The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-24
SAVED BY A GRAPHOPHONE.
British Exploring Party Managed to Elude An Attack
Through a Clever Ruse.

Capt. Rodcrick Macdonald, who re-
Gently arrived in England upon leave Of
absence has for the past year been in
command of an exploring party operating
along the upper reaches OF the Nile and,
while no new data Of particular impor-
lance were secured. the expedition not
visiting amy districts not heretofore cx-
plOred some very interesting and exciting
adventures were experienced or these
perhaps the most interesting according
10 the Philadelphia Ledger. is an account
of now the party escaped massacre by
the aid of an American phonograph.
This pbon0graph was Of the disk vari-
ETY.. using the largest size record, and
would run on each record from five 90
seven minutes. II had been transported
with considerable difficulty and incOn-
veniencs but the party felt more than
repaid for the trouble Dc 0Ccdsioned by
the pleasure and amusement derived from
the machine when camp had been pitched
and the men had settled down for an
aftsr-supper smoke. The party was pro-
crossing by means Of fat-bottomed boats.
the river az this point being shallow and
rapid and it was the practice when
evening approached TO moor the boats
In Fancicd Security.
Upon the day in question nothing of
particular interest had taken place and
camp was made without moleststion. The
tents were pitched ia "a group of palm
trees. the boats being left some fifty
yards downstream. 1t was not thought
that any danger might arise from this
fact. as back of the Clump of palms there
stretched an open desert. with only here
and there clumps OF camel thorns, and
rising moon lit up the scene, so that
those in the -mD commanded the APP
prOach to the boats From the camp 10
the boats a strip OF sh0uder-high rUshes
bordered the edge of the water.
Not a sign of natives had been seen
that day. and in view of the fact that the
desert back from the shore was perfectly
open except for the thorn bushes so far
as the eye could see, and was well lit
up by the moon. IL was not deemed neces-
sary to place Sentries. the two men who
would otherwise have been detailed for
this duty standing near the camp fire and
talking and laughing with the others. In
the party were Capt Macdonald, two
other Englishmen, and twelve native
packers and servants
Suddenly. and without the slightest
sound. tall figure stepped close 10 the
fire. and. passing his eyes scornfully over
the native blacks. allowed them to rest
seaTchingly upon the Englishmen. In
stinctively7 he picked out the commander
of the party and bowed gravely.
The unexpected visitor impressed each
of the three Europeans as the most mag
nificent specimen of manhood they had
ever encountered. Though tall and some
what sparely built. there was in his
every move the strength and grace of the
tiger, and he carried himself with an air
almost regal. Beneath the folds of his
white draperies could be caught a glimpse I
of chain aTmOr. and the steel cap OF a
man-at-arms was upon his head. These
suits of armOr are not infrequently met
with in the Sahara, and tell grimly of the
fate of some English knight of long ego,
follower OF the mighty Richard of the
Lions Heart
Capt. Macdonald arose and returned
the strangers salUtatiOn, and the two
men regarded each other attentiveIy
Then the visitor began TO speak, gravely,
but with considerable fire. His tongue,
however. was unfamiliar to any of the
other native Africans, and totally uninteI-
hgible to the Englishmen. Presently. per-
ceiving that his words were not under
stood, he resorted to signs. and swept his
arms out in a magnificent and compre-
hensive gesture, then pointing 10 him
self
He means that he is the chief of this |
section evidently" one of the English |
men remarked.
, Il suppose that is it. and that he ex-
poets some sort of tribute" Capt. Mae /
donald replied, and in response TO his |
order there was brought forward one of 1
the bundles containing the copper wire. /
hand mirrors, and other trinkets which /
had been brought for the purpose of pIa- /
eating the natives encountered.
The chief eyed the baubies contemp- /
tuously, and thrusting a hand within his /
light robe brought It out filled with gold 1
dust Then. replacing the precious grains, /
he held UP both hands with fingers spread. /
He expects ten handfuIs of gold dust
Well. hardly" Macdonald remarked, and /
shook his head.
For u moment a duh fame glowed in