The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-27
DAVID LIVINGSTONE
Death of the Great Afri-
can Explorer.
HE FALLS BY THE WAY.
Cause Of His Death and Story
Of His Life.
TELEGRAM TO the NEW YORK HERALD.

TELEGRAM TO the NEW YORK HERALD.
LONDON JAN 2G, 1874.
Intelligence has just been received here of
the death of Dr. Livingstone in the interior of
Africa.
He died of dysentery while travelling from
Lake Bembe to Unyanyembe.
THE TIME OF HIS DECEAsE.
The death of Dr. Livingstone took place in
June last.
WORN DOWN BY EXPOSURE AND FATIGUE
The explorer had been travelling over par
TALLY submerged country, and, after wading
four days through water, was seized by the
illness of which he died.
HIS BODY BEING CONVEYED TO ENGLAND.
His body has been embalmed and is being
conveyed to England. 1t will come by the
way of Zanzibar.
Sketch of tho Great African Traveller.
David Livingstone, the greatest traveller of
modern times, is dead. According TO q cable de-
spatch received yesterday from London his decease
was superinduced by an attack of dysentery while
he was travelling from Lake Bembe to Unyan-
yembe, and we are further informed that his body
has been embalmed and Will be conveyed to the
home Of his youth, where the remains VIII receive
those hOnOrs which grateful England pays to the
memory of her heroic sons. Before we enter upon
the PLAIN narrative OIL his life 1t is worth while for
moment to consider the extraordinary sensation
which mere traveller could make in
this age Of steam and electricity For nearly
ten years Livingstone's name has been on every
English speaking tongue; his travels have become
familiar 20 all classes OF readers, and the daily
newspapers have been full OF dispatches announc-
ing his grand exploits. The telegraph cable which
was put down IN the Red Sea probably never re-
peated the name of any man Oltener than that of
Livingstone," while of him it may be said that he
was the subject OF more obituaries than any man
OF his time. Exploring the most mysterious
region OF the most mysterious Continent remain
ing comparatively unknown, he had, by life full
Of strange vicissitudes and startling adventures,
fixed the attention Of the whole world
upon his every movement. Gifted with a
modest and pure English style, which,
devoid Of the unwholesOme padding"
and miserable inventions which disfigure the page
OF the modern travellers book, he commanded the
respect and attention of the most careful geOgra-
than Sir Roderick Murchison. 1t may be said that
DR.. Livingstone achieved what few OF his country
men have ever succeeded in dOing-!n travelling
without escort among African savages, trusting to
upright dealings and kindly manner. He was
BORN IN SUBURB OF GLASGOW
IN the year 1885, his father being weaver in one
or the cotton mills of that vicinity. At the age Of
ten he joined his father in the weaving business,
and followed the laborious trade until he reached
the age OF twenty. Meantime he devoted every
leisure moment to selfeducation, preparatory to
the great mission for which he was destined.
But his early lie and labors have been de.
scribed Dy himself in language which we prefer to
quote, in an interesting sketch which he has pre-
fixed to his first volume entitled "Missionary
Travels and Researches in South Africa" published
In 1857
.Our great-grandfather,n says the Doctor, 'fell
at the battle of Culoden, fighting Tor the old line
in Viva, where my father was born. 1t Is one of
that cluster OF the Hebrldes thus alluded to by
Walter Scott
And Viva dark, and Colonsay,
That guard FAMED saha round.
"Our grandfather was intimately acquainted
with all the Evolutionary legends which That great
writer had since made use OF in the Tales OF a
Grandfather ana other WORKS. AS boy remem-
Der listening to him with delight. Tor his memory
was stored with never-ending stock of stories
many OF which were wonderfully like those have
songs, some Of which, as shs believed, had been
composed by the captive Islanders languishing
hOpeessly among the Turks.
grandfather could give particulars of the lives
before him and the only point OF the tradition
feel proud OF Is this:-One OF these poor hardy
islanders was renowned in the district for great
wisdom and prudence; and 1t Is related that, when
he his death bed, he called all his children
round him ana said, Now, in my lifetime, nave
searched most carefully through all the traditions
could find OF our family, and l never could dis
cover that there a dishonest man among our
forelathers ii, therefore, any OF you any of your
be because 1t runs IN our blood 1t does not belong
TO you. leave this precept with you:-Be honest
H. therefore, IN the following pages TALL into any
errors, hope they will he dealt with honest
mistakes, and not as indicating that have forgot
time when the Highanders according to Macau-
lay, where much Ike the cape kanrs and one, 1T
stealing by presenting share Of the plumber to '
his chle1taln.
OUR ANCESTORS
were Roman Catholics; they were made Protes-
tants by The lard coming round with u man having
yellow stan, which would seem 10 have attracted
more attention than his teaching, for the new
religion went long afterwards, perhaps 1t does so
still, by the pame OF the religion OF the yellow
STICK
.'F1ndng his farm in Viva insufficient to support
numerous family, my grandfather removed to
large eest0n &C on the
ing mad the best education the Hebrides afforded,
were gladly received as clerks by the propretors,
MOnteith IL Co. He himself, highly esteemed Tor
his unninching honesty, was employed in the con-
veyance OF large sums Of money from Glasgow to
the works, and in old age was, according to the
custom OF that company, pensloned OF, so as to
spend his declining years In ease and comfort.
'Our uncles all entered His Majestys service
during the last French war, either rs soldiers or
sailors; but my father remained at home, and,
though too conscientious ever to become rich as
small tea dealer, by his Kindness OF manner and
winning ways he made the heartstrings OF his
children twine around him as firmly as ii he had
possessed and could have bestowed upon them
every worldly advantage. He reared his children
IN connection with the Kirk OF Scotland-a relig-
culabe blessing TO that cOuntry-but he alter
wards lett 1t, and during the last twenty
years OF his life held the office Of deacon Of
an independent church in Hamilton, and de-
served my lasting gratitude and homage for pre-
sentlng Inc from my infancy with u continuously
consistent pious example, such as that the ideal
vi which Is beautifully and truthiully portrayed
In Burns 'Coiter's saturday Night He died In
February, 1856, in peaceful hope Of that mercy