The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-13
A HEROIC
RESISTANCE.


churning her way through the CLASSY
roll OF the Atlantic Away to the south
stretched a limitess waste OF gray sea,
streaked with wTeaths OF low-lylng
mist to the north lay tho coast OF Atrl-
ca, Clusters OF feathery palms, yellow
beaches swept by eternal SURF and
rows OF native huts nesting between
tho cotton wood forest and the ocean,
rose 10 view and faded astern as the
steamer rolled dong,
Captain Orme leaned over the bridge
rails, Hlanelng At the approaching
coast-lIne and grumblins ct the heat,
for II was the season OF tho rains and
the atmosphere was like that OF a hot'
house,
Psix fathoms SIR hailed n quarter
master. as no dipped the lead and tho
mate observed: "Its shoailHg FAST 94l
there are too many uncharteTed rocks
about TO make this q nice neghborE9sl
10 navigate IN the dark, '
Again Captain Orme looked atrtae
Dreaming breakers ahead; then no
stamped upon the bridge for the ell
mate OF Africa in the rainy season is
trying to both health and temper,
Hang those Kroobogs for bringing us
Into a place like thisl'' he broke out,
II, shall be glad to see the last OF them
thought they'd take charge OF the
ship once or twice, Go down and see Il
any headman can pilot us In, We shall
have to stay all night; won't risk 60
ing out In the dark"
The mate descended TO the deck,
where some two hundred Krooboy lab
orers, returning to their native country
IN the L.iberlan bush after labor con-
tract with the factors Of the oil rivers
and the gold coast, lay about In plctur-
esuue simplicity of attire Broad-shoul-
dered, muscular fellows they were, with
blue stripe tatooed down the centre
OF each ebony forehead, the marked of
the Kre9 nation. Some were clad IN
crimson flannel Jackets and battered
silk hats, but the majority were con
tent with the simple waist-cloth-"a
, healthy and very economical garment"
as the Scotch engineer said. All about
them lay cases OF Hamburg gin and
sharp matchets, which represented part
of the fruit OF their labor, wages In
West Africa being mostly paid In kind
ANY of you Krooboys tit take team.
err in?" asked the mate; and lmmedl.
ately there was babel of voices and
crowd of eager applicants Nothing
delights negro more than the assump.
ton of a little brief authority Tho
choice was made. and a broad shoulder
ed giant, rejoicing in the name Of Old
Man Trouble, stalked pompously to
and fro upon the bridge, his woolly hair
projecting through the place where the
crown Of his silk hat should have been,
Once he laid his hand upon the tele-
graph. but the mate was too quick for
him.
mo niger touches that: you're only
here to show the way, not to command;
savVy?" said Captain Orme.
Not Niger, sab" answered the man;
"only low bushman and Liberia man
niger" Then his mouth expanded into
the broad grin of the Africa. and point
ing to a whlte-walled building among
the palms, he added: New custom
house, sab; Krooboy burn him one
time"
The mate, who posed as an encyclo-
pedia In West African matters, laughed
THE old queston-free trade versus
protection" he said. "They play It oft
vigorously here. sometimes as COM,
edE and sometimes as tragedy. Ia
any case, it's rough on the Krooboy,
who doesn't want TO be governed at all
10 be taxed extortionately to pay for
improvements In Monrovla.,I wonder
how many custom-houses he has burn
ed?"s y '-
Old Man Trouble. who understood the
speech. nodded approval. "Liberian
man bushman," he said. Eve fit to fight
him too much"
1.-THE Krooboys be hanged" broke In
Captain Orme: "I'm sick Of them. We
will have Liberlan officer aboard now
to charge us five hundred dollars for
landing this crowd, Of which he'll pock-
ct half. Blow the whistle for the ca
noes"
Three times the deep boom OF the
steam whistle rang out, and echoed
along the palm-clad bluff ashore. until
the sound died away and was lost In
the monotonous song Of the surf. Then
the Dunlln's propeller turned slowly
asteru and her anchor ratified down.
Presently little launch steamed out
from behind mp olnt Of surf,swept rocks
and, when sho shot alongside. sable
representative OF the Liberian republic,
covered with furnished gold lace. strut
ted towards the bridge with the ar OF
an admiral Of the fleet. You are fined
$50 for anchorlng without permission
and II you deslre'to land those Kroomen
YOU must pay 50 30 a head he annonn-
ced. and proceeded to climb the bridge
ladder.
stop where you are. daddy" said the
captain, laughing. mo one sets foot on
this bridge until he's asked. You'll get
no fifty dollars from me. and as to pay
ing two and half dollars each for the
Krooboys, that's more than the best
niger In Africa Is worth, even II he Is
a customs officer However, there they
are: YOU can sail in and collect II your
self Don't be too exacting though, for
they've all got matchets."
Hardly had the 'dlgnttary Of the black
republic reached the fore-well than
pandemonium Of angry wells rose from
the crowded deck. and bright matchet,
blades glittered above maze OF NAKED
arms. Captain Orme, who had been
fined too many times on frivolous pre-.
THINGS