The Washington herald., 1909-10-17

Speke's own heart" described by an
other explorer. who knew him well. as
one OF the most loyal and charming
creatures in tie world
The two reached Lake Victoria Nyanza
and made careful explorations Of its
shores In the course OF these Grant
broke down. Spoke was compelled to
continue his Investigations alone. On
July II, 1862. having followed the Nile
northward from Victoria Nyanza, he ar
rived at the first great cataract from it's
source. which he called the Ripon Fails.
after Lord de Grey and Ripon. His
theory was now practically proved to be
correct
Picking up Grant again, Spoke de-
scended the Nile. but crossed II at Ka-
ruma Falls TO avoid the territory of
kamurasf, a local king, who had shown
signs Of hostility. Though they did not
know IL. the two explorers were only
fifty miles from the junction OF the Vic
toria Nyanza with the undiscovered Lake
Albert. II they had but kept to the river
for only a few marches more they would
have found the latter lake, the second
great source of the Nile
AS II was. they arrived, on February
10, 1853. at Gondokoro. the highest point
on the Nile TO which explorers mad ar
uel Baker Spoke handed over TO the lat
ter all the notes that he had taken. and
by their aid Baker soon after discovered
Lake Albert Nyanza.
On his return from this momentous ex-
petition the only reward received by
Spoke from the British government was
the permission to add TO the supporters
Of his coat-of-arms a hippopotamus and
a crocodile.
Enmity II shown.
On his return TO England Spoke at
once' set about showing that he had
definitely settled the great question re-
gardfng the headwaters OF the Nile.
Even those who admire him admit that
his attitude toward Burton though never
unfair. was hard and pitlless. On the
Somaliland and Tanganyika expeditions.
he seems 20 have acquired a dislike for
his famous companion from which he
never freed himself Fresh attacks bv
Burton on Spoke began to thfcken about
four years after Speke's return from his
second expedition. They were heated
enough. but lacked the younger officers
incisiveness.
Burton's main object of course. was
20 belttle Speke's discovery OF Victoria
Nyanza. He tried to show that that
lake was OF no special Importance. mere
~ network Of swamps and small lakes.
and was overjoyed when Samuel Baker.
on returning from his explorations sub
seduent to those OF Spekc and Grant.
claimed that the Victoria Nyanza was
the ultimate source OF the White Nile.
not of the main river Burton maintain
ed that the Ruslzi River flowed out Of
the northern end OF Lake Tanganyika,
instead OF into that lake. hoping thus to
prove that connection existed between
Tanganyika and Lake Albert. II sue
cessful. he realized that his would ma
terally reduce the Importance Of the dis
covery OF Victoria Nyanza. He even
published map to illustrate his theory.
and worked hard TO make gecgraphers
agree with him.
The argument in print finally became
so fierce that joint debate between the
two rivals was arranged. 10 take place
at Bath. September Is. 1864 Instead Of
the debate. Bath saw an astonishing and
impressive scene OF quite different sort
THE great day arrived" says Thomas
Wright. Burtons biOgrapher, and no
melodramatic author could have contrived
a more startling. a more shocking de-
nOueement Burton notes I'm hand stood
on the platform. facing the great audi
ence, his brain heavy with arguments,
bursting with sesquipedalian and sedge-
hammer words. 10 pulverize his exasper-
ating opponent.
THE council and other speakers filed
in. The audience waited eXpectant To
BurtOns surprise. Spoke was not there.
silence having been obtained, the pres
ident advanced and made the thrilling
announcement that Spoke was dead. He
had accidentally shot himself that very
morning while out rabbiting
Burton sank into his chair, the work
Ing Of his face revealing the terrible emo
ton he was controlling. and the shock
he had received When he got home he
wept Ike a child"