The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-08
J. THORBURN'S DEED.
A Large Steam.Launch Carried
Across a Wilderness.
Over a Year Required in the Task-More
than 1900 Miles Covered-some of the
Hardshps of the Trip,

John Thorhurn has had an interesting
adventure with a steamer in Swaziland,
South Africa. Mr.. Thorburn took a steamer
across country for 1000 miles to Delagoa
Bay, and he did this entirely by his own
energy and courage. His plain narrative
has been published in a "Strug-
giles in Africa''-at the Office of the Swazi-
land Concessionaire, and the London Daily
News is of the opinion that no Englshman
can study the story without pride and
pleasure and encouragement. Mr.. Thor
burn left the diamond fields in 1880 and
kept store on the Vaal River. Here
he was ruined by flood, but he reflected
that the river might be navigated, and the
Upper Vaal thus brought into communica-
ton with Kimberly by the waterway. He
sent home for steel steam-launch of thirty
seven feet and of six horsepower. The
Free State and Transvaal Governments
gave him leave to remove islands and OBJ
structions, and ''for three long years" he
was making waterway out Of a river. The
river beat him; he could not clear it, and he
determined to carry his vessel to DelagOa
Bay, over 1000 miles of veldt, mountains,
and roads resembling those of the High
lands before they were made" GAS long
as the wheels 60 round | will continue to
CO." he said, and he went The journey
occupied fourteen months, and Is one OF the
miracles of that miracle-producing country,
Africa.
In May 1884. Mr.. Thorburn started. His
company was of
THREE WHITE MEN,
His own son Jack, Bill Davies and George
GRAY. The last deserted the enterprise.
There were also three natives, one of whom
deserted. There were eighteen oxen for
the large wagon, which held the boat, and
fourteen for the small wagon The early
part Of the journey was mere holiday to
ThOrburn, with plenty of sport, both large
game and small. Mr. Thorburn used to
walk in advance, removing stones until his
fingers bled and blistered, and he had to
throw the obstacles away from the palm of
| his hand. Then lie met his first adventure.
The veldt was on tire The oxen ran away,
the men with them, land the fire roaring
and keeping pace with the wagons" But
| the fire passed them, after run of mile
and half, ana left them nearly choked with
the smoke. At last they cooled down and
advanced, always trekking straight for the
| rising sun. At BIonKhurst Spruit they saw
the graves OF the Nlnety-fOurth. here they
had to lay bridge, and it is to be under
stood that Mr. Thorburn was making his
own roads for the best part of the way.
Now the badness of the roa drove them on
the veldt. Now the softuess of the veldt
drove them again to the DUwlder- incumbered
| track.
%" Sometimes they only Travelled mile in
three or four days.
THE NATIVE DRIVERS
! Were mutinous, and one of them Mr.. Thor
| burn beat. Finally he deserted. Then
! George took to driving into all the holes,
and he also was allowed to depart. On
| Sunday they always rested, shot and fiShed.
At one place the wagon sank to the aXles
ana the steamer seemed atO1t 6rV
| ground. Stone had to be brought from a
| distance OF 700 yards, and kind of siedge
had to be made out Of Il tree for transport.
| The distance whence the tree itself had to
be Ietcned was immense. The wheels had
to be lifted with screwJacks and the stones
| Inserted under them. Six days were spent
! IN overcoming the difficulties of this one
'stlck-fast.' The road down from the
heights was reported to be very bad. Il
argued. as long as there Is Il road, that is all
| require. That l can always repair an d
make good They now entered Swaziland.
| The King, though a savage, is very truth
full, upright and just man.
AT one point the wagon upset. One half
| OF the boats side was knocked out OF shape
| six feet OF the steel plates were rent open.
| the woodwork was trewO0d, the iron bulk
head was doubled up. 1t was now felt
| quite beaten, says Mr.. Thorburn; but that
was
A PASSING SENSATION.
ne HldHdRtu, WIFI great OlInculty, TO re-
move the iron aXles, and the wheels from
the aXles, and then replace the axles with
out the wheels. Finally, with the aid of
| the katirs, the wagon was righted, but then
| the steamer had to be mended. Mr. Thor
| burn borrowed an auger from a BOer, made
| iron bolts out of piece of the hand-railing
| aud was ready for a start; but now the
| oxen were lost, aud, when recovered, We're
! beginning to sicken. As a mere detail some
days had to be spent in digging a trench on
! tina birl side nf rho III 81
wheels might move on level. They now
reached Buffels Heights, and saw DeautI-
| full country, 5000 feet below them, dotted by
| kair kraals. So they made the road and
| then the floods came and washed away the
road they had made. Mr.. ThOrburn made
1t again. cut large tree as drag for the
| wagon and somehow shot the descent
lie saw his sons blood on pick-handie
and turned away IN case he should see the
tears on my face The hands of the party
were mass OF blood-blisterS, but they
! worked on.
Then the wagon ran away, Jack ran
beside 1t, between deep donga and the
roadway-hG had but nine inches of space
| between him and death. BiIls finger was
| spit by an accident. Sandblana, chief adj
wiser of the Swat King. visited the plucky
! party, and was courteous and kindly. Two
| white settlers were also hospItable. But
| now the oxen were much distressed, and
| finally most of them died. Fortunately,
| scot and an freshman. AT last they reached
| tidal river, forded the dangerous swamps,
| rearched Lorenzo Marques, and had most
WELCOME DRINK OF BEER.
| They had drunk no spirits on tue route,
| though they carried some in case of acct
| dent. But in their absence spirits were
| sold to Jacob, the native driver, with the
! result that he hanged himself with the lash
of his whip The steamer had now to be
| repaired again, and Mr.. Thorburn manu-
featured his own wooden mallets. He left
the ship in good keeping, went home, and,
| every one Will be sorry u hear, found that
his little boy had died during the expedI-
ton. showed them the toys and sweets
had bought for them (the children which
caused the salt water to overflow down my
| cheeks. Then Mr.. Ihorburn sold his farm,
not guessing that it was, as it proved later,
a rich gold field, and started for Delagoa
Bay.
Adventures befell him on the return
! route to the LObombO, where the steamer
was, but he was hardened to adventures.
| The vessel was brought to the Tembe drift
which is tidal, and was launched with great
rejoicing, the monkeys jabbering aud the
parrots squeaking. The vessel ran ashore
and Mr.. Thorburn had to rivet on the fun
mel with the end of spade we had on
board. Finally they reached Lorenzo
Marques, where Mr.. Thorburn received a
certificate as captain from the Portuguese,
and stood on the deck of his own vessel
II is pleasant to add that his enterprise has
| been profitable, without aid or financial
assistance from any One.' Though he met
no lions and fought no natives, he over
came difficulties which only tested his ex-
traordlnary resources, courage and perse-
| verance lie is clearly a man who could go
anywhere and do anything. The blood of
the Vikings Is not degenerate in him, and
| this lh0rburn IN peace Is match for any