The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-04-19
VOAAKS DARING
RIDE N AFRICA
How Mrs. Langerman Faced
Dangers of BarbarOus Race.
AS BRIDE SHE TRAVELLED
PeriIs Through Which She
Went to Find Husband.
AS BRIDE SHE TRAVELLED


Hotel Cecil in Tangiel. Africa a few weeks
ago, there came a hooded Moor in a white
burnous, yellow trousers and pointed
slippers, relates the New York World
He saIaaIned courteously. The Berber
tribes are up in arms he said in broken
French; they are led b. the fierce Ka-
byles- They have invested Fez. They
have penned up the Sultan's troops They
have cut the acqueduct, and the city is
without water.
The woman to whom these words were
addressed was Mrs. Gertrude Langerman,
wife OF James W. s. Langernan, Of New
York.
AIr. Langeramn was sent to Morocco a
few months ago BY President Francis, II
the ST. Louis Exposition, 10 induce Sui
tan Abdul Azziz 10 send an exhibit from
his domiuions.
Mr.. Langerman had left his wife in
Tangier and had made the dangerous
journey of 200 miles from Tangier 10 Fez,
under the fire OF the guns Of the wild
Kabyles. over hot sands and through
pIagUe-stricken villages
Two hundred miles OF war-scourged
desert separated husband and wife IN
the very middle Of this wild waste they
were reunited through the wonderful
heroisn Of Mrs. Laugerman.
Upon hearing the tidinngs Of war the
American woman did not faint, as many
OF her sex would have done She rose
20 her feet with her hand clutching at
her heart and her face as white as death.
Then Il IS true she said; "Suleiman.
must e 10 Fez AZ once. Do you hear?
At once! Get everything ready Quick,
Quickr' Sekuzula, an Algerian maid,
yelled to the eyes appeared
''SelSuzula pack my clothes. Get me
ready to 60 TO Fez as quickly as you can"
A saonth previous Mrs. Langerman
had danced at the Assembly Ball at the
Waldorf Astoria. She had attended the
opera with her husband and had dined
at Delmouico's with her friends.
From DeImonico's to the Morocco will
derness IS only q step. after all. 4 steam
er. train, another steamer and you are
face to face with the yellow Libyan sands.
In obedience to the commands Of her
mistress Sekuzula few hither and thither-
The very Iightest Of wearing apparel was
packed in valises and everything was
made ready for the Journey. Then after
u
came to her mistress with a scheme TO
insure protection TO the party from the
extreme periIs of the journey.
We viii travel as a wedding party"
she said. We viii pretend that you are
going to Fez to be married. We will have
singers and dancers You will be Moor
fish lady. See here is ny paint, and here
Is a snoorna stick to fix your eyes
The beautiful American woman acqui-
esced. but It was with heavy heart A
wedding party. and at the end OF the jour
ney death, perhaps instead Of q joyful
meeting.
At sunrise on the following day the
EstIe party started
Il was in the face Of all protest that
she began the journey. Gallant young
diplomats Of all the legations. finding her
resolve could not be broken, offered TO
wake Up protecting party for the de-
sermined young wife. These offers she
absolutely. refused
Then with the knowledge Of the customs
OF the country that long residence in the
Orient had given and with the assistance
OF Sekuzula she assumed the gorgeous
crimson white and yellow gown of a
Moorish bride.
She started for Fez in a Howdah on
the back Of beribboned and otherwise
gafly decorated mule seeking thus to
simulate the journey Of a Mshometan
woman TO the harem OF her future lord
The drawn curtains Of the howdah af-
forded excellent concealment
In the early dawn they passed out OF the
gray gates Of Tangier on 10 the Fez road.
Undisturbed was the first days journey.
peaceful the first nights rest. but when
the following night camp was pitched at
Larasche hundreds OF shadowy forms
surrounded it and passed and repassed
the resting place OF the adventurous lit
tie party.
They We're the wild Kabyles securing
the desert in search OF enemies. The
tents OF the little caravan were pitched.
the moon arose. the moving shadows OF
the Berber hostiles melted away. and the
veEturesome American woman slept
In the night drenching rain fell Three
days and nights the storm continued.
Travelling became next TO impossible
Bedraggled. dispirited. very weary. the
party arrived at the banks Of the Hachef
River The winter rains had swollen
the stream to a tubmling torrent. but they
managed 10 cross II safely.
Mrs. Laagerman grew weak and dis
pirited- She could scarcely keep her seat
on the mules back To make matters
worse. the sun came out with terrific
force, and she became somewhat light
headed and her mind rambled.
Sskuzula. riding by her mistresss side
on a small donkey. would reach out her
brown hand and clasp that % her mis-
tress reassuingly IN the mean time the
suspicious Kabyles were ever drawing
nearer. But the Moors served her well.
singing the Mahometan wedding songs
with q aue swing in the passing OF vii
lagos. performing the mad. whIrling gun
dance IN the van Of the procession. beat
ing tsmbourines and crowning the den
keys head continuously with wreaths OF
flowers
Upon leaving Tsssier for F'ez AIr. jams
Langermaa began some OF the most re-
n1arksble experiences Of his life. His
right-hand man was Mr. Joseph c. All
rines the official Interpreter % the United
States Consulate at Tangier
On the first night out wild cries from the
attendants brought the Commissioner out
of his own tent IN the middle or the night.
One Of the other tents was ablaze and was
sending Up a binding smoke. It was
completely destroyed. and in its black
ruins nexti morning a ghastIy fnd was
made. one OF the I'VE Moors left 10 do
picket duty lay beneath the euabers OF
the tent q knife wound in his heart.
In crossing the Hschef River Mr.. Ian
germans horse was swept from his feet.