OEO
“ Tropic Nightmare ”
By FLOYD GIBBON'S
SHIPWRECKED on the African coast! That’s the theme
of the story that Christian Brodersen of Valley Stream,
N. Y., is going to tell us today. And though a tale of ship
wreck usually involves a battle with the sea and a grim
fight against thirst and starvation, you’ll find that none of
those dangers bothered Chris. Shipwreck is one thing—but
shipwreck on the African coast is another, involving perils
far more horrible than anything Old Father Neptune has
to offer.
It was on May 25, 1903, that Chris Brodersen signed as a messroom
steward on the steamer Lulu Bohlen sailing out of Hamburg, Germany,
for the west coast of Africa. After an uneventful trip with stops at
Madeira and Palma in the Canary islands, the ship arrived at Mon
rovia, Liberia, on June 16. There they took on 40 Kroo boys and sailed
that same afternoon for Cape Palmas on the Liberian coast. But the
ship never reached Cape Palmas—arid neither did any of the crew.
On the Rocks, Twenty Miles Off Shore.
At 11:30 that night the Lulu Rohlen ran on the rocks, 20
miles out from shore, ofT the mouth of the Sanguien river. They
didn't know it then, but fires lighted by the treacherous natives
had led the ship off its course, and they were in for trouble. The
passengers, including about 40 women and children, took off in
boats manned by most of the crew. The captain, second officer,
chief steward and a few others remained behind on the wrecked
ship.
Following the captain’s instructions, the boats headed for the trading
post at River Cess, 60 miles away. They drifted all night close by
the steame- and started for River Cess at daybreak. They reached it
that evening—to find that the natives had already started looting the
Lulu Bohlen and had part of the cargo drawn up on shore near the post.
From that moment on, life was a horrible grisly dream for the pas
sengers and crew of the wrecked ship. The minute the boats were
beached they were surrounded by a horde of natives, who snatched
the small belongings the passengers had saved from the wreck and
vanished with them into the bush. It was only with difficulty that they
reached the protection of the trading post stockade, and even then the
natives threatened until the trader gave them gin to keep them quiet.
Week of Terror at the Post.
"The natives swarmed around the post day and night,” says
Chris. "We had to watch our boats incessantly, as they kept try
ing to smash them to prevent us from getting away. After
about two days, some of the crew started back to the ship to
get the captain and those who had remained with him. That
left only 16 of the crew to protect the women and children.
And never in my life shall 1 forget the week that followed.”
Day by day the natives became more restive and more threatening.
Again and again the trader gave them more gin to keep them from
attacking the post and slaughtering its inhabitants. Anyone who ven
tured outside the gates now, was stripped of all his belongings and
The Boats Were Surrounded by a llordc of Natives.
whatever of his clothes took fancy of the blacks. When the gin gave
out, the trader was forced to part with other articles of his stock. Before
the week had passed he had lost everything he owned. And still the
natives threatened and demanded more.
Things had come to a critical point. The natives, with no prospect
of more loot from the trading post, were about to attack and slaughter
those inside. Then, in the nick of time, a German steamer, the Kurt
Woermann, hove in sight. Inside the post, the trader ran up the distress
signal—the company tlag, turned upside down and tied in a knot—and
the steamer sent a landing party to investigate.
Rest of Crew Found in Sud State.
The Kurt Woermann took passengers and crew of the Lulu Bohlen
aboard, and then proceeded down the coast to look for the rest of the
, crew—those who had set out in one of the boats to bring back the captain
•»nd those others who had remained behind on the wrecked ship.
“We sighted them,” says Chris, “about 30 miles from the
wreck, and the landing party that went after them found them
In terrible state. They had barely got outside of the river mouth
when their boat was wreeked in a heavy surf. They swam to
shore, only to be met by a crowd of natives, who followed them,
stole everything they had, including most of their clothes. Some
of the natives even bit the plumper ones in the arms and chest
until the more civilized blacks drove them off.”
Those fellows never had reached the Lulu Bohlen. They had fol
lowed the shore line for more than a week, walking first, then stag
gering and close to exhaustion. For the entire time they had had
nothing to eat, for their supplies had been lost when the boat over
turned in the surf.
The steamer Kurt Woermann proceeded on down the coast. When
it reached the scene of the wreck, they found the Lulu Bohlen, her keel
broken in the middle and her decks awash, but no sign of the captain,
the mate, chief steward, or any of the rest. The Kurt Woermann
moved on down the coast.
At Sinoe, they found the captain, but none of the others. The captain
had paid two natives to take them to Sinoe in a canoe. That was the
last he had seen of them. “They found the missing men at last in a
native kraal,” says Chris. “Instead of taking them to Sinoe, the blacks
in the canoe had put them on shore at the mercy of other natives. They
barely escaped being made into pepper soup. We got back to Germany
about the end of July, and a month later British, French and German
gunboats shelled the coast villages to punish the natives for wrecking
ships—and for cannibalism!”
