The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-26
A FEMALE STANLEY.
Mrs. May French sheldon VIII Lead an
African Exploring Expedition.


New York Commercial Advertiser.
Mrs. May French Sheldon, who is at
present visiting in Kansas City. is about TO
engage in a trip into the widest portions
of Africa, not as member Of an exploring
party, but as the head of it. Mrs. Sheldon
knows full well the difficulties of the task
she is undertaking from knowledge gained
aside from her studies. She has an inti-
mate acquaintance with Henry NJ. STAN
ley. and has learned much from him.
Mrs. Sheldon is thoroughly enthusiastic
over her proposed venture, and expects to
bring back with her store of information
which will be the foundation for book of
more than usual interest.
Mrs. Sheldon's idea in going to Africa
practically alone, or at least not accom-
panied, but only attended. is to do some
thing that no other woman has ever done
and bring back something that has never
been brought out Of Africa.
Men, said Mrs. Sheldon, 'lose sight
OF great many things in going into a new
country. They get the geography and
topography of the country, and, of course.
something about the people. | shall 20
into new fields. / will learn the home
life of the sayages. | shall bring back
folklore and legend and romance. ex-
pect to take monograph and bring back
some real African voices"
Mrs. Sheldon says that her venture is no
missionary work. 1t is not in the interest
of any institution or government: tits not
to attack or defend anything or anybody
She is going simply because she wants 10,
and is going 10 run the expedition
herself. and to suit herself If she thinks,
after having investigated. that there
is anything wrong with the pres
ent government of the African
provinces she will say SO. If there is a
slave trade being carried on in the country
through which she passes she will openly
say so, and condemn any one who is 10
blame. Mrs. Sheldon is to sail from Eng
land in February, and will go first to Fan
zibar, thence to Mombasso, and then will
begin the worst part of her Journey.
In telling of her proposed travels yester-
day in her enthusiastic, earnest manner,
Mrs. sheldon said:
'"The expedition shall be entirely my
own, the honors-if there be any--shall
course, there will be many-must be aimed
at me alone. | shall take my stem
ographer only to the starting point
in Africa, and from there [ shall
be the only white woman in the
party. shall be attended, of course, by
several black women. | shall also have
several Arab attendants and such military
protection as | think necessary. band
of less than fifteen or twenty would find it
extremely dangerous in such a country.
expect TO reach Mount Kiiimajaro, from
200 10 800 miles from the coast, and in a
country where no white woman has ever
been.
II shall have special passports from
Secretary of State james G. Blaine, and
also letters from Stanley. Stanley's name
is like magic in Africa, and altogether |
have little fear but that my little venture
will be comparatively safe one. shall
be in Africa three months"
Mrs. sheldon says that her trip win cost
her SIS, 900, but that it will be worth all of
that 70 her, even without pecuniary bene-
hts, which will not be small.