Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-07
AN AFRICAN PIONEERS FEAT.
Hauled n Boat 1000 Miles Overland
Across Africa.

From the Philadelphia Times.
Sixteen hundred miles across the wilds of
Africa, where the foot of civilized man
had never hitherto trod, is an experience
that presents dangers and difficult les
CROUCH of its own to discourage almost any
ordinary man. But to haul a steam craft
that distance with the aid of two COM
panions of his own race and handful of
ignorant natives without the ordinary re-
sources of modern science is the feat ac-
complished successfully by John Thorburn,
an African pioneer. who has recently ar
rived in London. This is but one of series
of notable accomplishments and expert
ences through which Thorburn has passed
in his thirty years life in the wilds of
Africa.
Thorburn is a Scotchman by birth who
emigrated to the Transvaal some thirty
years ago. For number Of years he fol-
lowed the ordinary pursuits of the farmer
and tradesman in the African republic At
the end OF that time he began a journey
across country TO settle Lorenzo Marques
but before completing half the distance
he was stranded on the boundless ocean
of the African desert. His oxen succumbed
to the tetse fly and left him helpless in
sight of little native village. Hardly had
the disaster overcome him when he was
H.
who inquired the reason of his difficulty.
He soon learned that he was in the pres
ence of Umbandine, king of Swaziland and
paramount chief of all the SwaZis
The native chieftan was very friendly in
his welcome TO the stranger and extended
to him the hospitality of his home. There
the two learned to know eacn other and
before long Thorburn was constituted the
chief adviser to his African majesty In
this capacity he rendered signal service to
the natives by the introduction of Scotch
methods and civilization in the tribe and
wen the everlasting gratitude of the chief
ana his dusky followers.
The king was liberal in his offers to re-
ward the sturdy Scotchman, but he per-
sistently refused to accept anything but a
small grant of land from the dusky owner
This he Improved and developed by indus
try and attention and soon built UP for
himself the nucleus of quite an extensive
fortune.
In pursuance of this he sent to London
and had a small steamer built to ply a
trade with the natives along the Vaal river
This eventually reached him and soon made
a snug sum for its owner. Nature how
ever, conspired against him. and the Vaal
after successive dry seasons. was complete
ly dried up. Undeterred by the dangers of
the undertaking, Thorburn at once de-
termined to take the boat across country
to the waters Of Delagoa bay, a distance
of 600 miles.
The boat was thirty-seven feet long, but
was loaded on a wagon drawn by eighteen
oxen Its engines were disposed of on a
similar vehicle and the journey was begun.
1t led through a perfect wilderness, much
Of which had never been trodden by man.
Roads were cut through this and wagons
drawn along as rapidly possible. Nu-
merous mishaps failed to discourage the
irdomitable will of the Scotchman. and
after encountering forest fires which all
but destroyed the little party and being
deserted by all his native helpers, he sue
cessfuly reached Delagoa bay with his
charge.
The one native custom Thornburn en-
countered among the Swazis that he could
not overcome was the offering Of sacrifices
in human blood by the tribesmen and the
promiscuous murder Of any natives who
dspleased the chiefs. His ultimate de-
parture from Swaziland was due to this
cause.
In the Transvaal Thornburn was init
mately associated with two noted charac-
ters. One was John O'Reilly, who was re-
sponsfble for the discovery Of the diamond
mines Of Sout.3 Africa, and the other was
Hans De Beers, who owned two of the
most famous mines OF South Africa, the
De Beers and the Kimberly. O'Reilly's dis
covery was due to the accidental play of
a little girl with a bright river stone. He
purchased the stone from the girls par
ents, saying he thought he could sell It
for good price and would return her one
half Of the proceeds. This he did, realizing
$500 on the sale. Half he returned to her,
South Africa in which to exploit his find.
De Beers sold his diamond interest for
an Insignificant sum. He knew Of the Inn
mense value Of the ground. but did not
wish to be bothered with the wealth. only
taking enough to keep him for the re-
He died eventually Ia ThoEnburn's own
cottoRA