C—WNU Service.
Aphasia
Aphasia is lack of speech. It may
be due to a local trouble, but is
usually due to a disorder in some
of the brain centers. Very often
it is psychic or hysterical in its
cause. It is this type of person
who under great excitement sud
denly regains the power to speak.
It may be due to a motor defect
which makes it impossible to speak
so that one can be understood.
Sometimes, according to an author
ity in the Washington Star, the
patient becomes unable to recall
sounds. Aphasia may be due
to an abscess or tumor on the
brain, or a rupture of a blood
vessel. It may be due to some form
of paralys s or toxemia.
“Bravest cf the Brave”
Michel Ney was born in Saarlouis,
France, in 1769. the son of a coop
er. Entering the army in 1788 as
general of brigade in 1796 and dis
tinguished himself by bravery in
the wars of the revolution and of
the empire. He earned for himself
from Napoleon’s army and from Na
poleon himself the title of the brav
est of the brave. When Napoleon
abdicated in 1814, Ney attached
himself to Louis XVIII, but on the
former’s return from Elba he joined
his old master and commanded the
Old Guard at Waterloo. On the sec
ond return of the Royalists to pow
er, he was arrested, tried by his
peers and shot on December 15,
1815.
Glory Vs. Undernourishment.
SANTA MONICA, CALIF.—
Because their dictators
are piling up armaments and
building up armies at a rate
unprecedented, the German
people must, it appears, go
on rations, cutting down
their daily consumption of
foodstuffs and fats, with the
prospect of still more strin
gent restrictions.
But their overlords—a reasonably
well-nourished lot, to judge by their
photographs — keep
right on preaching
that such compul
sory undernourish
ment is all for the
greater glory of the
vaterland.
I know of but one
historic parallel to
match this. It is to
be found in Mother
Goose, where it is
poetically set forth:
There was a piper
had a cow
Irvin S. Cobb
And he had naught to give her
So he pulled out his pipes and
played her a tune
And bade the cow consider.
• • •
Signs of Disapproval.
/"V NCE, in Montana, I heard two
cowboys talking about the fath
er of the sweetheart of one of them.
“I’ve got a kind of a sneaking
idea that Millie's paw don’t care
deeply for me," said the lover.
“What makes you think so—some
thing he said?”
“No, because he don't never say
nothing to me, just sniffs. But the
other night I snuck over there to
see Millie, and, as I was coming
away, I happened to look back and
the old man was shoveling my
tracks out of the front yard.”
The archbishop of Canterbury is
likely to wake up any morning and
find the British public shoveling his
tracks out of the front yards.
International “Messifications. ’*
TUST about the time the contest
** ing groups in Spain lose the
twenty or thirty confusing names
the correspondents have hung on
them and resolve themselves into
the army that’s going to take Ma
drid not later than 3 o’clock tomor
row afternoon and the army that’s
going to keep Madrid until the cows
come home, a fresh complication
breaks out in China. General Chang
gets into a mixup with General Chi
ang, possibly on the ground that
he’s a typographical error, and the
red forces of the north get all twist
ed up with the white army of the
north and the pink army of the
north by northeast and so on and
so forth, until the special writers
run out of colors.
Just one clear point stands out of
the messification. When the dust
clears away some small brown
brothers wearing the Japanese uni
form will be found sitting on top of
the heap. China’s poison is Nip
pon’s meat, every pop.
• » •
Rationalizing the Calendar.
THE plan to adopt a rational cal
endar is finding favor in admin
istration circles at Washington, as
in European countries.
Every time this proposition —
which is so sensible and seemingly
unattainable—bobs up, 1 think of
the little story of the venerable Ala
bama pessimist who dropped into
the general store just in time to
hear the proprietor reading aloud
from the newspaper that the proj
ect for thirteen months of twenty
eight days each had been laid for
consideration before the League of
Nations.
'Tm ag’in’ it,” declared the aged
one. “It'd be jest my luck for that
extry month to come in the win
ter time and ketch me short of
fodder.”
• • •
Stunts in the Films.
FOR ordinary Him stunts, current
prices are:
Tree fall, $25; stair fall, $50 (each
additional flight, $35); head-on auto
crash, $200; parachute jump, $150;
mid-air plane change, $200; high
dive, $75; being knocked down by
auto, $75 being knocked down by
locomotive, $100; trick horse rid
ing, $125; crashing a plane, $1,500.
It doesn't cost a cent, though, for
practically every slightly shopworn
leading man, on or of! the screen,
to crave to play "Hamlet” on the
stage. But it is almost invariably
expensive for the producers who
occasionally satisfy these morbid
cravings.
