The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-09
FOUR YEARS In AFRICA
EXPLORER CHERRY,s ADVENTURES
AND DISCOVERIES.
Experiences in CongoIand and the SUI
dan More Thrilling Than Those Of
Livingstone or stanley.
TRAvERSED 10000 MILES
TRAvERSED 10000 MILES
FOUND THREE TRIBES OFF NATIVES
HITHERTO UNKNOWN.
Explored n strange Country, Dis
covered a New Species of Elephant,
and Returned n Rich Man.
orreept ,dence of the Associated Press.

Correspt ldence Of the Associated Press.
LONDON, Nov. 20.-W. Stamps Cherry,
who left his home In Chicago in the sum-
mer of 1896. is now on his way to America,
having experienced. in the heart Of Africa,
adventures more thrilling in many respects.
than those of Livingstone or Stanley. For
four years Mr.. Cherry has been living
among the Congo natives. He has been
their companion, friend, leader and instruc-
tor. Unaccompanied by any men of his
own color, he has penetrated TO parts
where no other white man has ever dared
to go. 1t has fallen TO the lot Of this
plucky American to make important geo.
graphical and anthropological discoveries,
pursued so unostentatiously and admitted
so reluctantly, that scarcely anyone has
yet heard Of them. They have been re-
served for the Geographical Society OF
America.
Briefly summed up. Mr.. Cherry, while
traversing owe 10000 miles in the French
Congo and Sudan. has accomplished the
following ends:
The exploration of the Upper Kotto river
and surrounding region. The Kotto is a
large tributary of the Mobiagui.
The discovery of three native African
peoples-the Breea, Engazzia and Lindas
tribes.
The discovery of a species of elephant
much smaller than hitherto known, which
produces no ivory, or, in other words. has
no tusks.
In addition to these practical results Mr..
Cherry has collated invaluable written and
Photographic data dealing with the an
thropological aspect OF the mattress with
whom he anne lin contact, especially those
which inhabit the territory between the
Waddy and Mobangui rivers. Upon this he
has formed the interesting theory that all
the countless native tribes of Africa, ex-
cepting, of course. the Arabs, sprang from
common origin. Mr.. Cherry'S experience
with hundreds of widely scattered tribes
convinces him that there are traces of
common art, customs and religion which
point Enthusiastically TO their being of the
same race despite the physical and lin
guistic differences which exist at the pres
ent day.
This was Mr.. Cherry's second trip Ia
Africa. Mr.. Cherry has proved that with
out large equipment. special knowledge or
the expenditure OF much advertising ana
capital explorations in Africa can be cor
quoted by simply applying the methods OF
the Western States to the conditions ex-
istent near the equator. For one year he
never saw a white man and for more han
three years not a white woman. For four
"a H. EACUI| III INA ~ ~
strapped TO him and a rife by his size,
For a similar period of time he lived on a
diet of the country, a native in al respects,
except in color and in mind. Yet he is as
healthy and strong to-day as when he LETT
Chicago. Mr.. Cherry brings back with
him such a supply of ivory That he re-
turns 10 America q comparatively rich
man. More than a hundred elephants have
fallen to "Demba Creecy's" gun. After
a holiday at home Mr.. Cherry is going to
Africa.
SERVED WITH THE FRENCH.
Starting at Matadi, on the west coast Of
Africa, in 1896, in August, Mr.. Cherry went
up the Congo river as far as Stanley pool
by caravan At Brazaville, in the French
Congo, he was held up by the authorities
for having firearms without permission.
His weapons and cartridges, which prac.
tically constituted his outfit, were tempo
rarily confiscated by the French govern
ment officials. Bereft of motive and occu-
patton he chafed uneasily and for want of
something better to do went into the sers-
ice of the French government He applied
his engineering education to some purpose
by putting together a steamer which Cap
tain Marchand had brought inland with the
purpose of taking to the Upper Nile. OF
Marchand and his famous expedition Mr..
Cherry has many interesting "reminiscences
While at, work at Bangui, further UP the
Congo, for Marchand, Mr.. Cherry gained
some insight into the gentle methods of
French colonization. A trivial tribal rising
was in progress. The French had captured
a number of prisoners. OF these several
men and women escaped. Three Of the
women and seven of the men were recap
tured, tried by c~ourt-martial and con-
demned TO death. The three women, naked
and blindfolded, were stood up before a
handful of ~Senegalese soldiers. They knew
what was coming and faced 1t with heroism
that few men have shown when confronted
by sure death. They were not amazons,
only domeSticated wives, who obtained food
for their husbands and children, and who
grew weary of captivity. The -Senegalese
fired, the women fell riddled with bullets.
A French soldier stepped over their bodies,
putting a bullet into one of their brains
and ending their writing agonies.
Leaving the service of the French gov
rnmen after having his arms restored
TO him Mr.. Cherry went from Bangui with
natives in canoes to the mouth of the
MBomu river, past the rapids, over them
and more often than not into them until
one of the greatest of the N'Saccraw chiefs
in the whole Congo basin. Mr.. Cherry's
photographs of this gentleman show him TO
be as gross and sensual a person as can
well be imagined, yet he rules with a rod
of iron many thousands of people. The
day Of Mr.. Cherry's arrival Bangasson had
been INDUCING in a raid upon a neighboring
tribe with the result that no fewer than
1900 men, women and children had been
captured and brought to Bangasson as
gasson's warriors brought back with them
hundreds of human heads. trophies of their
prowess. AT night a great banquet was
prepared. The heads of the slain were
boiled and the brains were eaten. Baskets
of human flesh well smoked were carried
around and devoured- Bangasson has 1.SOO
wives and is a stanch ally OF the French
government.
TAUGHT EACH OTHER.
After a period of good hunting In the
bush Mr.. Cherry crossed country TO the
region of the Darbandau. There he lived
with the natives as a native, sleeping on a
mat with two blankets, and being re-
ceived among them as the great white
chief "Demba Creecy." whose fame had
gone before him. Dressed in monkey skins.
speaking the tongue OF the people with
whom. he lived, this young American
taught them the elements of astronomy
geography, and told them Of the great
white nations that lived without their
sphere. In return they taught him secret
arts whereby they make and mold curl
ously engraved spears, hatchets and other
implements.
Darbandau served as the base for the ex-
plorer's expeditions. Thence he made con-
slant trips up the Kotto river. Three times
he lost almost everything he had through
canoes capsizing in the rapids. During
these times Mr.. Cherry was In almost every
respect. chief OF the tribe with whom he
stayed. Other tribes sent for him 10 assist