Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-09-18
ADVENTURE In DARK AFRICA.
The Dark Continent Is Getting to Be
the Land Of Modern Romance.
The Defeat of the Troops of Native
M0narch-A Battle Which Had
Far-reaching Results.

| After the battle mentioned In my last
Renaissance, in which the entire band OF
slave-hunters and cattle steaiers were
wiped out, the rulers of the four tribes
which had furnished fighting men por-
posed to form a republic and elect ne
president of it. My ambition did not run
that way. l knew the native African
well enough to know that he would not
long be content with an innovation. Each
tribe had its own odiams and customs,
and a government for the whole would be
certain to clash somewhere. The power
surrendered by the four rulers would soon
be regretted. and then would follow plots
and conspiracies and off would 60 my
head. 1t was very pleasant to be honored
and praised and admired, ut decided TO
let it stop there. therefore discouraged
the idea of combine except against COM
mon enemy, and it dropped.
The great victory won would be sure to
create new enemies, and we were scarcely
through with our rejoicings when they APP
was ruler named Mpstati, who had long
Most of the men killed in the late battle
were Of his tribe, he having hired them to
the Arabs for so much a day or week.
L
som from our four tribes. under threat of
marching upon them with large army,
and it was now confidently predicted that
we could soon hear from him. AS COM
nander-inchief of the army did not dis
band it, but added from the reserves
enough to bring the number up to 1000
men. A large number of additional sings
were made, and among the spoils of war
there were many spear heads which had
to be provided with handles. We had now
a large number Of muskets than could be
gotten together by all the combined tribes
of Africa, and while | watched for Mpstati' S
coming had to fear of him.
The first news came by messengers.
He sent three of his warriors to us to say
that he had heard all about the massacre,
and was determined to revenge it. He de-
manded the return of all the spoils, 400
cattle, 400 slaves, and the body of the
white man who had led the victorious
troops. But for my efforts the messen-
gers would have been put to death.
gave each one present, and sent them off
with the message that, while we desired
to live at peace with all mankind, we are
strong enough to take care of ourselves
We should not 90 to attack Mpstati. but il
he came to attack Us he must take the con-
sequences. AS there was no doubt that he
would come, | made a close survey of the
country he would be likely to pass over
He was known to be impuisive and Oh,
stinate.
Having once made ready to attack US
he would probably come by the most direct
route, eager to strike blow in revenge.
Our village would probably be his obiec-
tive point.
| found no battle ground to please me
outside the village Any position we
might take could be flanked, as the coun-
try was open. The village was situated
on the side of a sloping hill in banana
grove. The country on three sides of us
was pasture land for the cattle The key
to the position was the crest of the hill be-
hind US. On that ] constructed two earth
works, and connected them. Along the
slope of the hill dug a number of rife
pits. In the grove, to cover a direct or
flank attack, | constructed defenses OF
thorns and strengthened them with rife
pits As thousand pairs of hands were
eagerly engaged in this work, it was soon
completed. Then | held a sham battle to
see how the defense would work, and was
satisfied that if Mpstati attacked our
stronghold he would get the worst of it.
Scouts were kept out for a long distance,
and there was no fear of surprise.
1t was about two months after our battle
that Mpstati sent in word that he had al
ready taken up his march for our village,
and that he would not rest until he had
made slaves of every human being in the
four tribes. Such of the people as desired
to meet him and surrender would gain his
favor by such proceeding, but none of the
head men, the army officers, or the white
man need expect mercy. The messengers
who brought this news were not allowed
to approach the village, and therefore got
no HAT of our preparations. | returned
word that we still desired peace, but if at
tackled should do our best to win victory.
BY way Of keeping Mpstati up to his work
added that we feared him more as COW
thief than as a warrior. Two or three avs
later our scouts brought in word that he
was only one march away. havi ,g a force
of about 800 warriors. Of these only
about 100 were armed with muskets. At
tending these warriors we're about 500 por-
tiers and camp followers.
Our cattle had all been driven away to
a valley twenty miles to the northeast of
US, and the women and children and one
man hal followed them. We therefore
had nothing to look out for but ourselves
The enemy appeared about 3 o'clock in the
afternoon, and Mpstati was So sure of sue
cess that the last five miles of his march
was made in open ground, where we could
see every man In his force. A mile away
he halted and sent forward 2 messenger
to command US to march out and lay down
our arms. The messenger returned to
him minus one ear and it was not long
after that before the battle opened
Mpstati determined to attack at once, and
in front AS watched the disposition of
his troops, / saw he was going to send
forward about half of them. | had 100
men, all armed with muskets, in each de-
Tense in the grove. They were instructed
to hold their fire to the last, and to let as
many men pass them as would. These
defenses were about quarter of mile
apart Mpstati' warriors formed in ten
or twelve ranks, each rank containing a
front Of forty men, The first three ranks
had muskets. The advance was made
with the most direful yelling one ever
heard and was at a wild run. At least
one half the forces passed the defenses,
rushed through the open grove, and were
suddenly checked by voleys from the
rife pits They were broken and disor-
ganized by tire first fire and would have re-
treated but for the men In the lower de-
lenses. They now opened fire, and out Of
the 400 and over who charged US not more
than half got out of the grove. The fight
lasted about twenty minutes, and though
the enemy was disorganized from the first
nv men so recklessly exposed themselves
that we had ten killed and thirty wound
ed.