IRVIN S. COBB.
© Western Newspaper Union.
Our Early Watches
The first watches were produced
in all sorts of fanciful designs, with
cases shaped like crosses or shells
or mandolins, says a writer in the
Washington Star. A peculiar fash
ion was that of a watch-case shaped
like a skull, to remind the owner
when he looked at it that time was
fleeting and death was drawing
near. The lovely and unlucky Mary
Queen of Scc*> had a skull-shaped
watch, and in view of her death
on the headsman's block it was
gruesomely appropriate. Cavaliers
had swords and poniards with little
watches set into the hilts.
Glamorous Is the New Lingerie
By CHERIE NICHOLAS
f^OR the fair sex nothing so strikes
* the right note as beautiful lin
gerie. Seeing lovely "undies,” and
coveting, is akin to that feeling one
has in a garden of flowers, to add
another and yet another to one’s
bouquet plucked from among na
ture’s loveliest. Just so does the
eternal feminine in us keep longing
for one more and one more of the
delectably colorful lace - trimmed
silken nighties, slips, pantie sets,
negligees, cunning bed-jackets and
others such as designers are this
season placing before the enrap
tured eyes of beauty-seeking wom
ankind.
Even so, the esthetic viewpoint is
but half the story, for there is a
practical side to the question that
those skilled in the art of dress
keep ever in mind, namely, a cos
tume to be fashion-correct and of
comely appearance must build from
the foundation up. Wherefore, it is
as important to have a wardrobe
of lingerie as of outer apparel.
Which is why creators of modern
lingerie are devoting so much of
time and talent, thought and study
to the fashioning of under garments
that because of their perfection of
lines and subtle fit, act as "flrst-aid”
toward the charm and style-right
ness of one’s costume.
The nightgowns this season are
nothing if not glamorous. Rich fab
rics and colors, beautiful finishes
end elaborate lace trimmings mark
them with distinction. Mostly they
are satin, but you do see some of
crept and silk ninon and georgette.
Slips, too, are reflecting the in
terest in the daintier garments
and gone are the utterly tailored
effects. They are carefully fitted
of course and even when they are
not elaborately lace-trimmed as so
many are, they still have details olj
lace and net trimmings, of tiny
edgings of val lace to appeal to
the well-groomed lady.
There are all manner of negli
gees and hostess gowns. The satin
ones, lavish with lace, are easily
the most popular this season. Bed
jackets of all shapes and types are
more fascinating than ever. Some
are made in cape design and tie
loosely in front. The model shown
in the center inset is of allover
lace with wide satin border front.
In a way this charming little cape
bed-jacket might be classed with
the so called lingerie accessories
which Paris designers are advocat
ing this season. Such, for instance,
is the “bib” to be worn over
night dresses. It is a grand
gift item for a convalescent or in
valid. It’s a frilly lace front piece
to slip on at a moment’s notice over
the “nightie.” The one pictured in|
the upper inset is done in circular
ruffles of lace with ribbon ties
about the throat. It is said that
it is becoming quite a fad to make
your own lingerie accessories.
Describing the lovely gowns pic
tured, the one to the left is of shell
pink satin with deep appliqued yoke
of Alencon lace in the new light
ecru shade which is so good this
season. The lovely skirt edge, with
its lace slit up the front, features
the new trend toward fine details.
Soft yellow is used for the in
teresting nightdress on the seated
figure with its diagonal neckline and
one-side shoulder strap. The lace
motifs applied are carried out also
in the matching slip and panties
which form the perfect ensemble,
© Western Newspaper Union.
CHANTILLY DRESS
Uv ('llKillK NICHOLAS
Nothing is so flattering, so "new”
for dressing up in the afternoon
and going on for the evening date as
the simple, painstakingly tailored
dress of black Chantilly. This dress
has the street-length skirl which is
so much more popular this year
than the cocktail dresses of other
seasons. It is especially youthful
in design, but is as good for the
young matron as for the college
girl. Note the little flared pockets
which add to the tailored effect.
SILKS FOR SPRING
STRESS HIGH COLOR
Edward Molyneux, style author
ity. predicts a riot of color for
spring. In monotones as in prints,
color is the watchword.
A wide range of blue tones is
being accented in spring silks.
Misty blues and strong purple
blues are new, and the middle tones
of blue also register. Purple is new
ly accented.
The capucine range is an impor
tant one, highlighting glowing yel
low - orange and pumpkin tones.
Henna and horsechestnut rank high,
with the former striking a new note
for evening. A hint of ashes-of-roses
overlays the copper range as it is
interpreted for resort and spring
1937. Brownish gold is another im
portant tone to watch.
Beige and other neutral tones are
expected to prove important, as a
contrast to the vivid color ranges.
