The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-08-11
A SOUTH AFR1cAN TRAGEDY.
How an American Preferred 90 Pay for
Kissinc n Missionary Wife

HiaiSNt ia africa Sometimes, Idr from tho
haunts Of civilized mon, lines Of life
drawn from other lands cross and recross,
and the old story OF human passion is
told anew
Sometimes there are dramatic Incidents
that in a country of mails teleCraphs,
and newspapers would be eargerly picked
up and re-counted in all their details, but
in Africa they are never fully told, and
are soon forgotten.
This is such a story It is true. and it
did not happen so long ago that the real
names can be used
The coast of Southeast Africa is one of
the most dangerous in the world Cur
rents, constantly varying both in direc-
ton and intensity, carry the navigator
far out OF his course and often land him
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 in
creasing class who prefer to spend their
lives wandering from cline to cline, pick
ing up an often precariOus livelihood, but
seeing life in nearly every phase. Lee
had made 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 trading trip into the in
terror. Purchasing wagon and span of
oxen, and hiring two native assistants, he
'trekked" north into Zululand. In his
wagon he carried numerous articles for
trade with the natives. Among the N,
carefully concealed under theSvagon seat,
he carried 10 kegs of powder, concealed
because the laws forbid the sale of pow
der to natives
At the end of three months Lee consid-
cred that his trip had been a successful
one and decided TO return home, following
another route to Natal. One morning he
''outspanned" at small village where
there was missionary station. The
missionary himself was away, but his
wife came down to the traders wagon
expecting to find many articles needed to
replenish her household stores. Lee sold
what she wished, all the time looking at
her in puzzled manner At last he ex-
claimed; by Georgel l knew you now /
How under heaven did you get here, Mol
liel"
"Sir," said the woman, deadly pale, but
drawing herself up, proudly, "what do
you mean by this INSULT"
ooh, stuff, Mollie, you can't fool me.
AS soon as | saw you | knew | had seen
you before. But it seemed so queer that
Mollie Flanders-Mou of San Francisco
should have turned up here, of all places
in the world. Pretty as ever, Moll, Sec
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, white with
emotion.
Was she Mollie Flanders or was she
not2 Lee was sure of it, but mistakes Of
Identification do sometimes happen. At
any rate she acted as if innocent.
Sitting down, the woman wrote letter
to her husband, telling him how she had
been insulted and demanding reparation
This letter she sent by a native to the
neighboring village, where her husband
was visiting.
That night the trader took advantage
of themoonlight to pursue his jougpey,
and, as fate would have it, he and the
letter reached the village and the mis-
sionary at the same time.
The missionary was n man of sudden
and violent temper. He loved his wife
dearly, and the news 'of an insult to 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 his arms,
Lee was made a captive after desperate
struggle, and was carried before the chief
aud the missionary The former was
anxious not to go any further. The Zulu
liked to injure white man so soon after
the sharp lesson they had received. Still,
urged by the missionary, the chief finally
ordered that Lee receive 100 lashes on his
bare back
The trader heard his sentance calmly.
He made no defense to the charges and
begged no mercy. He merely asked that
he be given an hour to put his affairs in
order, in view of the possibility of a fatal
result from so tremendous a beating.
After a little hesitation the missionary
agreed to this. The wagon was searched,
and all weapons were removed. Then
Lee was hOiSted 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 would re-
suit in the immediate execution of the
sentence.
Once upon his box, Lee took out his
writing materials and wrote two letters
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 powder flowed
out into black heap, with which each
keg copnected.
Lee then lighted his pipe and quietly
leaned back to await the expiration of
the hour When it was nearly up he bent
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 a
CLEAN in his eyes eyes that they hesitate
ed, Another moment and his feet would
be free.
The missionary, seeing his prey about
to escape, rushed upon him, followed by
the whole assemblage of natives. Lee
waited until they were nearly upon him,
and then emptied the glowing contents
of his pipe upon the powder.
A sharp cry of horror from the mission
airy was lost in a burst Of flame and roar
like thunder; then a volume of heavy
white smoke rolled and spread about the
scene like a thick fog. When it had
cleared away trader and missionary had
both gone to carry their disputes to a
higher tribunal. Only two blackened
masses, hardly human in form, remained
to show that they had ever lived. OF the
natives, 10 lay dead or dying upon the
field.
To this day, if the traveller in that region
is annoyed by too curious and intrusive
Ia 81 Ell