Connecticut western news., 1876-09-01
A Fight in Africa.

AS ne tells the story himself Stanley must be desperate fellow among the natives. He tells us of fight he had on the Nyanza. He was with his party in boat when the natives began to as semble on the ridge of low hill about 100 yards from the boat, and presently drums were heard beating the call to war, until within half an hour about 500 warriors had gathered around Shekka, who was sitting down addressing his people. When he had done, about fifty rushed down and took our drum, and kindly told us to get our guns ready for fight, as they were. coming presently to cut our throats. As soon as saw that the savages had arrived in the presence of Shekka with our drum, shouted to my men to push the boat into the water. With one desperate effort my crew of eleven men seized the boat as if she had been 8 mere toy, and shot her far into the water. The impetus they had given her caused her to drag them all irto deep water. In the meantime the say ages, uttering furious howl of disap- pointment and baff1ed rage, came rush ing like 8 whirlwind toward the waters edge.
 l discharged my elephant rife, with it's two large conical balls, into their midst: and then, assisting one of the crew into the boat, told him to help his fellows in while l continued to fight, My double barreled shotgun, loaded with buckshot, was next discharged with terrible effect ; for, without drawing 8 single bow or launching single spear, they retreated up the slope of the hill, leaving us to exert our wits to get the boat out of the cove before the enemy should decide to man their canoes.
 The crew was composed ofpicked men, and in this dire emergency they did am pie justice to my choice. Though we were without oars the men were at no loss for substitute. As soon as they found themselves in the boat they tore up the seats and footboards and began to paddle the boat out as though she were canoe, while I was left to single out with my rifle the most prominent and boldest of the enemy. Twice in succession succeeded in dropping men determined on launching the canoes, and seeing the" sub-chief who had com handed the party that took the drum, I took deliberate aim with my elephant rife at him. That bullet, as I have since been told, killed the chief and his wife and infant, who happened to be standing 8 few paces behind him, and the extraordinary result had moro effect on the superstitious minds of the na- tlves than all previous or subsequent shots. On getting out of the cove we saw two canoes loaded with men coming out in pursuit from another small cove. I permitted them to come within 100 yards of us, and this time I used the elephant rifle with explosive balls. Four shots killed five men and sunk the canoes. This decisive affair disheart ened the enemy, and we were left to pursue our way unmolested, not, how ever, without hearing a ringing voice shouting out to us: '' Go and die in the Nyanza!" When the savages counted their losses they found fourteen dead and eight wounded with buckshot, which l Iconsider to be very dear pay ment for the robbery of eight ash oars and drum, though barely equivalent, in our estimation, to the intended massacre of ourselves