Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-08-15
Interesting Account OF Mrs. Frersn
Sheldon'S Exploration of the
Dark Continent.
A Brave and Fearless Woman Foroo,
Her Way Through Many Seri.
GUS Obstacles.
She Rows Upon an Unknown Iat.
Sees Strange Sights and
Presses the Button.

loob OF tht eastern siope or hIlima- Niar,,
in Africa, has been attracting con.idsr
able attention An explorer named Nsv
was the first European to visit this lska
IN 1871, and although he deserted m
crater as exceedingly steep and difhcnN n
descent, he managed to reach the edge a
the water II approached the lake from
the north and deserted It as trisnonla,
in shape, surrounded with an alno,t
triangular ridge of hills, rising above tbs
surface of the water TO height Of from
$50 to 800 feet. J. Thompson, on h,
journey to Masailand. visited the lake ana
described its attractions in glowing terms
bit he could find no place by which i, was
possible to descend.
Ga learning by telegraph that Mrs
Sheldon had succeeded in getting a BON.
toon ah1at in this lake, says the New YORK
World, the committee of the Royal Geo
graphical Society of London asked her b
send them notes OF her experiences. Mrs
Shedon's reply, dated Taveta, April 26
has just been received. In her letter She
says that the adventure was undertaken in
company with Keith Anstruther, who
some months before had forced q path
down to the water edge. Mr Anstrutber
had two sections Of pontoon, across
which he proposed to place sort Of
raft or platform. With It number Of por-
tiers there the attempt was made Mrs.
Sheldon went first and at considerable
risk succeeded in forcing her way through
the dense vegetation and loose rocks
Sometimes she sank to her armpits into
the mass Of deeayed vegetation which had
accumulated for ages.
Multitudes of birds whirrad about and
troops Of monkeys leaped froia braneat to
branch. soon, however, size found herself
upon 4 ragged, rough triangle Of the
trunks and rocks, with the water tapping
her feet. Mr. Anstruther and the men
followed with ponto0ons, which were lock.
ed together and set aAoat Mrs she don
and Mr.. Anstruther got on board and with
the greatest difficulty persuaded one OF
Their superstitious men to accompany
them. Mrs Sheldon and the man padded
while Mr.. Anstruther kept sharp look
out for the Intrusive crocodies, which were
most numerous Ducks Of three yarie.
ties rose in startled hotk5 from their rest
ing places. The perpendicular rocks which
come down from the crest of the volcano
could be seen reaching far down below the
surface of the clear blue water. Above
the water they were densely clad with
trees, tangled with lianas and alive with
birds and ronkeys
Mrs Sl on noticed a strange under
current IN tue water that now and again
caused waves to rise up and move forward
through the cen. er Of the otherwise tran
anil surface, yet the air was perfectly
calm. Mrs. Sheldon speaks Of "the resist
auce or suction OF the water which was tell
when the paddles were put two or three
feet beneath the surface. Tins may pos.
siblY be accounted for by the action set up
by the water, which no doubt comes IN
from beneath, but there is apparently no
supply from the odtsi3e Tue sounding
line crried by Mrs. Sheldon and Mr.
Anstruther did not reach the bottom OF
the lake. The lake Mrs Sheldon describes
rs an unequal obl0ng, the water basin be-
ing two miles broad by two and a half to
three miles in length The cireumferanoe
Is about six miles.
This letter was discussed With much in.
tercst at a meeting OF the Geographical
Society, and if Mrs Sheldon is well
enough when she reaches London, she will
be asked to give her experiences more IN
detail at the public meeting. 1t wa;
hardly expected when Mrs Sheldon started
on her flor a woman) perilous journey %
the KIlima Marc district that she would
be able to add anything of Importance 70
existing geographical knowledge OF thai
region. But it seems that she has been
fortunate enough to find out good deal
about this particular lake that has NOS
been known before. In another letter re-
ceived by the game mail to Mr.. Sheldon
no mention is made of Mrs. Sheldon 5 l'i'
ness. She says that her health has been
perfect, with the exception of an INJURY ID
one eye received in making the decent %
the shores Of Lake Chala l hat she was,
up to the time of writing, able to stana
the fatigue OF caravan life IS evident from
her statement that she had only been car
ried in her palanquin five hours during the
journey. Mrs. Sheldon said that Win
luck she hoped to be able to reach tbe
coast by June 20, in time to eaten inc
steamer Madura This, as has oeen
told by cable, she succeeded 10
doing. The severe fitness vita when
she was Frustrated just before hgf
departure WAS uuublltNb Aut At EbAAA~
den attack Of Jungle fever and to me eiees
Of her long journey N the last letter r..
ceiyeu Mrs. Sheldon expressed herseif =
ruore than satisfied with the success OF be.
expedition 0ne very curious tning ~
mentions The natives nave no name ~
a woman leader Of an exploring eKppeal'
ton So they named her Bwana bsos.
which literally interpreted means master
lady.
Henry Wander Wayde, the American
artist and photographer in London urn.
ished Mrs. Sheldon before her departure
for Africa. with special apparatus ior -
cordlng hy camera the various stag y
her Journey and sending the negative, y
him to be developed in london Mfs;
Sheldon story Of h-r expedition y lo2ss4
forward to with much in crest By q n 7.
tide Of people interested in African affaar 1,
Already her photographs are dlspsa5Fo. HI !.
the shop windows Of London. and II w
demand for them is any indication y III
interest taken in her expedition enc ~
meet With a very cordial reoeptaen ~ Is
return
An old painter watched littie fsla III.
amu.e Il mself making drawings III ai
pot and brushes, easel and stool, ana 80 I. /.
-rnat hos vii beat me one Day 81 II
did. f1r he was Michael Angelo.