Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-03-25
MISCELLANEOUS
Wonders OF Africa.
ELECTRIC FIsH-TERRIBLE FIGHT
BETWEEN A CROCODILE ANDA
LEOPARD.

The wonders Of Africa would seem
to be without limit, according to the
reports of j. +. S. Moore, who has
just been viewing some stupendous
ones. Mr.. MOOre'S statements are
backed by the Royal Geographical
Society, which sent him to the Dark
Continent, of which Cecil Rhodes
and Barney BarnatO are the stars
The results of his researches border
on the marvellous. The scenes he
witnessed are thrilling in the ex.
treme.
Mr.. Moore's primal object in Wis
iting Africa was to study the vari-
Gus organisms of marine type that
had been found to exist In that ia
mousand yet mysterious lake, known
to natives and Europeans as Tan
ganyika. Not only has Mr.. Moore
found all that he sought, but so much
besides that biologists and geOlogists
are enthusiastic over his discoveries.
In addition to viewing strange
scenes and enjoying remarkable eX-
periences, Mr.. Moore, after perilous
journeying, gained sight of that lake
which only six Europeans have ever
looked upon-Lake Rukwa. 1t was
only from distance that he saw it,
to be sure but that was a good deal
in itself, for but two Europeans ever
reached the shore, and none have
ever fioated upon its waters. OF all
the African lakes which are known
to civilization there is none so sur
rounded by mystery as Rukwa. Fa-
tality seems to attach to it, 80 far as
Europeans are concerned, and the
natives look upon white man who
strives to reach it as foolish mortal,
bent upon suicide. Mr.. Moore had
much the same idea, and gained en-.
tire satisfaction by viewing the lake
in perspective.
1t was in Lake Tanganyika that
Mr.. Moore made his most remarka-
BILE discoveries, and, incidentally,
solved what has been mystery, and
fearful one, to both African and
European. Tribal tradition in that
section of Africa which surrounds
Tanganyika has long been filed with
tales Of the prowess Of gigantic
fish, which would rush at the pad.
dies of q canoe, drag them from the
hands of the wielders thereof, upset
the canoe and by mere contact kill
the struggling humans who were cast
into the water.
For once modern experience veri'
fled ancient tradition. Mr.. Moore
learned that not only did this great
fish exist, but that it performed eX-
actly the deeds which 1t was credited
with. In fact, he was witness OF
just such an occurrence as has been
described. The solution Of the mys
terry is simple enough. The big fish
was An electric one.
In smaller form it Is common In
the South American rivers, where
swimmers are i'm mortal terror Of it
The African specimen, however, j:
of Brobdinagian proportions, anG
darts through the water at terrific
rate. The source Of electricity-fol
electricity it certainly contains
seems to be i'm cells in the skin
These give forth sufficient amoun
of electric fluid to stun human be
ing, provided the contact with tn
fish is at all tOrcible or with any con
siderable portion of the body. From
the great danger which Is entailet
by cruising about in the vicinity o
, such fish, it has been found impossi
BILE to catch specimen, and tn
knowledge which has been gained
concerning the fish is derived from
one that evidently died, for 1t wa
cast I'D on the shore of the lake b.
the waves that never cease rolling.
From what Mr.. Moore says, it
no exaggeratiOn to claim that Lax
Tapganyika is the finest fishing re
sort. 80 far as the actual catching o
fish is concerned, in the world. IN
lake fairly teens with the finny Deau
ties. 1t may sound like fairy tale
but it is fact, that it is not eVe1
, necessary to bait ones hook, so cage
are the fish to capture anything g ina
seems to be of an edible nature
Mr.. MOore's greatest success, how
. ever, was in trolling, an artihcia
minnow being attached to the end Q
the trolling-line with half doze
hooks. In one instance, Mr.. Moor
reports that he caught fish upo
every hook on his line, feat IT
likely has never been equalled by tn
most enthusiastic and imaginatiV
disciple Of Izaak Walton.
Q Mr.. Moore's catch was not CON
4 nosed of light-weights, either, for h
Y fhQf UlI0nG