Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-03


Edward King y Correspondence in Boston Journal
PARIS, April 10.-This morning received q
letter from Mr.. Stanley, whose long silsnses
especially since his recent terrible ilness have
mneh alarmed his friends and these who are
hacking him with their capital. Human life
hangs by SO slender thread in the great wilds
OF Africa that Whenever we, whs have known
and learned to admire and sympathize with the
brave explorer, ind among eur letters one with
his familiar. cierkly handwriting on the euve
lope, we breathe sigh OF relief for We are al
ways afraid that some curt Geographic an
nouncemcut of his death may reach rs from one
III the many ports at which ships eomiag hou,e
from Africa are rife. The mysterious continent
rs still full Gi terTors for the white man; fever
and miasna do their fell work with startling
| swiftness. But it would appear frcm TIC
present epistie that Mr. Stanley by jadieiors
aud gentle conduct, has succeeded in doing
away with enc danger, which. 70 long time
was the principal one. ! mean the peril from
attack by the tribes along the great river uT
which he is now steadily making his way. and
on whose banks he is planting European civil
cation. l give you few extracts from the let
ter, which think will be Of interest to all who
appreciate the pluck and daring that have SO
long been ut. btaney's distinguishing eharac-
terstes.
The date is General Camp OF the Expedition
On the Upper Congo, S. w. Africa, Jan. 10
1882" The explorer says, 80 - You may
guess from the tenor OF the above that / am
net Ill nor depressed In spirits, nor languid, noi
disposed to wish myself anywhere but where
AMIN short, that am at least in tolerabfy
good health. 1t Is hot enough. and every few
seconds must perforce wipe myself dry.
drink water Is deg. Fahrenheit frequently, and
think It rather cool. But this is one of the in.
convcniences OF Africa. Ameng others may be
mentioned the monotony of the daily meals
want OF sufficient variety to satisfy an appetite
which Is good. There Is one comfort attached
to this-the meals are soon despatched, and all
thought of them ceases until the next usual
hour. Oh! would that could get one solid
meal just now!
II have been in, though, I suppose you may
have heard Of it, In fact. ! have seen and
tasted Of death. and l now know what ii
means. pity my comrades who have gone be-
fore ne, In a different fashion from what used
TO do. THIS severe illness occurred during May,
and was nearly all June recovering from it.
was palsied and miserable wretch when in
formed my people that should get well. FGr
nineteen days the fever held me- to bed. Seven
days was unable to eat anything; the rest OF
the time mad to De fed with spoon. | could
lie only In one position. OF course bed sores at
tackled me, and most Of the muscles OF flle back
became as though they were paisied, On the
nineteenth day gave my final directions and my
farewell. but before l finished was muttering
in dellr!um; and next became nearly uncoll-
ScioUS LOT TWO U.tyS. 1Nea Tile ttVcf iciL ne
wreck. 1t was quick work, going down to ut
ter feebleneSs; but to restore what fever had
taken away required long time. Oaee on the
high road to recovery, however, strength.
vigor and quickened life came rapidly, and in
July was on the read, surveying swiftly. for
Stanley Pool, Everybody knew that was my
self again. We have done wonders SINCE and
We can look back with pleasure on the last six
months. for the work we have done makes Us
smile calmly at our dark days"
Mr.. Stanley maintains certain reticence
about the exact nature of his work in Africa,
for reasons which most readers will readily un-
derstand. He il the agent OF companies which
have invested large amounts Of capital in open
ing up sections Of Africa. aud vino naturally de-
sire to secure for themselves all the advantages
which may accrue from the explorers iabogs Ia
few months we Shall probably hear rather in
ttFesting and possibly somewhat startling news
from the little camp on the Upper Congo.