Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-07-18
WILD RIDE.

WILD RIDE,
A few years ago | was second of
GER OF the good ship Sea Queen, an
~ tht time the following incident OF
cured we were lying at Labuan, a
Stand about thirteen miles long an
from three to five broad, off the north
east coast of BOrneo. One Sunda
morning Ned Wells (the third officer
and | resolved to walk to Victoria,
small and. indeed, the only regular set
tlement on the is and, imposed of I
lew Scotch eng neers and mechanics
-he superintendent of the mines anC
<OO Chinese, who worked them. Re
ports varied as to our distance from
Victoria, whether eight, ten or twelve
miles. All agreed that there was only
hall-beaten foot-track through the
dense Jungle So, prepared for a good
tramp, we started at $50 A. NJ. through
such wonderful luxuriance of tropical
growth as can be seen nowhere in
greater profusion than in Borneo
where the vegetation is most diversi-
lied, from dense underground of
ferns and creepers to the gigantic trees
OF the forest, towering aloft from 80
TO 2OO feet, often rising more than 100
feet before the symmetry OF their out
line Is broken by branch. We u,hed
on for about two hours and a half
max ng ow progress, for the track
waf nothing more than an, Ind
trail, and so overgra q Il L -
dinie1lt TO -. . s :
had had sor16 6xtt = & &
woods of Canada and 40 - mi
About l o'clock we came to natu.f
raj clearing about 200 feet acros
covered with beautiful growth of
grass, and nearly across its center lay
a huge fallen tree-the roots were
away in the jungle beyond the clear
ing, and the head was lost in the un-
on he other side. so one
can imagine the size Of the fallen mon
arch. Feeling hot and rather tired
Y concl ded to rest here, so lighting
our pipes, we climbed upon the huge
trunl' and began to look arounl and
admire the birds with their brilliant
plumage, and the hundreds of lizards
ana kummingbirds to be seen in everv
direction. Our quiet enjoyment was
disturbed by Ned, who giving
scream like a wild Indian, slipped
)ff the tree, and while holding his
,alf, exc,.imed: I've been bitten" |
vas off in second looking for snakes
md after few moments of unpleas-
INT conjectures, we found we had been
on the right of way of
ame large black ants, who had proba-
,ly long been undisturbed in their oc-
upan"y of the tree. Their bite. |
hough irritating, is not dangerous, so
but our ardor perhaps some
What cooled, we decided to give up
Iictor.a, and find our way back again
I'D while thinking of the scramble
efore us bright idea struck me-
why, Ned, we can walk back on
ne track, the nine must be some
ghere near here
After taking our bearings by the
un as well as the trees would allow,
I'd after half an hours pushing and
hitting through the mass of creepers
iA6 underwood, with an uncomforta
ole sensation of possible snakes all the
lime, we came out on the track, a cut
Ing through the forest just W de
Tough for the narrow tracks side by
side, the whole being on grade, the
loaded cars going down pulling the
empty ones up. We were not far
from the mouth of the pit, consequent
iy about two niles from the dock, how
eYe7 sure now of our way, we trudged
along contentedly, when | chanced to
see a small construction truck lying
overturned by the side of the track. l
aid to Ned:
"Why should we walk when we can
ride? let us put the machine right side
up, and well spin along the whole way
in no time"
1t was the work of a moment to
turn the truck over on to the rails it
was only a small platform about six
feet by four, mounted on wheels to
carry rails or ii eepers, with no railing
81 sides of any kind and we soon
found another more serious deficiency.
or momentum increasing each mo
hient by the force of gravity, we were
's''n spinning alorg, and l said, ''Ned,
| guess wehsd better put on the brake"
and to our dismay we found this most
important -ecessoty had been broken
OF, which probably accounted for the
truck being where we had foun it. |
':ggested that we had better jump off