The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-04-28

IN h SMOKING ROOM OF THE HAMBURG.
worthy Of the natives for the various
places Of responsibility in the expedi-
ton to be so filled.
To carry the outfit Of the party $50
bearers have been engaged. In addition
there will be two askaris (native 20
licemen) armed with Snider rifles, cook
and cooks mates and gun bearers, who
do nothing in the shape of work ex-
cept carry the guns Of the hunters.
They are called shikarees. The porters
are men Of the Swahili tribe, and
the headman and gun bearers are So
malls. The headman is called the
neapara, and he has full control Of the
safar1, as such expeditions are known.
Mr.. Cu%nninghame has been Mt much
pains, it is said. to get as many natives
OF unusual physical strength and .cour-
age as possible for the expedition, for
he realizes that the work will be stren-
uous and dangerous with a man Of Mr..
Roosevelt's reputation for energy and
daring ut the head of the party. The
prospects are that Official Snapshooter
Kermit will have a fine lineup Of
dusky warriors waiting for a chance at
his films when the expedition reaches
Mombasa and that the Taft beauty
squad will be completely outrivaled.
The ex-president has borne many
titles In his day, but none so resound-
Ing or picturesque as he will assume
when he becomes "bwana kubwa," or
great master, Of the safari. The ma
tives have heard a good deal about his
big stick" and no doubt they think It
quite the proper thing that the bwana
kubwa should have some formidable
bludgeon of this kind as an emblem Of
office. The club as a symbol Of au- |
thority in Africa is quite common. and
Its use In reducing refractory subjects
to submission is something in which
the big men OF the country are expert !
The safart !;it-that is, the outfit for
camping In the open-was obtained
largely abroad. and when It was pack
ed up In London recently and SEM to
the steamers wharf it made a heavy
load for q large truck. The name
Roosevelt" marked on the packages
old not fail to attract attention as it
o through the crowded streets.
When the camp is set up in the for
of the dark continent it will look
AS pictured in these columns.
Mr.. R~oosevelt's characteristic bold.
ness was shown in his daring to set
sail on March %, defying all danger
OF hoodoos attaching to the expedition.
II the Hamburg's sailing date had
been Friday, the 18th, it would have
made no difference probably. This
steamer is well equipped for persons
who, like MI. Roosevelt, are fond Of
vigorous exercise, and its gymnasium
includes, among other things, an "elec-
tric horse" and a rough riding camel.
Any degree Of jolting may be obtained
by these devices, thus enabling Mr..
RooaeVeat to enjoy on the trhM the
sensafms of ms famous ninety utle
ride Wn0e a thousand miles out at sea.
Alarm has been expressed lest Mr..
might catch the sleeping
while in Africa. How II
Would have pleased the members of
he Ananias club and various ..mala.
actors IN high place" had he contract
ID some such disease while in Office.
unfortunately for them, his periods OF
'seep were altogether too brief. and
OF chat torpor which Is supposed
% follow the bite Of the tsetse fly char.
acterized his doings while in the White
But In Africa the fly bites put
yen the monkeys to sleep. Should
Eney have such an effect on MI. Rooso.
ZEN It VIII be the first time anything
" heaven or earth has succeeded N
Leepang him asleep when he thought
n ought to be awake,
EDWARD HALE BRUSH.