The red range ranks high. Cherry
red, cerise, ashes-of-roses, mauve
pink and pale mauve red are lead
ing tones.
A wide range of green tones in
cludes bright yellow green, tur
quoise green, reseda green and
strong hues.
Ten New Hosiery Shades
Offered for Next Spring
Ten new hosiery shades for
next spring are shown in the ad
vance hosiery color card just re
leased by the Textile Color Card
association to its members.
The ten colors are: Glamour, a
sparkling golden tone; carib, a cop
pery hue with a rosy glow; cubatan
a new “leather” type of tan; Dal
matia; a radiant copper; planza,
beige, a warm light beige; swanky,
a subtle medium beige; Kona, a
lively dark beige; noonday, a sub
dued grayish beige; avenue, a me
dium neutral beige, and moondusk,
a medium grey of taupe cast
Simple, Practical Frocks
1206
WE
WHERE, oh where is the
feminine wardrobe that
wouldn’t take o n momentum
through the addition of just these
three simple, wearable frocks?
Surely like the Model T, it would
be hard to find. And the thrilling
thing — the important feature —
is that these frocks are planned
and patterned exclusively for the
modern woman who sews—for you,
a member of The Sewing Circle.
Pattern 1914 is a house dress
with a future. It is young and
practical. The new notched col
lar, ending as it does in twin
scallops below the yoke line,
gives the waist front balance and
brightness. The bodice is slightly
fulled to make this a comfortable
style to work in as well as one
that is attractive to look at. The
skirt is slim lined and simple—
as you would have it. Use dimity,
dotted swiss or gingham for this
number. Designed for sizes: 34,
36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46 and 48. Size
36 requires 3% yards of 35 inch
material.
Pattern 1989 is the polite young
model caught with its back this
way, perhaps the better to show
off the beautiful shoulders and
chicest - of - chic descending lines.
You’ll run-up this frock in short
order but you’ll wear it endlessly
and with that happy confidence
which only a style with distinc
tion can give. Make it of rasp
berry wool crepe and trim the
collar, cuffs and hem with royal
blue. Pattern 1989 comes in sizes
14, 16, 18 and 20 (32 to 42 bust).
Size 16 requires 3 yards of 54 inch
material with 5 yards of braid
for trimming.
Pattern 1206 is a most attractive
newcomer to the blouse ’n’ skirt
category. An alliance of this sort
brings glamour and romance to
the gay wearer. Gold or silver
metallic cloth, or, perhaps shim
mering satin for the blouse with
a skirt of velvet will make a mil
lion dollar outfit. Make it yours in
a couple of hours. It is available
in sizes 14, 16, 18 and 20 (32 to 42
bust). Size 16 requires 2Vs yards
of 39 inch material for the blouse
and 2^ yards for the skirt. The
blouse with long sleeves requires
2% yards 39 inches wide.
A detailed sewing chart accom
panies each pattern to guide you
every step of the way.
Send for the Barbara Bell Fall
and Winter Pattern Book contain
ing 100 well - planned, easy - to
make patterns. Exclusive fash
ions for children, young women,
and matrons. Send fifteen cents
in coins for your copy.
Send your order to The Sewing
Circle Pattern Dept., Room 1020,
211 W. Wacker Dr., Chicago, 111.
Patterns 15 cents (in coins) each.
© Bell Syndicate.—WNU Service.
EMINENT DOCTORS WROTE
THIS OPINION!
.. colds result from
acid condition of the
body •.. they prescribe
* various alkalies” —ex
cerptfrom medical journal. Ine
ALKALINE FACTOR in
LUDEM'S
MENTHOL COUGH DR0PS5/
HELPS BUILD UP YOUR
ALKALINE RESERVE
A FAMOUS DOCTOR
AS a young man the
late Dr. R. V. Fierce
practiced medicine in Fa.
After moving to Buffalo,
N. Y., he gave to the drug
trade (nearly 70 years
ago) Dr. Pierce’s Favor
ite Prescription. Women
who suffer from “nerves,”
irritability and discom
forts associated with functional disturbances
should try this tonic. It stimulates the ap- -
petite and this in turn increases the intake of 1
food, helping to upbuild the body. Buy now!
Tabs. 50c, liquid $1.00 and $1.35.
WHEN kidneys function badly and
you suffer a nagging backache,
with dizziness, burning, scanty or too
frequent urination and getting up at
night; when you feel tired, nervous,
all upset.. . use Doan’s Pills.
Doan’s are especially for poorly
working kidneys. Millions of boxes
are used every year. They are recom
mended the country over. Ask your
neighbor!
READ THE ADS
ICC A -T- a. a TCC By GLUYAS WILLIAMS
SEAT MATES
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MOTHERS HftSfilV
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