The New York herald., 1871-12-28
Sir SAMUEL BAKER.
Latest Reports Of Starvation, Mutny
and Shooting Of Sir Samuel.
Seven Hundred OF the Men Said 10 Hays
PcriShcd at GOndOkOf0.
ANXIETY OF THE vICEROY.

CAIB0. Egypt, Dec. l, 1871.
Alarming rumors Of the death OF SIR 6amHa
Baker and his whole party are being freely circu-
lated in Cairo. On Monday last l heard . story
which purported to come from Suez, stating thak
Sir Samuel and hts whole party had perished from
starvation not many miles from Gondokora. Tho
authenticity OF this intelligence doubted at onoe.
and through the American Consul General received
an emphatic denial from the Minister OF the In
teriof. No one can tell at this moment
THE EXACT POSITION OF THE DISrINGUI5HRD
TRAVELLER,
because the government has received no intelt-
gence from him for over month. The Minister In
forms me that Sir Samuel did exhaust all MS sup
plies point near Faloro In latitude tour uss 0a
the Nile shore, in the interior, and shat no
had applied to the Governor General OF
S0udan Tor assistance, and 1t u expected that the
necessary aid was Immediately supplied, as this
Official is instructed support the explorer In every
possible way. 1t IL great mistake TO believe that
SIR Samuel Baker Will permit himself to starve In
the heart OF Africa after SO much experience, and
particularly when his wife is with him. his loss
meaning her own. 1t IS perhaps premature to make
any criticism upon this
EXPEDITION 10 THE AFRICAN LAKES
the greatest may say, yet undertaken. Still there
Is no doubt that 1t was i-advised IN many partiou-
lars. As Tar as can ascertain, 1000 men asoended
the Nile, equipped, provisioned and prepared Tor
two years. exploration along the river and In the
unkno countries lateral to Its fow Drag0men,
domestics and the competest appointments the
Lavish generosity OF the VcerOy could bestOw were
furnished upon demand. and its English chief se-
ceved the nne salary OF $4,000 year. and that
probably will hardly be the beginning OF mis- re-
wards If he opens up Africa TO the world. Such
MAMMOTH UNDERTAKING
isregarded here by many OF the finest minds In Egypt
as too gigantic to move successfully among the un.
known wastes OF Ethiopia. In The first place, It is
taxing an army into country ioul with the un-
healtnlest malarias and charred TO desert
sands by the 1ercest OF African suns. The
base or supplies. running along river
course, crosses deserts and winds BY
devious ways through hostile tribes and the wildesr
savages. To move ahead Is war; to send back is to
meet fire in your rear. The loss OF powder, the
loss OF ammunition. determined mutIny, starva-
ton, all tend 10 Kill the enter Arise. As 1t now
stands, we have intelligence, regarded az OF the
most authentic character, that 700 men have per-
ishcd from the heat and that sir Samuel ana hm
brave lady are the only white people connected
with the enterprise and they stlll POSSESS courage
and hope.
THE vICERoy ANXIOUS.
In Egypt itself the proioundest apathy prevails
concerning this and all other enterprises to un-
bosom the African Continent. Not so however,
with the viceroy and his Intelligent ministers.
but with the population, which typlies bar
barism veneered with civilization. Among those
who are savants IN African exploring matters, how
overland there are many here the experience OF
the HERALD correspondent who penetrated the
from Zanzibar has excited the greatest
interest and admiration. do moi think 1t Win be
taken immodest to write that the efforts OF the
HERALD are duly appreciated here, and that It's en-
terprise Is freely commented on In upper circles In
the matter of solving the tropical problem OF the age
and that people here regard its mission as one 70
induce the Americans. metaphOrically the "whltestr
people Oh the earth, to clvlize the Alricans mate
rally the olackest.
REPORTS OF SIR SAMUEL BAKER.
When last heard from month ago. Sir Samuei
Baker was reported near small settlement
about latitude four degrees NORTH pointing
his iron boats, which are to constr
tute the first notllla Of inland, equatorial
Africa. Think OF IT, on the waters OF the victoria
and Albert Nyanza the yceroy establishes this
nrst navy upon inland seas which have seen with
several exceptions. only the faces OF gorilas and
chtmpanzees.
THIS NEWS,
meagre as it Is, shows us that Sir samuel IA ready
for the central lakes and that there ne Will begun
operations Ia the most methodcal manner. Has
contract stpulates that he shall finish this expedi-
tion by the end OF the coming April; but 1t Is very
doubtful II he Will be able to do 80. AT any rate.
when he comes back three fourths OF his command
Will probably nave perisned, and II he comes down
the Nile in the heat Of summer II u i'm
possible 60 say how many can survive
THE MISTAKE OF THE EXPEDITION
has been that 1t has been undertaken on TOO grand
scale. The waste, sheer waste, OF food for 1000
men would readily feed twelve hearty Europeans
who might desire to cross the Equator The great
evil o. all African exploring parties has been that is
has been conducted too much after the fashion OF
the British tourist and TOO many theodolytes,
barometers, sexsants and artificial horizons have
replaced canned meats and desccated necessities.
am OF the opinion (hastily formed, perhaps) tnar
twelve energetic, live, ] might say reckless Amert-
cans, each with his special mental and physical
gifts could bare this whole Continent to the view OF
an anxious mankind. The British are good, hardy
stubborn travellers put they like their journal
ism and ideas-slower than The wrath Of the Grecian
gods.
LATEST REPORTS OF THE EXPEDITION
Again there are fresh stories OF the death OF
Sir Samuel Baker and the complete failure OF his
expedition This time, 1t Is said that 400 miles
above Khartoom q military mutny broke out, and
that In an effort to quel 1t Sir samuel was shot
through the shoulder, from the effects OF which ne
subsequently died. It then followed that the band,
disorganized and factious, became chain OF irre-
spoDsible Fragments and there ends the tale. That
there may be truth In this statement no one here
would be surprised to learn. because 1t was early
experienced that the troops felt restless under the
command OF q Christian. 1t Is thought that beyons
the realms OF civilization they INDUCED their cow
ardly Mussulman proclivtes and revolted.
CARL SCHURz IN BROOKLYN.