The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-31
Herald Special Correspondence
from West Africa
History Of Commissioner
CIover's Expedition.
THE NATIVE ALLIES.
Our Commissioners Trip to
AIDA Forh.
A Number Of Fearful Correspondents-"rh The
Vessels Frail You Know The
Launch Dauntless ON the Atlantic.
AIDA FORH, Mouth OF the Volta,
Gold Coast, West Coast OF Africa,

uoAA SoSoep NCSs SOust VI AlTiCb,
Dec. H. 1878. J
Events at Cape Coast Castle had become tame
ana embarrassing. They lacked the charm Of
novelty. Sir Garnet Wolseley and his intentions
unconsImmated-indeed as vet not begun-had
been written about threadbare. There remained
actually nothing upon which anything more might
be said connected with Sir Garnet Wolselev's ex-
petition. Before rendering myself up to utter
despair bethought me OF the strange expedition
to ieeward, about which had attempted to write
at distance but OF which few people at Cape
Coast-the authorities incuded-knew anything
nationally and intelltgentIy. THIS was Commits
sioner J. H. Glover's expedition to Ashantee land.
The HERALD steam launch Dauntless was lying
peacefully at anchor In the lagoon OF Beyah,
close under the frowning white Castle OF San
Iago Teredos, saline particles gradually cor
rOding her iron works below and the hot sun
clustering her Dulwarks and scorching her decks
after her
TRoUBLoUs TRIP TO ACCRA.
The Daun tless offered me the means to proceed
in search of Commissioner Glover, and / at once
awaited myself OF them. But 1t appeared to me to
be very selfish proceeding, this awaiting myself
alone OF the only means 10 hunt up Glover, when
there were many of my itinerating colleagues
hungering after such information would be de-
rived rom the trip to AIDA, the reputed location
OF Commissioner Glover's camp and offered TO
take down any Of the correspondents who chose to
venture within the limited confines OF the tiny
cabin OF the DauntleSs. One only was found brave
enough to accept the OFFER SIT is very tempting,
/ consess." said my colleague of the - ''but
would not venture in such q tiny boat on the
Atlantic Tor q thousand pounds" "Oh, no, by
George" said another, lyon don't catch me on
board If l lost my life the trip my people
would say, well, what fool the fellow was to be
surcr very scant reward, as you will admit 1
like the sound OF the surf and waves when am
sale on shore; but do not like the idea OF being
tossed about on big waves with the thought pre-.
vaiiing in my mind that the launch would very
probably go down and should Immediately oe
GOBBLED BY THE SHARES.
You are very kind and obgng SIT, but must really
deciine.' Tie brave man who accepted my offer
was ms colleague Mr.. George A. Henty, ofthe STAN
6drd, whom l knew first in Abyssinia. AS soon
a. he had made his determination Known he and
were get upon by all with a doleful chorus OF voices
predicting direst calamties, such as s.Sure to go
down." Battered by the SURF" "a certain ship
wreck in store,n "The bar Of the Volta is awful"
'Plenty OF crocodiles about" think OF the bar at
Lagos. y The launch Will never cross those break
ers," "vesses three times larger have been upset
OH that bar, "YCu won't find any one at Adda,"
'Glovcr is certain to have gone to the 'front.'" "Ir
white troops will come in your absence, and you
Will have lost the opportunity or seeing them
landcd.n These and a hundred other uncom.
Portable suggestions were thrown out for our ben
eft We treasured them IN our memories, but de-
clined TO act upon them, knowing as we did that
II we fell in the cause OF our respective journals
We should fall gloriously.
The Dsuntess awoke from her slumberous re.
pose in the lagoon Of Beyah about midnight and
steamed
DOWN rnB GOLD COAST
At rafting rate, needless of the burden OF fore
bodings which had been heaped on the heads Of her
passengers. The beaming stars and silver moon
Ahone over our heads brilliantly and lighted up our
course, and in the morning the sun arose and with
the sun the wind came and blew the sea into q
million uneasy waveets, which made the tiny
yacht hop up and down merrily. On our left was
the Gold Coast Of Africa darkly green and beautiful
now rising into gentle bills and anon subsiding
into snuvial valleys or stretching away level
plain, scantily tufted with cactus and thorn
cumps. Clusters OF c0nica huts appeared at almost
every headland and within the recesses OF every
beach lined bay. outrageous depths OF shrubbery
filed the holows and depressions Of the coast line,
and the ridge lines seemed to be deep, impenetra-
bic hedges OF jungle bush.
On our right heaved the Deep far stretching At
tornado to stir Its waves into action fury and
submerge the saucy little Dauntless and her
crew in Its soundless depths. But the Atlantic
waves, though placid enough in vicinity, ex-
pend their strength and mighty energy to our left
where they thump the shore with tIreless Jury and
noise.
The afternoon Of the second day
THE DAUNTLEss WAS RACING
past lengthy stretch Of glistening beach, dotted
here and there with palm groves, each OF which
EMPOWERED a village. This palm dotted beach
separated lagoon OF the Volta from the sea- 1t
was but a narrow spit OF sand, thirteen miles in
length, on the eastern termination of which was
AIDA Forh, where Glovers force was reported to
be encamped. At the end OF a couple OF hours we
saw a break IN the sandy beach, deeper groves OF
palm trees, village, with glistenng white houses:
q number OF surfboats and native canoes drawn up
on the beach, and in the foreground OF all raging
surf, a rolling line OF tall waves and white foam.
When we had arrived opposite the white houses
we stopped the steamer and blew shril signals to
those ashore to bring boats, which were unheeded
for Q long time; but persstency finally was re.
warded, and q surfboat manned BY wildly ges-
ticulating padders, commanded by tall, brawny
fellow who stood upright on the fore thwart- and
who gesticulated like mailman, was seen now on
the height OF o lofty wave, now in deep trough
hidden from our sight, Iaboring toward u.s. While
" witnessing the frantic antics OF the commander,
the gesticulatons Of the paddlers, the uneasy
throes OF the boat we anticipated but little enjoy
ment when it would be our turn to experience the
same dangers. The steam launch was hauled up
astern of a brig lying IN the roadstead we entered
the suriboat and after an exciting race with
huge wave, which bore us on its white CREST we
were fually dashed, boat and ALL high on the sandy
BEACH OF AIDA FoRH,
amid the strange welcoming cries OF couple OF
hundred sable savases, who were grouped ashore
TO watch cur perilous but triumphant progress
through the surf
so much OF our journey was ended safely and we
breathed freely. Then we made inquiries OF trader
rs to the whereabouts OF Commissioner Clover and
were answered that he had gone up the Volta in
his steamer, the Lady OF the Lake, but would be
down again next day to the camp at the mouth OF
the Volta River. we were told also that the camp
was barely mile from Addah For and that the
river was only about 500 yards beyond the camp.
Tha no WINS a m flare M fha