Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-07-13

iuance III Africa. Sometimes, far from
the haunts OF civilized men, lines OF
lie drawn from other lands cross and
recrOss, and the Old story of human
passions is told anew. Sometimes
there are dramatic incidents that in a
country OF mails, telegraphs, and news
papers would be eagerly picked up and
recounted i'll all their details, but III
Africa they are never fully told, and
are soon forgotten.
IhIS is such Il story, says the San
Francisco Chronicle. 1t 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.
Currents, constantly varying both III
direction and intensity, carry the navi-
gator far out of his course and often
land him upon some reef or sand bar.
The fact that the Robert Miller, from
London to 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 Il citizen of the world by
choice, belonged to that constantly III
creasing class who prefer to spend their
lives wandering from cline to cline,
picking up an often precariOuS Iiveli-
hood, but seeing life in nearly every
phase. Lee had made lucky strike in
London, and was on his way to India.
de had taken passage in the Robert
Miller, hoping that the long sea voyage
would drive from his body some linger-
ing 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 coat, he changed his plans with
the readiness characteristic of his class
ana resolved upon a trading trip into
tie interior. Purchasing Il wagon and
span of oxen and hiring two native as
sistants, he ''rekked'' north into Zulu
land. In his wagon he carried numer-
Gus articles for trade with the natives.
Among them carefully concealed under
the wagon seat. he carried ten kegs
Of powder, concealed because the laws
forbid the sale Of powder to natives.
At the end of three months Lee con-
sidered that his trip had been Il sue
cessful one and decided to return home,
following another route to Natal One
morning he 'outspanned' at a small
village where there was a 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 house
hold stores. Lee sold what she wished,
all the time looking at her in q puzzled
manner. At last he exclaimed: BY
George, l know you now! How under
heaven did you get here. NTClIc?''
Sir" said the woman. deadly pale,
but drawing herself up proudly, what
do you mean by this INSULT"
'Oh, stuff, Mollie; you can't fool me.
AS soon as / saw you l knew I had
seen you before. But it seemed so
queer that Mollie Flanders-Moll of
San Francisco-Should have turn up
here, of all places in the world. Pretty
as ever, Mol1, | 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 fled, white
with emotion.
Was she Mollie Flanders or was she
not? Lee was not sure Of it, but mis-
takes of Identification do sometimes
happen At any rate she acted as if
innocent.
Sitting down, the woman wrote a let
ter to her husband, telling him how
she had been inSrllted 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 the moonlight to pursue his journey,
and, rs fate would have it, he and the
letter reached the village and the mis-
sionary at the same time.
The missionary was a msD of sudden
and violent temper. He loved his wife
dearly. and the Tvs of an insult to
her broke down ali 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 4
captive after desperate struggle, and
was carried before the chief and the
missionary The 70. T. was anxious
not to go any furthe The Zulu war
was Just over and the natives hardly
liked to injure a white man so soon
after the sharp lesson they had re-
ceiysd. Still urged by the missionary,
the chief finally ordered that Lee re-
ceive 100 lashes on his bare back.
The trader heard his sentence calmly.
He made no defenS . the charges,
and begged no mercy. He merely ask
ed that he be given an hour to put his
affairs in order, in view Of the possibili-
ty 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
We're 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
result in the immediate execution OF
the sentence.
Once 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
bel the seat and quietly drew the
plugs from the powder kegs. The
powder flowed out into a black heap
with which each key connected.
Lee then lighted his pipe and quietly