The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-17
TALES OF PLUCK
AND ADVENTURE

V0Y STAMPS CHERRY. VINO
A left his home ia Chicaso
NJ " Ia the summer Of 1896,
now Is on his way TO Ais
lome IN America. having experienced
i the heart Of Africa adventures more
hrnllng IN many respects. than those
lf livingstone 81 stanley
For four years Mr. Cherry has been
living among the Congo natives. He
las been their companion. friend, lead-
II and instructor unaccompanied by
any men Of his own color be has pens-
rated 70 parts where no other white
man has ever dared to 60
Starting III Matadl on the west coas
of Africa. ID August 1896. Mr. Cherry
went up the Congo River as far as
Stanley Pool by caravan. In Braza-
Vile. 10 the French Congo. he was he'd
90 by the authorities FOR having fire.
arms without permission. His wean
ons and cartridges. which practically
constituted his outfit. were eon1scatei
by the French Government officials
Bereft Of motive and occupation be
went into the service Of the French
Government.
Leaving the service OF the French
Government after having bis arms re-
stored to him. Mr.. Cherry went frori
Bangui with natives in a canoe to tie
mouth Of the M'bomu River, past rap
ds. over them. and more often than
not into them. until ne came TO the
territory Of Bangasson, one Of the
greatest of the N'saccraw chiefs In the
whole Congo basin. The day Of Nj
Cherrys arrival Bangasson had been
induIglng In a raid upon a neighboring
tribe. with the result that no few waf
ihnn 5000 men. women and children
had been captured and brought to Ban
gasson as slaves IN addition to these
slaves Bangasspns warriors brought
back with them hundreds Of human
heads. trophies OF their prowess The
heads OF the slain were boiled. and the
bralns were eaten. Afterward the
skulls were piled In heaps. stuck on
tree branches and otherwise put 10
places where they could be seen and
adored, for, Mr. Cherry says, no fetish
Is more IN favor among the natives
than the human skull Bangasson, hy
he way. has 1900 wives and is 4
s,anch ally Of the French Government.
After q period Of good hunting Alr.
Cherry crossed the country to the re-
rion OF the Darbanda. There he lived
with the natives as native. sleeping
on a mat with two blankets and be-
ing received among them as the great
white chief. Demba Creecy,' whose
fame had gone before him. Dressed IN
monkey skins. speaking the tongue 81
the people with whom he lived. this
young American taught them the ele.
ments Of astronomy geography and
told them Of the great white nations
who lived without their sphere. In
return they taught him the secret arts
whereby they make and mold curious
ly engraved spears, hatcheis and othcl
implements. to say nothing OF the clo'i
weaving and domestic arts.
Darbanda served as the base for The
explorers expeditions. Thence ,,
made constant trips up the Kotto Riy
er. Three times he lost almost every
thing he had through canoes capsiz
ing in the rapids.
During these times Mr.. Cherry wal
in almost every respect chief Of ttl
tribe with whom he stayed. Othe
tribes sent for him to assist them Il
settle welghty matters, to adjust dis
putes 70 organize their forces agahs
the invasion Of an unfriendly tribe.
Among these natives with whom Mr.
Cherry has been living canniballsm I
rampant. after a tribal engagement
ne tells the Associated Press, "the cap
tured men, women and children m
cut up as quick as that, swapping hi
fingers. "and every bit Of them is eat
ca. Human flesh. TO these people, is
delicacy They want 1t, and when the
get the opportunity to get 1t they caa
not resist"
Regarding the rivers he explored
Alr Cherry said.
-They drain the finest country :
the world. where everything can b
raised. Rice. coffee. vanilla and rul
Der grow IN wild luxuriance. IN n
place in the world could you find sue
elephants It's just like hunting raj
bits
Among the characteristics Of "a
new tribes their funeral rites are. PEI
haps. toe most curious. Instead q
weeping or dancing after a death. ih
mourners proceed TO turn somersauli
and keep It up until their strength
exhausted"
The Nerve Of q Hunter.
rr.c r,ee,t death of II Ponhnu