The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-03-26
AN EXPLORERS PERIL.
He Risks His Life to Save the Preci-
Gus Record of His Family.

ne RISKS his Life to Save the PreCi-
Gus Record of His Family.
Few chapters in the tragical history
OF African explorations are more
striking than that added by Mr..
Crampel, the gallant Frenchman, who
has recently been tracing a routefrom
the French possession on the Congo
to those of the French Soudan, on the
borders of Lake Tchad
Just as he was getting within three
hundred miles of the French forts he
went through a series of remarkable
adventures
On reaching the river komm which
runs toward the west, his men refused
to march any farther. They insisted
that RATS should be made, with which
they could peaceably descend the
stream. In vain NJ Crampel tried to
terrify them with stories of the hostile
tribes which would attack them if
they passed through their territory
without. previous palaver. They
would not listen to reason.
xiii those who are weary OF the
Journey" they said, ''and come along
with US"
NJ. Crampel was obliged to embark
his little expedition on primit1vely
constru cted rats, and to intrust all
his precious notes, Photographic
plates and specimens to ignorant and
careless blacks on these leaky vessels.
| For five days the voyage down
stream was without accident.
On the sixth day the travellers were
astonished to see black forms, we'll
armed with muskets, on both banks
of the stream, which was here shallow,
| full OF little rapids, and of rocks cal
culated to wreck the RATS
They We're now i'm the intermediate
zone, between the maritime region and
the interior, always the most danger
Gus in Africa.
Suddenly, while rounding a bend in
the stream, shot was heard. The
explorer saw his companions desert
their RATS and swim for the bank op-
posite that whence the shot came.
One of his attendants had been shot
| in the head. He was left alone to face
a band of several hundred savages. all
armed.
At this juncture his own raft halted
and broke up onsome sharp stones in
a shallow place of the river. The ex-
plorer saw his guns swept away and
his precious note case about to float
away. ....~.
Hegraspedi it firmly, and at thesame
moment felt a sting in the side. He
had been shot. A yell Of triumph
came from the bank. Determined to
save his notes or die, M. Crampel
seized the little trunk in both arms,
aud, although he could not swim,
plunged boldly into the deep water
few feet from the stones. AS he leap
ed, he received another shot
He thought his last moment had
come, and sank, still grasping his pre-
cious case. When he came to himself,
he found that his companions had
fished him out, and carried him off
into marsh.
They then houndered $50 miles
through atropicai swamp, rather than
encounter the savages again. NJ,
Crampel became insane from fever,
and knew little of what was happen
ing around him for three weeks. For
days the men were upto their necks in
water, and sometimes remained so all
night. 1t was q terrible experience.
When NJ. Crampel recovered his senses,
and saw his visage reflected in the
water, he screamed with fright. He
was a living skeleton.
But he lived to reach the French
outposts and to undertake other
expeditions.