The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1907-03-02
Make Valuable Geographical DiseoN-
cry Amid Awful Perils.


the most remarkable trans-African ex-
petitions Of recent times, remarkable
not only for the extent OF the DIS
lance traversed and the valuable geo.
graphical, geological and other re-
suits which have been achieved but
on account of the pathetic circumstan-
ces which have attended il. or the
/ four Englishmen who entered Africa
| from the west on this historic jour
uey only one reached the shores OF
! the Red Sea, two having died and the
/ third having returned home at an
earlier stage. Exactly three years
ago the expedition started. II consis-
ted Of Lieutenant Boyd Alexander,
who had already done good work In
Fernando Pc, his brother, Captain
Claud Alexander. Scots guards, Cap
! tain G.. Costing, Rife brigade, and
Mr.. Talbot, together with Lieutenant
: Boyd Alexander's Portuguese collec-
tor, Jose Lopez. The object OF the ex-
, petition was to explore and survey
the eastern portion of northern Nj
geria and to make collections, the
objective OF the party being Kuka, on
Lake Chad. Beyond this point 1t was
uncertain what direction would be
taken, as the unknown regions be-
yond the lake were both dangerous
and difficult. Two months after their
departure from England the explorers,
with their steel boats, which were
specially constructed at home, were
on the Benue and the succeeding
months, during which Lieutenant
Alexander Boyd, had an attack Of the
black-water fever, were occupied with
work carried out under most arduous
conditions. Heavy rains were encoun-
cered and owing to severe famine In
many places great difficulty was ex-
perienced in getting food. Captain
Claud Alexander, who with Mr.. Tai
bot was engaged in survey work, had
very hard task on account OF the
bush and the fairness Of the country,
and notwithstanding the heavy rains
he slept out in the open rather than
rse the native huts. Although. gen
orally speaking, the natives were
friendly, some of the tribes were
troublesome. Captain Claud Alexan-
der and Mr. Talbot had some excit-
ing experiences with the Bauchi pa
gans and on one occasion in order 10
punish some natives who had been
stealing their goats they had to climb
up a steep slope to reach the hostile
,IIlage which was at the summit. The
place and it's stockade were success
fully stormed. Toward the enc Of the
year the expedition suffered its first
great loss with the death from enter
ic fever of Captain Claud Alexander.
which was due to the hardness OF
the work in which he had been en-
gagged and the strain which his untir-
ing energy had involved. Ii may be
said with truth that he gave his life
for the splendid may which he and
Mr.. Talbot have made OF that portion
Of northern Nigeria. At the little gov
eminent station Of Maifoni. to the
southwest of Lake Chad. this gallant
young officer passed away after six
weeks illness. He was conscious TO
the last and only a few hours before
he died he wrote saying he hoped
to see Lake Chad in a day or two,
He was buried under an acacia tree
near the station, at a spot which is
the site Of the old palace Of the Mai
foni kings. A high mud wall with
native spearheads surrounds his tomb.
Previous to this Lieutenant Boyd
Alexander had been doing some valu-
able work further north, exploring the
little known water ways. After his
brothers death the remainder Of the
expedition worked its way to the
north of Lake Chad, reaching Kedde
at the end of 1904. From this point
it was Lieutenant Boyd Alexander's
intention to get his boats across to
the Nile by way Of the Sharia, Uu-
banghi and Aruwimi rivers.
Having established a base camp on
Lake Chad a considerable time was
occupied in exploring the lake and in
visiting the timid and mysterious in
habitants of the islands. The pres
ence of myriads Of mosquitoes caused
much suffering to the expedition, but
plenty Of thoroughly efficient work
was accomplished and the lake sur
veyed. Mr.. Talbot now returned to
England, taking with him the map,
which was completed after several
months hard work at home. One Of
the mountain ranges in northern Nj
geria was named Mount Claud. after
Captain Claud Alexander. From Lake
Chad the expedition proceeded in a
southeasterly direction and following
the Shari river eventually reached the
northern extremity Of the Congo Free
State. To the north Of Chad the ex-
petition had some fighting with the
tribes in which Lieutenant Boyd
Alexander lost some Of his carriers
and his collector. Lopez. was wound.
ed. After a prolonged stay in the
region between the southeast Of Chad
and the Congo. the expedition entered
the Congo Free State. Here In June
of last year at the Belgian station Of
Nyangera Captain Costing died. leav.
ing Lieutenant Boyd Alexander to
complete his journey alone. For some
time Captain Gosling had been suffer
ing from black-water fever. through
which he was nursed by Lieutenant
Alexander. A relapse, however, oc-
Cured and although a messenger was
sent 100 miles for a doctor, the sec
ond member Of the expedition died
and wac hurfad with military hOn0ra