Interests controlled by an Amorlcnn firm Is director In many corporations. When H. II. Rogers died In 1909 tho younger Morgan was elected his successor In tho United States Steel corporation. Tho Rnmn vpnr lift honnmn n tnnm Senor Dr. Don Luis Toledo Her rarto, secretary of otato of Guate mala, arrived In Washington tho other day, having beon sent as an en voy by President Cabrera of the re public of Guatemala to return tho courtesy of Secretary Knox'B visit to" Guatemala last year. Guatemala la thus tho first country to pay a return visit to our secretary of stato. At tho station awaiting Dr. Her rarto wero John Barrett, director of the Pan-American Union; Chandler Halo, third assistant secretary of stato; Senor Don Joaquin Mendez, minister of Guatemala to tho United States, and Mr. R. S. Hltt, tho Amer ican minister to Guatemala. ' Dr. Horrarte was in charge of tho Guotomalan legation in Washington during tho years 1907, 1908 and 1909, and in 1910 was minister to Chllo and Argentina, delivering the closing ad dress at tho fourth Pan-American IS STILL SINGLE in tho fall of 1910. i r V A, -t? i PiwrtnWW -" tntt?- -"