The Washington times., 1908-01-04
FIGHT NATIVES
OF WILD CONGO
FOR RUBBER CO.
Leopold Ryan -Guggen-
helm Trusts S Men Stave
Off CannibaI Tribes.
Letter From E.1ploye
Tells of Wild West
ing" in Africa.

Inc international corporation Tor Llle
exploitation Of the Congo Free States
rubber and mineral resources, in which
King Leopold Of Belgium has entered
partnership with the Ryan ana Gug-
| genheim interests Of New York. has al
! ready encountered troubles.
Hostile natives recently attacked d
party Of the explorers. only SIX miles
I inside the corporations concession. near
the Kasai river, ana IN the battle that
followed rs natives were killed, while
five IOrters Of the exploration party
were killed, and several others wound
| ed. None Of the white men in the com
pany. which was IN command Of S. II
Ball. Of the United States Geological
Survey, were even wounded.
The battle lasted an entire day, the
retreat Of the explorers occupying the
next two days during all Of which they
were constantly harassed by the ma
tives before they reached safety,
Letters Tell Of Battle.
The first news Of this battle has just
reached Washington, through letters 20
friends OF the group OF Washington sci
sutists who entered the service OF the
Leopold-Ry yan-Guggenheim company for
scientific survey Of the country. The
letters received indicate further that
the engagement reported is likely TO be
small and unimportant compared TO
others that may follow. II is said that
IN this battle twenty i've soldiers under
command Of Lieutenant EmpertOrlE. OF
the Belgian forces, with the scientists,
fought q great number OF natives. The
latter were mostly armed with flint
locks. which they got from the Portu-
guese trading points.
The tremendous possibilities OF the
campaign which the big international
corporation has inaugurated may be
Judged from the statement. given IN
the same letter. that a regiment OF
native troops Is to be employed 10 con-
duct the scientists through the hostile
country. The natives are described as
very fierce. largely cannlbals, and quite
IN the habit OF eating every white man
they can cut Of Despite these condl-
tions. the strong force OF troops, mag
nifcently equipped and provided with
every possible facility for comfort. ex-
poets to cut it's way through the heart
Of the company immense concession,
which includes about bird Of the
Congo Free State.
Graphic Story Avid.
The wonderful story Of the expert
ences OF the American scientists In a
Jungle many hundreds Of miles In ex-
tent. much o. It never traversed by
white men, IS graphically told in a let
ter from Arthur F. Smith, a member
Of the geological survey. on leave OF
absence. Mr.. Smiths home Is at Madl-
son. Wis, and he is a graduate OF the
Wisconsin University. Other Americans
IN the party are NJ. K. ShaIer OF Wash
( iugtoD. also a member OF the geological
survey, S. H. Ball, member Of the sur
vey, and son OF Judge Ball. Of Chi
/ caEO; the official topographer OF the
expedition, Oliver by name. and an ad-
venturer named Mohun. once a United
States army officer, who has been across
the widest part OF Africa from east 10
west, and has been mixed up in three
or four revolutions in South Africa
Two brothers named Reid. Australians.
and two Belgian clerks are also in the
party.
Mr. Smith, in a letter Of June e. out
| lines the plan OF campaign. That was
/ before the battle. which was described
October "a. He writes:
I'VE start in at Luebo. which is about
600 miles directly inland from Eoma. on
the Atlantic coast From Lue5o we start
for years hike about 7O0 miles so}1tr
and east, to the headwaters Of the
Kas2i river We will have d regiment
of .-a1tye soldiers and several hundred
native helpers.
we plan TO work as follows, though
conditions may arise necessitating
changes OF plans. we have already
had to make two changes. But we plan
! TO divide into three parties, working
generally parallel, about ten to fifteen
miles apart sgd (BalD, Mohum, and
Oliver VIII be with the main caravan
and sgd viii work the geology along
I their route. Shaler and +. A. II. Reid
VIII work about ten miles TO one side
and the other Reid and myself about ten
miles on the other side.
Join Forces Regularly.
livery ten days or two weeks ShaIer's
and my parties VIII join the main force.
get supplies, and talk over the work
One Of the Belgian clerks will remain
at Luebo to look after supplies. mail.
etc; the otEer will he about halfway
between the main caravan and Luebo
10 see that the supplies are hustled
along the trail The country has never
/ been penetrated by white men. A num-
her have tried, but The natives quickly
stopped them. We hope to enter with
out fighting, bur thai is to be seen. The
natives are uprising now near Imebo.
and 1 don't know how We will find them
there. Our equipment is certainly up
to The limit-grI:G and everything, the
! best that Guggenneim. Standard OIL.
I and the richest capitalists of Belgium
can buy"
So much for the PEN of campaign.
| The letter OF October a. mailed from
Continued on Fits Page.)