The Red Cloud chief., 1893-08-11
A SOUTH AFRICAN TRAGEDY.
How IN American Paid n Penalty for
kissing u M~issiOnary's wife.


The coast of southeast Africa is one
OF the most dangerous in the world.
Currents, constantly varying both in
direction and intensity, carry the navi-
gator far out of his course and often
land MIN upon some reef or sand bar.
The fact that the Robert Miller. from
London for Bombay, should have been
wrecked near the Bay Of Port Natal
was, therefore, not strange. But what
was unusual was the great loss of life
that attended the wreck. Only one
man out of all those on board managed
TO reach the shore in safety.
This man, Charles Lee. an American
by birth. but a citizen of the world by
choice, belonged to that constantly
increasing class who prefer to spend
their lives wandering from cline to
cline, picking up an often prccarious
livelihood. but seeing life in nearly
every phase. Lee had made a lucky
strike in London, and was On his way
To India. He had taken passage in the
Robert Miller, hoping that the long
sea voyage would drive from his body
some lingering seeds Of fever picked
up in South America.
Flung by the waves on the coast of
Natal, with his money safe in a water
proof belt. he changed his plans with
the readiness characteristic of his class
and resolved upon Il trading trip into
the interior. Purchasing II wagon and
span of oxen and hiring two native
assistants he 'trcckcd" north into
Iululand. In his wagon he carried
numerous articles for trade with the
natives. Among them, carefully con-
ccalcd under the wagon seat. he carried
ten kegs of powder, concealed bccaus,
the law forbid the sale Of powder to
natives.
At the end of three months Lee con-
sidered that his trip had been u sue
cessful n and decided to return home,
following another route to Natal. One
morning he ''outspanncd" at a small
village where there was n missionary
station. The missionary himself wa,
away. but his wife came down To the
traders wagon, expecting To- find many
articles needed to rcplcnish her house
hold stores. Ice sold what She wished.
all the time looking at her in a puzzled
II At last he exclaimed: by
George, I know you now, How under
heaven did you get here. Mollie?'
Sir" said the woman, deadly pale
but drawing herself up proudly, what
do YOU mean by this inSult?"
So, stuff, Mollie, You can't fool me.
AS o as ! saw you | knew | had seen
You before. But il seemed so queer
that Mollic Flandcrs-Moll. of san
Francisco-should have turned up here.
Of all places in the world. Pretty as
ever, Moll, ! see. Give us a kiss for old
times sake"
Grasping her suddenly in his arms he
kissed her again and again. Finally
she tore herself loose and fed. whit,
with emotion.
Was she Mollic Flanders or wa she
not? Lee was sure of it, but mistakes
Of Identification do sometime, happen.
At any rate she acted rs if innocent.
Sitting down. the woman wrote II let
ter to her husband. telling him how she
had been insulted aud demanding repa-
ration. This letter she sent by IA ma
tive tn the neighboring village where
her husband was visiting.
That night the trader took advantage
Of the moonlight To pursue his Journey,
and. as fate would have it, he and the
letter reached the village and the mis-
s'onlry at the same time.
The missionary was u man Of sudden
and violent temper. lie loved his wife
dearly. and the news of an insult tn her
broke down all the barriers he had built
up by constant training. Urged by him
the chief of the village sent men to
seize the trader. Surprised without
arms Lee was made IA captive after a
desperate struggle and was carried be-
fore the chief and the missionary. The
former was anxious not to go any furth-
cr. The Zulu war was just over and
the natives hardly liked To iniure n
white man So u o after the sharp les
son they had received. Still. urged by
the missionary, the chief finally or
dcred that Lee receive 100 lashes on
his bare back.
The trader heard his sentence calm
ly. He made no defcnse to the charges
n begged no mercy. lie merely
asked that he be given an hour to put
his affairs in order, in view of the pos
sibility of a fatal result from so ire
mendous a beating. After n little hest
tation the missionary agreed to this.
The wagon was searched and all wcap-
Ons were removed. Then Lee was
hoistcd upon the seat and his hands
were freed, but his legs were still kept
bound. The missionary warned him
that any attempt to free them woul
result in the Immediate execution
the sentence.
Onccu upon the box Lee took out his
: writing materials and wrote two let
tiers, which he sealed and threw upon
the ground. Then he reached down
below the seat and quietly drew the
plugs from the powder kegs. The pow
der flowed out into a black heap, with
which each kcg connected.
Lee then lighted his pipe and quietly
leaned back to await the expiration of
the hour. When il was nearly up he
bcnt down and began To unfasten the
bonds upon his legs. Instantly two
natives sprang at him, but he raised
his head and looked at them with so
deadly II CLEAN in his eyes that they
! hesitated Another moment and his