The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-24
AFRICAN PIONEERS FEAT.
Hauled a Boat 1000 Miles Overland
Across Africa.
TFrom the Philadelphia Time

TE,ror, the PhfIadelphia Times1
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 difficulties
enough of its own to discourage almost
oI tIt IIlll<1iS SS54a3a 1rirb the Ala ~ 80
companions of his own race and a hand
ful Of ignorant natives without the ordi-
feat accomplished successfully by John
Thorburn, an African pioneer. who has
one OF a series of notable accomplish
ments and experiences through which
ThOrburn has passed n ms thirty years
Thorburn IS a Scotchman by birth who
ernigrated to the IransYaai some thirty
years ago For a number OF years he fol-
lowed the ordinary pursuits Of the farmer
and tradesman IN ms, lne +3adriean Al 1 repuollc. Al
across country to settle Lorenzo Marquee
but before completing halE the distance
he was stranded on the boundless ocean
OF the AIrlcan desert f1Is iet oxen I sqcGuIno-
ed TO the IetSe ny an9 1eLt nm hSlplsSS
in sight of a little native village Hardly
was met BY a distinguished looking tribes
man. who inquired the reason OF his
in the presence of Umbandine. king of
Swaziland and paramount chief of all the
The native chieftain was very friendly
in his welcome to the stranger and eX-
There the two learned to know each 9th
er, and before long Thorburn was consti-
majesty. In this capacity he rendered
signal service to the natives by the in
PRODUCTION of Scotch methods and ciVili-
zation in the tribe and won the. everlast-
ing gratitude OF the chief and his dusky
The king was liberal in his offers to re-
ward the sturdy Scotchman, but he per-
sistently refused to accept anything but
n small grant of land from the dusky
owner. This he improved and developed
by industry and attention and soon built
up for himself the nucleus OF quite
In pursuance of this he sent to London
and had small steamer built to ply
trade with the natives along the -VaaI
river. 'IhfS eventually reached him and
soon made snug sum for its owner
and the EaaI. after Successive dry sea
sons, was completely dried up Jndeterred
by the dangers OF the undertaking- Thor
burn at once determined to take the boat
across country to the waters of Delagoa
The boat was thirty-seven feet long,
but was loaded on wagon drawn by
| eighteen oxen It's engines were disposed
| of on similar vehicle and the journey
derness, much OF Wnlch had never been
trodden by man. Roads We're cut through
| as possible NurneTous rnlShaps talled TO
| discourage the indOm1table will of the
| Scotchman. and after encOuntering forest
| fires which all but destroyed the little
/ party and being deserted by all his ma
| tive helpers. he successfully reached De
| lagoa bay with his charge
The native custom ThOrburn en-
| not overcome was the Offering Of sacrific-
| es in human blood by the trfbesnen and
| who displeased the chiefs. His ultimate
| departure from Swaziland was due to this
! In the Transvaal Thorburn was inti-
| mateIy associated with two noted char
/ acters. One was John O'Reilly, who was
| responsible for the discovery of the dia-
/ mOnd mines of South 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'ReilIy's discovery was due to the acci-
( dental play of a little girl with a bright
1 river stone He purchased the stone from
Z the girls parents, saying he thought he
! could sell it for a good price and would
/ return her One-half the proceeds. This he
1 al
| returned TO her. the rest he used to pur-
| chase ground in South Africa in which
/ to exploit his find.
| De Beers sold his diamond interest for
] an insignificant sum He knew of the
| immense value of the ground, but did not
| wish to be bothered with the wealth. only
! taking enough TO keep him for the re-
! mainder of his days in quiet and Obscur-
] ity- He died eventually in ThOrbburn' 5
] own cottage.