The San Francisco call., 1903-12-06
4 Dash Into africa.
RY wrLLIAM 5. cHERRY.

Copyright. 1908. by Joseph B. BOwles.)
So long as there is anywhere on Gods
earth a single spot marked unknown, 50
somebody is going to find out what is
IN It. Arctic exploration viii not be
given up till some fortunate mortal
straddles the north pole. The Eoice
that calls some men 10 go forth into the
unknown and blaze a way for the 9TH
ers 10 follow is the voice of destiny.
This voice came 20 me early in youth.
When I was about nine years of age
Stanley had just returned from his ex-
pedition Of 1877 down the Congo and
across Africa The world was excited
over his discoveries and the greatness
OF his achievements. He had given to
civilization the knowledge Of the Congo
basin and its boundless resources. In
discovering the Congo he has found a
new highway into equatorial Africa.
remember with what interest 1 lis
tened to the reading Of his book, and
how I spelled out its contents labor
iously for myself. It made my youth
ful blood run faster. resolved to see
those wonderful things in the heart OF
Africa.
As the years passed made every
thing conform TO my boyhood's resolve,
and al last. IN 1889, found myself at
the mouth Of the Congo.
I was then p years Of age. I had
very little equipment, but I had a store
Of knowledge CLEANED from every Afri-
an - .--Fe 4 =
ined was well prepared to meet all
emergencies.
Looking back at my start for Africa
7 rather pity myself I can see that
American boy on the Liverpool landing
stage, without a friend on that side of
the Atlantic and without a single letter
OF introduction, but with infinite faith
that no matter what came he would ac-
cOmplish his end in some way. That
inflated confidence soon was punctured.
I talked with several Englishmen who
were supposed to know the coast of AZ
rics, and they all discouraged me. At
last I visited DR.. Guinness at Hull
House, who had lately returned from
trip up the Congo. Ttold him my plans
and he said that could not live there
three months without medicine, Euro
pean food and backing from the civil
lied world, and that it was simply sui
cidal to go as I expected to. No con-
vict ever heard his sentence with great
er despair than was mine as listened
TO DR.. GUiness exploding my pet theo-
ries.
II was just before Christmas of 1889,
a nd r~fc lS~~~ l., II
OF Elder Dempster & Co, was to sail
for the western coast of Africa I had
taken passage on her, and though If
seemed very impractical to go and com
NIT suicide, as every one thought, 1 de-
termined to accept my fate.
I went aboard the Wolfe with a pack
OF clothes that 1 could carry and a. A
Winchester It was a nasty voyage.
was the butt Of all the jokes. The idea
OF an explorer with only as many
clothes rs he could carry and a popgun
for big game, tried to explain pioneer
life in America. and that all the cow-
boys used A Winchesters. and that a
was big gun compared with the old
muzzle-lOading, patch -bulleted Boone
rife and that the Americans used
small bOres and shot straight instead ~
using a big gun and shooting anvvhere
There were several old coast traders
on board, and what fun they had with
me- They were going out for three
years FOR large coast trading com
pany, which furnished everything to its
employes-European food exclusively
two or three bottles OF beer a dav a
few bottles Of seltzer water and as
much brandy and wine as they wanted.
and Notwithstanding all this. these men
had tons of luggage Of their own. They
laughed at my ideas OF making Ameri-
can pioneer life practical in Africa
What was I going to do for medical
comfort" as they called their cham
payne and cognacs. Madeira wines and
liquors? I could not live without II to
put blood in my veins. they said. But
before I arrived at the coast IT was the
opinion Of the people on board that
knew what I was about; that there was
some mission had been sent on and
was just going this way as a blind:
that my luggage was fun of gold. etc
So the teasing stopped.
When I arrived at Bona. the canitaI
Of the Congo Free State. had nowhere
70 go. There was a two-storv hotel
used for housing the agents of the Con-
60 Free State Government, but # cost
s. day TO stay there. and that was as
far beyond me a. a million. But soon 7
found employment as an engineer with
the Congo Free State. and then I board
ed at the hotel with the rest Of the
government men.
Here / had a chance to study the
question Of making American pioneer
life practical in this country. At FIRST n
did seem as though the chances were
against ii. The employees Of the xov-
ernment were dying very rapidIv.
Many were being sent home. They could
not stand the climate Some went on
board on stretchers, complete wrecks.
and very liable TO die on the way home
Medical comfort" did not seem to do
any good, and they were dying in spite
OF their boOzing all day long An Eng
lishman landed in good health In three
days he was dead. It was quick work.
His tombstone was a board with a piece
OF tin tackled on with holes punched in