The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-26
HOW THEY CROSSED
EIReAMS IN WEST AFRICA THAI
WERE HARD TO CROSS.
Adventures Of m Explorer and His Party.
Flooding Through Forest and Swamp
While Weakened by b unger-From Limb
20 Limb Across q Raging River.

petition which the Germans sent into the
interior OF Cameroons, west Africa, awhile
ago, suffered unusual embarrassment from
this cause, and once or twice their expe.
rience on the banks Of raging torrents
was little thrilling.
Lieutenant Morgen was the leader OF
this party. Fer seven days he led his men
through the dense woods between the sea
and the upland plains Of the interior. II
was q most toilsone march along the mar
row path where fallen logs and prctrud
ing roots rendered rapid progress impossi
BILE. Even at midday the column march
cd in twilight, for the thick, overhanging
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. The
situation was serious, for provisions were
running low, but Moreen knew he was
near land of plenty, and be was not Sc
riously 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 expected early next day to be
able fully to replenish his commisssry de-
partment.
What was his dismay next morning to
reach the bank Of q river which was In
strong flood and could not be forded.
There were no natives in the neighbor-
hood, and of course no boats were 10 be
seen. He was overjoyed to find, however,
that a little up stream the channel mar
rowed to about 90 feet, and that on the
bank grew a mighty cottonwood tree that
was fully 90 feet high. The best choppers
In the party were detailed to convert this
tree into 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, SO that the
tree would fall across the river.
The men were hungry enough while
they were waiting, for they had had no
breakfast, but at last, after four hours
hard work, the great tree inclined toward
the river, and q cheer went up as 1t fell
with a crash into the stream. Then the
cheer became cry Of dismay rs the men
saw their bridge rolled over by the raging
food, and in less than q minute the top
turned down stream, and the tree was
soon out of sight around . bend in the
river.
Here was indeed o dilemma The so
hungry men knew that a few miles away
there was food in plenty. But they did
not dare to fire their guns for fear Of
alarming the natives and driving them
away instead of securing their aid. There
was nothing to do except to send small
parties up and down the river in search Of
a native bridge Five men were dispatch
ed In both directions. In an hour one
party returned with the report that they
had encountered a swamp which they
could not cross. The fate Of the expedi-
ton now depended upon the success OF
the other party. Morgen was at bis wits
end, for he knew not what to do il no
means of crossing the river were found.
Retreat to the coast was impossible, and
some Of the r:on would certainly perish II
the party were delayed for several days on
this inhospitable river bank. Fortunately
no such crisis occurred, for just as the
party were beginning to despair one Of
Moreen's faithful followers burst through
the bush and gladdened every heart with
the cry:
"We have found q bridge"
A hearty cheer went up. and every body
forgot his hunger as 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
are occasionally found in tropical west
Africa. 1t was f1imsy construction, like
all these affairs, and the men looked at it
obviously The sun was setting as the
first three men passed over with their
loads AS the second detachment was
crossing some o. the withes forming the
floor broke, two men dropped through,
and their loads were lost. The broken
bridge was hastily repaired, and just as
darkness fell the last man reached the
other side It was impossible to 60 far
ther, and here the foodless men :Amped
for the night.
BY day break they were on the march.
The men were so weak that some Of them
were continually falling under their loads.
They had to founder through a wide
marsh in which they sank to their hips.
1t WAS noon before they emerged from the
gloomy forest and once more saw the blue
sky, but more joyous sight by far was
the stores Of fourishing gardens Of the
Yaur ie tribe. The starving men spent
severcl days recuperating in this garden
spot before they resumed their march.
A fsw weeks later Lieutenant Morgan
stood s.n the banks of the Mbsm river,
whose npper course he was the first white
man q sec. The only sign Of life as be
reached the new found river was two ma
tives in canoes ON the farther shore, who
quickly disappeared IN an inlet hen they
saw him Hour after hour the party lin
gered on the shore, seeking In vain to COM
municate with the natives Canoes must
be obtained some way or other. At last
after night had fallen Lieutenant Moraen
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 f1rward to
risk their lives in the service Of all Wood
en- floats were given TO them TO buoy them
up on their journey Of quarter Of a mile,
and then they disappeared in tho 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 be heard the dipping Of paddles
His faithfuls had arrived with two ca
noes, and they urged him 10 send them
back with . party TO q place where five
more canoes might be obtained An hour
later seven great canoes were IN camp,
and TO the establishment Of the natives the
white expedition came over 70 their coun-
try in she borrowed boats which were re-
STORED 70 their ownerz- with plenty Of pay
for their se-New York Sun
None is 80 cheap 70 use as Dr. Prices
Baking Powder as IL alone is absolutely
pure
spOWN THE GPEEN LANE SIZE %