The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-11
WORST TOWN ON EARTH
1T Is THE CITY OF BEIRA. GATE
WAY TO AFRICAN GOLD FIELDS.
Daring Adventures from Many Lands
and Men of All Races Gather
There and shed blood.
Allen sangree in Washington Star.

0AlIen Sangree IN washington star.
Beira is the fourth stop on the left as you
so up from Cape Town to Zanzibar. It grew
yesterday. To-day it is the widest town in
the world.
Imagine, IL you can, a squad Of Bret
Harte's representatives from Poker Flat or
Roaring Camp knocking elbows with re-
formed cannibals from Madagascar Malays
from Singapore. Parsees from India, Jews
fton Moscow, Yankees from Massachusetts,
demreps from Hamburg, half a dozen mis-
sionaries, crooks from Johannesburg mer-
chants from Paris and Berlin, five hundred
Englishmen, less than that many Chinese
coolies and pinch of Japanese in the shape
CT Acknowledged tea girls imported by an
arabian slave dealer.
Keep in mind, then, that all this figaro is
raled by a quick-tempered, dark-featured
sensitive Portuguese from Lisbon. with the
aid Of thousand little soldiers, who will ac-
cept bride or lab a sword into you with
equal alacrity, who hate a real white man
jast a shade more than they detest the real
black, and purposely limit their knowledge
OF English to the one word, arrested
That is Beira. Cecil Rhodes found the
rlace so interesting last year that he pre-
fsrred staying in shanty with an Amer
lean cowboy watching people from all over
the earth get into trouble, rather than
journey to Umtan, sixty miles away, where
Sir Alfred Miner. the newly-appointed
British governor general, was waiting to
meet him. The great coIonizer probably re
garded events with other than feelings of
1nirth, for if any one can be held respon-
sible for this little bunch of humanity
hanging on the edge of Africa in the I'M
healthiest spot known it is Cecil Rhodes,
no Of
The South African squatter has his own
reason for camping in desert and flirting
With eternity in the shape of deadly fever
germs: The glitter of gold is his loadstone.
1t is that which has turned the tide of emil
grafton northward; Johannesburg and Kim
berley no longer afford opportunities to
raake easy money, and great confidence is
nut in Cecil Rhodes's promise of good times
and quick fortunes in Rhodesia.
These good times have thus far given no
sign OF Undertaking, but that vast unset
tied portion of the populace whom Mr. Kip
ling calls THE Gentlemen Rovers Abroad
nevertheless continues to mass on the
outskirts of this country where a grand
rush may be made e, Mashonaland or
Matabeleland when gold is discovered.
In view of the fact that an expert Amer
lean engineer has just completed a tramp
over the Whole territory, examining all the
geological formation carefully, and pro-
pounced the country quite worthless from a
mineral standpoint, ii is almost pathetic to
Cay, but as constantly reinforced. If in the
end it is doomed to bitter disappointment
Mr.. Rhodes will have much to answer for,
since not only are the fioaters and ne'er-do-
wells hocking northward, but mechanics.
tFadesmen, professional men and laborers
are coming, with their families.
RHODES SETS THE TRAP.
Every publication of Rhodes's paper, the
Cape Town Times, sets forth the entice-
xnents Of Rhodesia and causes some unfor-
tunate beggar to draw from the bank his
little savings, pack up and go north, gener-
ally to Beira. Not one man in one hundred
ever gets any further, and not few leave
their bones to bleach on the qucksands
there. The unemployed man cannot stay
long there, for with bread at 1 shilling a
loaf money evapoEates like smoke and
is a bad place to be stranded in.
had the good fortune when arrested on
q recent visit there to elicit the sympathy
Of two dare devils whose reputation as
boxers and men of action somewhat damp
ened Portuguese birthstone, and thereby
luck however, for ordinarily a victim is
heavily fined and, in addition, generally
carries away the ugly scar of snort. blunt
In company with Ralph Jewell a Cali
fornian, who had spent some years in the
Iransvaal. went TO the Beach Hotel, took
dinner and afterward in company with
Englishman named Harris strolled UP the
main street to cast an eye about for some
means of making a livelihood. While hold
ing a discussion on ways and means, for
the three of US possessed but single
Two gendarmes. Grabbing me by the arms,
they pointed up the street and jabbered
that familiar word, arrested
Don't make q move, stranger called
out man who wore high cavalry boots as
he ran up to US. You'll make the mistake
Of your life. Take my word for it, there's
only one law here. and that's for the Port
uguese. An Englishman or American has
no protection see you we're just going to
knock these fellows down. If you do
they'll cut you up. You want to go along
to the tronlx with them. for they say there's
a warrant out for the man with the white
Alpine straw.
There was no alternative, and. cursing
the day ] bought such conspicuous hat,
] marched to jail, accompanied by my two
friends. all wondering for what / could be
spprehended in this far away corner OF
the earth An important little man in
gold trimmings finally appeared and showed
me a document containing my name. the
warrant, he explained, was, however, of
such a peculiar nature that he could not
understand it. Another commissaire, who
shortly arrived. equally puzzled. The
two seemed on the point of coming to blows
over the warrant, when the one wearing the
most tinsel grabbed the parchment and tore
Ii in small pieces.
Thinking that / might throw some light on
the matter | ventured to rise and walk for
ward. whereupon both officials gazed at me
with pity. which Immediately turned to
frenzy, and shaking their fists. screamed
some orders. Three policemen rushed me TO
a corner looked me very Hereby ana then
stood by WIN drawn SWORDS eilln d 9,s.ns
order brought out a platoon or gendalines
By them / was conducted once more down
through the main street OF Belra.
We brought UP AT d big, square, corrugated
sron building bearing on il the legend, Ar
magen Alfandagado." which took to be the
pfoprietors name. 1t turned out to mean
government bonded warehouse and inside
OF ii presided a short fat Portuguese-Gef-
man who represents the United States OF
America as consular agent in Beira. Above
his desk in bas relief on the consular coat of
arms lurched forward much battered
American eagle, which seemed to extend
friendly claw.
f.Doan ged so fresh at vonce. young man.,
said this individual when | made a some
what hostile demonstration. "or 1 viii hat
you sent pack to Jail, we're you will stay some
lifae, yes.
He then explained that my arrest had been
procured as a courtesy TO the consul gem
eral with whom | had had some difficulty
was a total stranger in Bera. and it was
beginning to look omnous for me. when 4
movement at the door caused dozen clerks
who had been called in from the counting
ened haste. and in walked two of the most
THE RELIEF PARTY.
One was tall and smooth faced with keen
gray eyes. rather angular in finish, but
hardy looking. He wore a white duck suit
and moved about lightly on his feet, like a
trained athlete.
Il hear there's an American arrested
here" he said. walking up very close to the