The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-28
BENEATH CONGO CATARACT,
Lost Through His Own Rashness and I'M
mensc Contempt Of Danger.
UNCOMFORTABLE RESOLUTION.

10 the Daily Telegraph you have no oouos an ioeA ~
% tho reason tha, induces me 70 write to you Tho
subject is very serious and sad. would TO God that
Frank had to write you about my death rather than
i should be compelled to write about Franks death.
Fhe feeling is still fresh my nina how hankered
afer death-after that long, long sleep from which
there is no waking, for We wero passing through .
mos. troubIous period; hunger and sickness had
destroyed all that enthusiastic energy with which We
had rushed through the lands Of the cannipais
] had lost many men IN our incessant wars
with the natives; sickness and despair had
worried many others TO their death. Still
work seemed to have end. and We could not
see one ray OF hope ahead. our sick list grew
heavier and heavier until We had but slxtythree d.
Tor work. l had about fifteen men down from ulcers
and ten men from dyscntery and debility. So long,
however, as l had Frank and my BOATS crew felt
myself able TO endure and fight it out-savages or cat
aracis, Il mattered not much which. II there were
hostile savages felt ourselves able to cut through
them; If thoro forests through which roads
must be nude, We would make them; If We had
10 pull our canoes over mountains, would pull them
IL wtS Oniy u sinc. Anu o'i sA's sui0
frank cheercd me and said, with me, I'VE must
and We will do it,"
PASSING THE CONGO FALLS.
There wore two series OF cataracts and rapids. The
upper consisted of six separate alls the lower
series consisted seven,y-four falls great and small
rapids Glty-seven OF which only important. OF
This lower series we had already passed thirty five
separate falls rapids, but there only three
moro really dangerous. 1t was while passing the
shir,y-seventh iall-Masassa-that Frank lost his
nfc The truth Is that Frauk was lost through
ais own rashness and immense contempt for the
water lie had been placed tho sick list. because
or ten twelve days previously he inoapactated
from duty through ulcers on both feet Of most pain
luI kind and man on the sick list ought have
assumed the responsibility Of commanding "active
duty" men to proceed to execute dangerous work.
anu take him with them when he could actually do
nothing 10 assist them superintend them. Frank
scarcely able stand. least Of all 10 climb the
rocks take good view Of the dangers ahead SO that
ne might Judge Of his situation
SICK MANS rLrcK.
Wnat uocS rfuuh uOl ho CT1Wis On lie kb0eB 70
the canoe-lhe rescue canoe-manned with the most
daring young fellows in the expedition headed by the
most desperate and daring young fellow evor knew,
and, despite all rcmonstrsnces OF the chief
he orders them to cast or Still Frank might have
been II. when the last chance given him, he
would have permitted himself to reflect upon his
condllion-his distressing, pitiful condxioL.
Tho chief acted prudently enough In what he did,
though he would have done better and more to my
satisfaction had he done exactly had taught him
when over orty-one falls and rapids was leader
This chel steered his into cove just above
fall and started reconnotre, to tako good look at
tho TALL and he back and told Frank that IL was
impossible to shoot over the ali-thas, fact Il
avery bad place. Frank would not believe him. but
the youngsters to look at the fall and report upon
IT. They returned with tho same story-tnat the fail
was very bad have doubt that had Frank boon
able 10 WOW the himself he would have agreed
with them; but Frank seated his canoe unable TO
move thought. as he came down tho river TO the
where they were consulting that no had in mid
river place clear Of falling water and waves he
that.
POINTING THE DANGER.
1t seems that no remembered what had told him
lew days beiore-that whenever he going 70 risk
the lives of others in a dangerous undertaking II
was not fair to give the Gnal word without ex-
posing to them all the dangers Of It and asking
them TO give their judgment upon II, and II their
uac M
not DO compelled to 1T Frank limited to tho crew az
this time that he exactly who had told me OF
this, and therefore, lest he should be charged by me
with having risked tho lives Of Others he would say
nothing.
"But," he asked. 'rel me, what am TO dor have
eaten nothing today, and here am lame, unable TO
move. VIII you leave horc to die OF hungcryo
.oh, no." said the Chief Il will send a man .,
once for your food and Tor men to carry you, and in
couple OF hours they viii be here"
ION, very wcIl" said Frank; do as you please. y
and Frank assumed the look Of one badly and dis.
agrccably used And then ne told them that they
were always afraid OF the least little wavo, and other
qucreIous things, which only sick would have
said. Poor Frank was only pushing himself nearer
aud nearer TO death
Tho chief Then said, "Littlo Master, we are not
afraid Of the river think have proved am not
afraid, and, II say the word these boys OF mine will
follow me TO tho bottom Master has told US not TO
play In the river-not 10 do anything foolsh-and II
master was here no would toll that tho fall was
dangerous But If anything should happen, II you
will take tho blame, say and my people arc ready.
and II we die we die, II we are saved wo ars saved"
"ob, never fear; i viii take the blame Nothing
will happen Did not 500 the river as We came down.
Cast of, then. and let us CO."
THE PArAL PLUNGE