The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-04
LOOKING DEATH IN THE FACE
Escapes "ey


.nced.
coward. Eighty to four as they were,
they scattered, and the half fastened
rope slipped, dropping me to the
ground. n. l.. H.
False Teeth Save Scout.
1t was in Southern Rhodesta, South
Africa, during the Matabele rebellion of
go. The British South Africa COM
pany's police, reinforced by contin-
gent of the scattered white population
of this frontier colony, were making an
effort to speedily bring to an end tine
attempt which had been made by the
dusky aborigines to blot out of ex-
istence the "mulungu" (white mani,
who had usurped their lands.
was one of the mounted scouts.
Riding through thickly wooded valley
early one morning 1 was Unexpectedly
surrounded by scores of madly howl
ing savages, brandishing spears, sticks
and battle axes in my face. To my joy
the mob suddenly drew back and with
excited gesticulations seemed to be de-
batting some point at issue, their faces
being turned with expectant gaze to-
ward a slight opening in the forest.
Soon a shriveled old man, clad in a
scarlet blanket and evidently an en-
duna" or petty chief with a few fol-
lowers could be seen slowly approach
ing. AS he drew near the excitement
among the swarthy warriors became
intense. Upon a signal from the anti
quated leader the black company rush
ed. forward with wild explanations and
ferocious visages, and bullet came
whistling past my ear. l imagined
that my hour had come, but happy
thought struck me, and l ran out on
nv tongue my false teeth. The day
was saved. =.
The warriors. filled with supersti-
tious terror, vanished as quickly as
they had come, leaving behind in their
haste their old chief, who stumbled
over a fallen log in his mad effort to
get away. AS l galloped briskly away
could hear his agonizing wall of
"Yo way. mae way, tena wafa, tena
wafa." (My mother, 1 am dying. I am
dying) F. L. 5.
Wins Race for Life.
1t was summer, and if you ever lived
in Americas, Ca, you will know 1t was
hot as well. When I went for the daily
swim in the narrow, deep stream that
flowed beyond the cotton gin mills at
the edge of town. Great trees border
ed the rivers edge and huge black
logs, some snagged and some loose,
foated as the current willed. l who
had a northerner's contempt for things
southern, scoffed at the superstitiOus
warming of the darkies to fight shy
Of the place and of the numberless
by drowning of pickan-
never used the water
for swimming purposes.
AS usual, 1 was in first and quickly
made for the opposite shore and the
diving board. With a plunge headlong
l swerved slantingly to the bottom, and
as | went down l remember l barely
grazed what | took to be big log
under the surface, never thinking why
it should be so far beneath. With bare
ly time to get the water from my eyes
I felt a sudden suction near me and
| saw my log coming at me with
mouth agape and making rivulets Of
water as it worked it's froglike legs
and with a. sickening sense of fear
knew "gater" was after me.
. ut was all over in a flash, and l
guess as the alligator swung for my
arm | sunk toward the bottom, for
felt the water swirl above me as the
monster went by. The next l knew
was lying on the grass, quite unstrung
and terror stricken. They told me
afterwards that my face and hair had
blush mark on it, and today there
is gray streak down my head, which,
while 1 am but q, l never have been
able to explain. S. A. +.