Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-14


case were in danger of being exposed in Eu-
rope.
''Maior Barttelot became aware of the full
story, and was much excited over it. He took
notes in his diary of the circumstances as they
were related to him, and believe he had also
a complete copy of the affidavit OF Assad Faran.
made at the time when Major BartteIot Ios arrived
was killed He was full of this story, and ter
ribly unnerved and excited about il.
Barttelot's Fearful Anger.
almost the first thing ne did upon his ar
rival was to take one of the red books in which
he kept his diary, dash 1t down before me on the
table, crying angrily and Indignantly: Look at
that. Bonny; read that shall lose my com
MISSION l read portions OF the diary, which
Major Barttelot pointed out. They comprised
the story relating to Jameson and the cannibal
incident. All during my reading he talked in
being disgraced at home After had finished
reading, said: don't see. Major, how you
can be held responsible for what Jameson has
done. You were not present; present; you were not
ITO this the Maj jor replied: oh, yes, but am
in command of the rear column, and one of our
men has done this awful thing, and ] will be
conduct on many previous occasions, he
never seemed to SO utterly lose control of
himself as he did from this time. l ascribe his
violence then and during the following day to
the excitement brought on by his knowledge Of
the cannibal story and its possible consequences
when It should reach England
The Last Straw on Barttelot.
II have never doubted that Barttelot was be-
coming insane through priyations and anxieties
and other causes, but tIe cannibal incident was
unquestionably the last straw. From that time
he can hardly be held responsible for what he
did. Now, as to Jameson. he, too, became very
anxious when he Realized what he had done
and heard how seriously the Congo State au-
thorities regarded the matter, and was told that
the report of the case had been forwarded TO
Europe. He was very anxious to stop the story
from reaching England, and was, as matter of
fact, hurrying to the coast chiefly to try to pre-
vent the circumstances being sent, or at least
to accompany them with denial or explana-
tion. believe that this anxiety and worry had
much to do with the attack of fever which
caused his death.
so far as the truth of the storyi concerned.
l cannot doubt it, because when Jameson told
me the circumstances, he made no disguise of
the matter and freely related the whole story
without reserve, and told not only me- but
others. 1t must be rem mbered that Jameson
was an ardent naturalist. He went on the ex-
pedition IN search of novelty, adventure and
scientific researches. and in his enthusiasm to
see every phase of savage life in Central
Africa.
Excuses for Jameson's Act.
81 do not believe he realized the full serious
ness of his act when he accepted the offer of
Tippoo Tib to show the details of cannibalism.
Life is very cheap IN Central Africa, and girls
may be bought in every village where we were
at the rate of four girls for piece of Il hand
kerchIefs. Jameson was doubtless carried
away by scientific enth usiasm, and forgot how
at home.
~ think it would have been better to have
made this excuse for him, If it is an excuse,
rather than have denied the story, which can
be almost completely proved. The statement
that Jameson merely happened upon the feast
of the canaibals and drew nearly all the
sketches from descriptions of natives could
hardly have been put forward by any one ac-
Quainted with Central African tribes.
"Cannibalism with them is not an habitual
practice. When they fight, they eat their dead
enemies but it is not their custom to kill little
girls and eat them; therefore. it could have
been only by some special inducement or for
particular reason that this act of cannibalism
which Jameson witnessed was perpetrated.
That Jameson carried his enthusiasm to an
extreme is proved by another incident, the one
to which Mr.. Stanley referred in his statement
in connection with the preservation of the
head of a native.
Shipping Head to England.
"It is perfectly true that Jameson did pro-
cure head and neck of a native, which he sent
to England to be enbalmed I have myself
seen this head in glass case at the house of
Mrs, Jameson in London. 1t is not merely the
skull, but a preserved head, with the skin and
hair upon it. The tacts in connection with the
incident are that native with whom we were
Arab. Jameson sent some soldiers to get the
body and bring it to the camp. This done,
Jameson then had the head cut off, packed in a
salt box and we shipped it to London. When
it arrived it was handed over to Rowland, Ward
& Co.. Piccadllly, who dressed the head for
Iameson's representatives.
"While at the house of Mrs. Jameson, upon
one occasion, she showed me the curiosity, ask
ing as she did SO: DO you know this gentle
man? replied: Yes 1 know him well; have
shaken hands with him many times Mrs.
Jameson informed me that at times the odor
from the head was extremely disagreeabe and
asked me the reason why. l replied:
You have a human barometer in the
house. and explained that the salt in which
the head had been packed, not having been en-
tirely removed. the skin was liable to become
moist iu certain conditions of the atmosphere.
This would account for the disagreeable Odor.
'.lt will thus be seen that Jameson was inclined
to carry scientific researches 10 an unusual
point. This fact will TO great extent explain
the cannibal incident"
He Refused to Talk.
Rowland Ward, of the firm of Rowland
Ward Co., naturalists of 166 Piccadilly, W.,
was called upon to-day and asked if he had
dressed the head Of an African native for Mr..
Iameson's representatives. Mr.. Ward replied:
"My relations with the family of the late Mr..
Jameson are such that must decline to make
a statement regarding the matter. You will
therefore kindly excuse me. cannot talk upon
the subject"