The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-18
rRorBLEsoME RIEERs.
Adventures or ~ Afrsca. Explorer ~
Streams that Were HART 20 Cross.

Adventures or - Arrscs. Explorer st
Streams that Were HARD 60 Cross.
One Of tho greatest annoynnces explorers in
tropical Africa meet Is the swollen rivers which
sometimes bar their advance at places where IL
IL difficult, II not impossible, TO obtain boats.
The expedition which the Germans sent into the
interior Of Cameroons, West Africa, a while
ago, suffered unusual embarrassment from this
cause, and once or twice their experience on the
banks Of raging torrents was q little thrilling.
Lieut.. Morgen was the leader Of this party. For
sovcn days he led his men through the dense
woods between the sea and the upland plains
Of the interior. 1t was a most toilsome march
along the narrow path where fallen logs and
protrudlng roots rendered rapid progress lm-
possible. Even at midday the column marched
in twilight, for the thick, ovcrhanglng foliage
shut out the sunlight. Morgen expected to
emerge from the forest belt In four days, but he
was still In the gloom Of the forest at the end OF
seven days. Tho situation was serious, for pro-
visions were running low. but Morgen knew he
was near q land of plenty, and he was not seri-
ously alarmed when, on the evening OF the
seventh day, the porters ate up the last OF the
rice, which was their main food supply. He ex-
pected early next day TO be able fully to replen-
fish his commissary department
What was his dlsmay next morning to reach
the bank Of q river which was In strong flood
u COulu " " AhNio w nv
in the neighborhood and. Of course, no boats
were to be seen. lie was overjoyed to find, how
ever, that a little up stream the channel mar
rowed TO about ninety feet, and that on the
bank grew o mighty cottonwood tree that was
fully ninety feet high. The best choppers In the
party were detailed 10 convert this tree into a
temporary bridge. They began chopping on
both sides of the trunk. the cut on the river side
being lower and deeper than on the other side.
- 49, A. 49,. --.,lJ foIl anEnaa Nha rIyar
waiting, for they had had no breakfast; but at
clined toward the river, and a cheer went up as
IL fell with n crash into the stream. Then the
their bridge rolled over by the raging flood, and
in less than n minute the top turned down
s sroumd a a bend In IN the irsG siv ws" '00D Out Oh ''Sn'
Here was indeed a dilemma. The eighty
hungry gyo men IN knew nlSN, that R q FEY ,Sa MILD liza 9 n"s da tne re
fire their guns for fear of alarming the natives
and drying r,s them x away yyc,h i1sten % s Of . seeming g
send small parties, up, and down the river
in search Of . native bridge. Five men were
despatched In both directions. In an hour one
party returned with tho report that they had
encountered. a swamp which they could NOT
was at his wits end, for he knew not what TO do
Retreat TO the coast was impossible, and some OF
the men would certainly perish II the party
bic river bank. Fortunately no such crisis oc-
CURED, for Just as the party were beginning to |
through the bush and siiaddened every heart
I'VE have found a bridget"
A hearty cheer went up and. everybody forgot
his hunger rs he shouldered, his load and fell
into line. Through the brush they struggled up
stream. and at last they reached one of those
suspension bridges made by twisting together
The long. tough stems Of climbing plants. that
fairs, and the men looked at It obviously. The
ment was crossing some Of the withes forming
their loads We're lost. The broken bridge was
hastily repaired. and Just as darkness fell the
sibie to go further, and here the foodless men
campcd for the night.
m sy w SayG sS Weak iket Thai w sd%S on Of 'e them ma we're cone Tme
tinually falling under their loads. They had to
founder through a wide marsh in which they
emerged from the gloomy forest and once, moro
saw the blue sky; but a more joyous sight by
Yaunde tribe. The starving men spent several
days recuperating in this garden spot before
Afew weeks later Lieut.. Morgen stood on the
banks OF the Mbam River. whose upper course
sign Of life. as be reached the ncw.iound river.
was two natives in canoes on the further shore,
s MRS S fHlchtHG o air' RRitsr hour IN n the 'I party vim fingered srsaf
on the shore seeking In vain TO communicate
some way or other. At last, after night had
fallen, Lieut.. Morgen called for volunteers to
swim across the river and look for canoes. 1t
was not an inviting undertaking.. and some time
elapsed before two men came forward TO risk
their lives In the service of all. Wooden floats
were given to them to buoy them up on their
journey OF a quarter Of a mile, and then they
disappeared in the darkness.
This was another very anxious time for the
leader. and he passed a sleepless night In his
tent. Just as day was family breaking he heard
the dipping OF paddles, HIS faithfuls had ar
rived with two canoes, and they urged him TO
send them back with q party. TO q place where
Ave more canoes might be obtained. An hour
later seven great canoes were In camp, and, to
the establishment OF the natives, the white ex-
petition came over 10 their country In the bor-
rowed boats, which were restored to their
owners with plenty OF pay for their use.
On q late occasion Lieut.. MOrgen reached q
deep stream about 100 feet wide without n sign
Of a canoe along the banks. A accommodating
party finally discovered u place where the
stream was only 80 feet across. and on either
shore were large trees some OF whose spreading
branches met In the middle Of the river thirty
feet above its surface.
A porter without any load was first sent across
this novel bridge which only monkeys would
care 20 utilize. The bough OF the further tree
bent under his weight, but he reached the other
side. Then all followed. one by one, and the
bridge stood the test, though five of the party
lost their footing and tumbled into the stream.
and two loads of goods became a sacrifice to the
river god who had been circumvented In this
unusual manner.