The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-21
is MRS. SHELDON A FRAUD?
The Story Told by Mrs Oliver, Who Ac-
companied the Explorer TO Africa.
Another Version Of the Expedition. in Which
Mrs sheldon Is Severely Criticised and
Her Book Denounced as Fraud.
san Fran cisco Examiner.

San Francisco Examiner.
About three years ago the news was
spread throughout America and Europe
that Mrs. French-Sheldon. a literary wom-
an of Boston. attended to 80 on al explor-
ing expedition alone into the heart OF
Africa, and the announcement at the time
caused decided sensation in all parts OF
the civilized world. Some of the papers
lauded the woman's determination TO the
skies, while others warned her against TAX
ing such foolhardy and dangerous trip.
Mrs. Sheldon went. nevertheless. and made
q six months journey into the interior OF
Africa. On her return she published a
book. which appeared six months ago. en-
TITLED. From Sultan to Sultan"
In this book she described In glowing
language the daring trip of one woman
through wild tribes of strange people, the
extensive explorations that she made and
the grand tour of triumph and safe return
through the berbarous countries of Africa.
In it were described scenes with tribes who
had never seen o white woman before. and
look ed upon her as a god. The visit to the
Nasal. q warIike tribe occupying extensive
territory far In the interior. was told from
personal experience with them and many
other strange things of life in the dark
forest, which made the book one OF the
most interesting accounts OF travel yet
published, and gave her worldwide repu-
tation.
Now comes Mrs. Hugh Oliver and says
she accompanied Mrs. Sheldon In the Ia
nous trlp and that most of the wonderful
explorations described were never made.
and that the book consists for the most
Of $aln ha oIs 4 n hot mo of
of the trials and hsrdships of the trip were
endured by herself and were entirely due to
the cruelties and petty spite inflicted upon
her by Mrs. Sheldon. The notes she made
during tue long and arduous journey are
still intact and were made from day to
day. so that there can be no doubt about
their correctness. In these she has q COM
plete description of the famous trip. which
entirely differs from Mrs. Sheldon's In
many important particulars, and also gives
q view of the private life and character of
the authoress which is anything but charm
ing.
Mrs Oliver arrived here from England
three weeks ago. and is now living In So
noma county, where she was seen by an Elk
amIner representative. and gave her version
OF the journey. She Is o pretty little English
woman of medium size. and hardly looks
strong enough TO have endured the terrible
experience she went through with Mrs. Shell
don. As she sat beneath the vlne-clad
veranda of Captain Boye's cottage at Vera
no last Wednesday. one could hardly be-
lieve she had travelled thousand miles
through the African Jungles. Tor. although
not frsil, she appears anything but strong
woman. and one that could undergo severe
harGships. At first she did not feel inclined
TO tell the story. but. being imDortuned,
finally consented.
HOW 1T CAME ABOUT.
eff you must hear it l mnst 60 back q
year or more and tell how / came to GO
with Mrs. Sheldon. and also q part of my
life. My first husbands name was CAPTAIN
Rigg man well known In shipping cir
cles in San Francisco whence he sailed for
Liverpool for many years. Four years ago
] was with him at Colon, w hen he suddenly
took sick with fever and died within twen-
ty-four hours. He was not q saving man.
and his death left my little boy and myself
In straltened circumstances. We went to
New York and l left the boy there with
some friends and started to England to
visit my relatives.
ION the trip over i first met Mrs. Shell
don. She was suffering from q wound in
the thigh. caused by a brooch pin. and
offered TO nurse her. The offer was ac-
cepted. and | took care of her until we
reached England. Her husband was await
ing her arrival there. and i was invited to
accompany thcm home. Preparations were
81 once begun for the African trip. and. as
"a
he asked me If / would accompany her. Not
knowing what else to do and, as i had
travelled great deal with my husband,
and did not fear danger. / accepted. An
agreement was made for six months, for
which l was TO be psi1 f1O0.
I'VE left England in March and went
overland 10 Naples. where We took the
steamer for Suez and Zanzibar. At Zanzi-
bar Mrs. Sheldon. having letters TO the
Sultan. secured an audience and informed
him of her desires. He was very friendly
and ordered caravan to be got ready.
When arrangements were completed we
left Zanzibar In q dhow for Nom hasa. up
the coast. and from there started on cur
long journey.
''I had q pretty good idea OF Mrs. Shell
don's character. as far truth was con-
rerned. by this time. as she had told the
most Wonderful tales on board the ship
about Der splendid jewels, magnificent
household and eouipages in England. which
L knew she did not possess. as l stopped at
the house While In London and u W IL 10
be only rented one. but what / expert
eneed on the trip showed me that did not
bali know her. l have never told these
things before. except 10 my husband, and
probably never would had not you asked
NE.
I'VE had two hundred men in our cara
van and one Interpreter and guide We
lett Mombasa on the 9Th day of April,
1871. and soon got into the heart of tho for
est: then the hardships began Mrs. Shell
don and led the procession. hut after the
hrst day she said she had taken a violent
dislike TO ME. and told me To so to the rear
end. i was so surprised 1 did not know
what TO make of 1t at first. but found be-
fore the journey was over that &c was only
beginning OF what was TO suffer before
got back. She rode In palanauin in
front and L was carried IN q hammock, but
alter the tlrst months travel she took the
hammock away from me and had TO W ak.
The path was very narrow one cut
through dense forests. with hardly enough
room for two people to pass On each side
was thick wall of thorDs and vines,
which, II one CHANGED 10 Craze against
them. rent the clothing and tore the flesh.
lt was very dark. too. and the only thing
10 break the monotony was the myriad OF
beautiful orchids which grew by millions
on every side and formed q magnificent
canopy over our heads.
MoNoTONoUs JoURNEY.
I'VE always started at 4 o'clock in the
morning. and marched all day only stop
ping for the midday meal. and sometimes
we had TO march oil night in order TO reach
q watering place. These night Journeys
were terribly hard after traveiing through
the heat of the day. anu l frequently had
TO get the men TO carry mo on their shout
ders. which. no matter how tired they
~eIe. was always done willingly.
The food at first WAS nauseating. hut |
soon got used toIt. We always had a bow
of soup the first part of the way. and be-
fore one could get it tn his lips il was GOV.
cred with thousand insects and fiies
which all went down with the soup. In
fact. everything | ate was well asoned
with ants. cockroaches and other small