The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-02-15
HENRY NJ. STANLEY

IlLINh W. - IA LII
Stanley was born in Denbigh, Wales,
in 1910. His parents were named
Rowlands, and, being exceedingly
poor, they gave him to the care OF the
parish when he was three years old,
and he was reared IN the almshouse
at St. Asaph. After obtaining q fair
education here he taught school for a
year or two, when he went as a cabin
boy on ship bound for New Orleans.
Here he met u wealthy American mer
chant named Stanley, who adopt
ed him, and he took the name
OF Henry Morton Stanley. He
spent considerable time wander
ing afoot in the Indian country OF the
Southwest, but, his father dying IN.
testate, he found himself poor again.
On the breaking out OF the war he
was impressed into the rebel service,
but escaped thence and served subse
quently on the Northern side until the
tall OF Richmond, when he obtained
employment az reporter on the New
York Herald.
His love OF adventure was, however,
overm as tering, and he started soon
to fight the Cretan armv, and to re"
cord it's fate in the Herald. That
over, he Travelled through the Eastern
countries and in Abyssinia and Spain
Ga u rowing correspondent until Oct.
ober, 1869, when Mr.. Bennett sent
him to find Livingstone. The story
OF that wonderful achievement is told
in his book, one Of the most fascinaG.
ing records Of exploration. Mr.. Ben.
nett sent him back to Africa almost
Immediately after his return from
the Livingstone expedition, and
four years more were spent in travels
and battles Through the dark conti'
nent." Then his great Congo under
taking occupied HIM from 1870 until
1884, the result OF which was the ts.
tablishment OF al independent nation
from the western coast OF Africa at
the mouth of the Congo to the 30th
degree in the interior. When this was
accomplished, loaded with honors, he
returned TO America, hoping to
spend the balance of his life in less
ardous labors.
But he had hardly reached Ameri-
can shores before the King OF the Bel
gians and Sir William Mackinon be.
sought HIM over the cable to go and
rescue of Emin. Messages had reach.
ed Zanzibar and Europe from the
Pasha's capital at Wadelai, indicating
that he would be unable to hold his
position against the Mahdrs threat.
ened attack and was practically
awaiting annihIlation. Had he been
willing to abandon his people, those
Of whom be had created nation, he
could easily have cut his way by
some southern route to the coast
before the Mahdi's forces could come
down the Nile and get at him. But
Emin preferred death to desertion.
Indeed, when Stanley reached him.
this sentiment, carried to almost
Quixotic extremes, threatened to rem.
der the relief expedition unavailing.
Sir William Mackinnon is the presi.
dent OF the BritMh East Africa Com.
pany, into whose service it is now de-
sired to enlist Stanley and Emin
both, but Stanley especially. Sir
William secured subscribers to re-
lief fund the Egyptian government
giving full third OF the total presum
ed expense. Directly upon receiving
the messages from KING Leopold and
Sir William, Stanley Cancelled his lee.
ture engagements and hurried of to
London. There the character Of the
errand he was desired to perform was
fully made known to him. The expe,
dltion was not to be military. He
was not to 60 IN and drag out or any
thing ot tnat kind. Ii was not known
Just what ERins situation might be.
HIS last letters had been quite hope
less in tone, telling OF the submission
| to the Mahdi OF all the territory north
OF his and Of his fears that his own
time would inevitably come, Stanley
was asked, therefore, to conduct a
caravan to Emin, laden with ammu.
milton ana supplies. II Emiu wanted
TO come home, Stanley was TO act as
escort. II he wanted to stay and take
his chances with the Mahdi, Stanley
was to supply his necessities and come
away. The scheme was thoroughly
peaceful, and merely in the perform
ance of the duty owed by civilization
in general and Great Britain III par
tiCuIar to the intrepid man who was
bravely upholdinc worthy interests
in such al unequal contest.
How we'll Stanley has performed his
work, through what hardships and
privations he has struggled, and with
what splendid success his labor has
been crowned, as an explorer and rio'
neer in the opening oil vast and rich
REGION in Central Africa, it would take
q good sized volume to adequately set
forth. Something OF the nature o
his task and how it was accomplished
may be gathered from the letter written
by him which appeared OH or about
December IL, but the full particulars
will not be known until Stanley him
sell again gets back, and is able with
maps and full details to supply the
still wanting data TO complete ouI
neutrality-suspicious..