Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-11-26
THE cAMERooNs.
Extraordinary Adventures OF African Ex-
plorers Which Throw Considerable Light
Upon Recent Historical and Geographical
lsuRnfS.

Extraordinary Adventures OF African tx
plorers Which Throw Considerable Light
Upon Recent Historical and Geographical
Events.
There recently arrived in Liverpool
from the Cameroons district. saws q
correspondent, a Polish gentleman
named Ragozinski. who for the last
three years has been engaged in ex-
ploring the vicinity of the CAMERON
Mountains, with the view of discover
ing river in the interior which eventu-
ally empties itself into the Congo. N.
Rayozinski' explorations led him into
adventures of a most exciting kind NJ
RI gozinski was formerly Lieutenant
in the Russian Navy. and in the early
part of 1888 sailed from France in his
own vessel, the Lacy and Marguerite,
from Havre. Arriving safely at the
coast II. Ragozinski met the Swiss ex-
petition, and with them arranged to
take simultaneous observations. one
party being on tie Cameroons Peak,
and the other in the bay. While with the
latter party NJ. Ragozinskis canoe got
capsized, struggle for life ensued and
DIR. Refer. of the Swiss expedition.
was drowned Some very valuable
scientific instruments were also lost by
the accident.
In July of the same year NJ. Rago-
zinski started with a companion for the
river Libre. They met with much op-
position by the native '.middlemen" of
Mokonyeh, who were afraid the eX-
plorers intended going to trade with
the interior tribes The Mokonyeh
people would not allow the explorers to
pass. Another tribe from Beffarenganya,
who brought trade from the interior to
Il town nearer the coast than the
MOkOnyeh. were more friendly, and
wanted the explorers to visit their
country. They, however, had to pass
the Mokonyeh people. and the eX-
plorers promised to accompany the
Betiarenganyas if they brought a strong
escort. They brought six hundred
men, and a battle took place between
them and the Mokonyeh people. The
latter were victorious, as their follow
Ing numbered fifteen hundred. MANY
We're killed on both sides. NJ. Rago
zinski had again to betake himself to
the coast. The gallant explorers were
several times stricken with fever, and
it was about this time that NJ. Ragozin-
skis companion. NJ. Toniczek. diScov-
cred the Rio del Rev. NJ. RagozinSki
and his companion had been six months
in the interior. and it was in the early
part of 1881 when they returned to the
coast.
N. Ragozinski was now master of the
native language, and travelled every
where with the utmost freedom. In
deed. so much respect did the natives
show him that they put him on a level
with their great chief or king. His
power extended for mile: inland. and
on the coast from Ambas Bay to the
Rio del Rey. Unfortunately the fever
carried of NJ. Toniczek, and NJ. Rago
zinski was joined by NJ. YanekonSk.
The natives proclaimed NJ. Ragozinski
as Chief of Bota, and while about to
arrange for the exp oratiOn of the ~
terror. Nj. Eagozinski heard OF the Ger
man designs on the Cameroons. The
annexation of the CamerOons River was
soon after All accomplished fact. Sub
seauently II. NJ. S. Forward and Colonel
Hewitt arrived at Ambas Bay. and re-
guested NJ. Ragozinski to put his terri
tory of Bota. which he held by treaty
with the natives and chiefs, under the
British protect on. This he did. and,
further, went in the Forward and made
treaties for England from Ambas Bay
to the Rio del Rey. This was work
of several days. and just us the treaty
was being signed in the last town two
German war vessels came into the bay.
Their object was to annex the territory
which had then been handed over to
England, and the officers of the war
vessels could not hide their chagrin
when they saw they had been fore
stalled. After this the Germans en-
deavored to get behind thAterritory OF
the English with the view of cutting of
communication from the interior. The
natives became alarmed at this. and
Consul White her Maiesty's represen-
tative at Old Calabar visited Ambas
Bay and asked Raoolinski 20 90 into
the interior and make treaties with the
natives. at the same time installing him
as British Nice-Consul of the place. NJ.
Ragozinski made treaties with the in
terror chiefs and eventually came upon
the Germans. They had been three
days at one place waiting for the chief
to sign a treaty. but when NJ. Ragozin-
ski applied. it was instantly signed on
behalf of England. The Germans
left. and subsequently the arrest of
NJ Ragozinski was ordered if found in
German territory. Soon afterward. as NJ.
Yanekonski was crossing from Batoki
70 Victoria in a canoe he passed Ger
nan war vessel in English waters.
Three boats We're lowered from the war
vessel. and shots were fired in the direc
ton of NJ. Yanekonski' canoe. Think
ing they were practicing. and were
careless as to where the shots went, NJ.
Yanekonski still rowed on. At last
they fired from a Hotchkiss. and. after
several shots. one went through the
canoe. The nat We padd!eman, terri
fed. then jumped into the water. The
three beats coming up from the Ger
man war vessel. H. Yanekonski was
asked his name They. however, would
not believe him. stating he was Rago-
zinski. whom they had orders to arrest
NJ. 1auekonski was taken prisoner on
boac,l the German war vessel The