The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-12-15
EXPLORERS IN A PLIGHT.
Unexpected Adventures in
Little-known Regions.
Dilemmas, Some of them Ridiculous and
Others Dangerous.

1t often happens, says the New York
S'tn, that explorers find themselves in
ZONE unexpected dilemma, and, unless
hey are quick enough to Immediately
sxtEicate themselves, the results are
sometimes serious. Lieut.. Cheyne's
adventure with a polar bear in the
arctic regions shows the advantage Of
Seepirg ones wits about him in an
emergency.
Lieut.. Cheyne was an English officer
N of the Franklin search expedi-
lions. Early one spring he was sent
with a couple Of sledgemen to examine
the condition of some provision depots
that had been laid down the previous
fall. They took nothing with them
but a tent and sleeping bags. rations
Of pemmican and hard tack, and a
small supply OF tallow to be used as
fuel in thawing their pemmican and
boiling their tea. One morning, after
they had travelled about $50 miles
from the ship. Lieut.. Cheyne was
awakened by something pulling at the
corner of the tent. He lifted the tent
dap just in time to frightsn a big
white bear, and the animal was in full
retreat over the ice before Cheyne had
extricated himself from his sleeping
bag. The party had more serious work
on hand than bear hunting, aud they
would have let the animal go if it had
not been suddenly discovered that his
bearship had torn open the tallow bag
md eaten every ounce of fuel. Here
was a predicament. The men were
i've days journey from the ship, the
weather was terribly cold, and they
could not eat the solidly frozen pemmi-
can. 1t was necessary to get that tai
low back, and so Cheyne, shouting to
his comrades to follow, set out after
the bear. The chase was AN exciting
and anxious one, but the animal was
at last overhauled and killed. No time
was lost In opening the creature's
stomach, and the men returned to
camp in triumph with all the tallow
Of which the unfortunate brute had
robbed them.
During last winter the James broth
ers succeeded in exploring a part Of
Somauli, in East Africa, where ever
al explorers had been killed. The re-
gion has remained almost wholly un-
known on account Of the hostility of
the natives. The bravery of the
Messrs. James's escort rapidly oozed
out as they advanced into the hostile
country. They refused once or twice
to 60 any further, and finally the
brothers hit upon this e~xpedient for
infusing them with a little courage.
A great noise in their W camp gen
orally has an inspiring effect on the
natives of Africa The Jameses had
their sentinels fire their guns at fire.
quent intervals during the night.
They report that this practice greatly
pleased and inspired their people. who
always felt more secure when firing.
The young explorer, Thompson, two
years ago. was considerably nonpluss-
ed by a lot of smart and suspicious
natives whom he encountered near
Mount Kenia in East Africa. He had
a few tricks which he very impressive
ly performed when the inhabitants
were unfriendly, and it was necessary
to exhibit his great power as a wizard
to %induce-them to sell him fccd. He
had two artificial teeth on a plate, and
the feat that usually overcame all OPP
position when everything else failed
was to extract these teeth. These
Mount Kenia natives were very much
pleased with this feat, but they said
that if he could take out two teeth he
could remOv the others also, and they
insisted upon seeing the entire show.
Finally they not only refused to sell
him food, but threatened to attack
him unless he took his teeth out, and
he thought best to make a forced
march one night to escape his too ex.
acting acquaintances.
Mr.. T%hompson's white comrade,
Martin. had u more serious experience
with some suspicious natives, and per.
haps it served him right. He was
telling a crowd Of Wakwad girls that
he could do sven more wonderful
things than the leader had shown