Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-07-08
REV. VIM. L. SHEPPARD
HOME FROM AFRICA
Description of Belgium's
Cruelty to the Natives--M Many
Interesting Souvenirs.


orded missionary to Africa, arrived in
on Wednesday evening
with his family. He left Africa in
Aprff last but was compelled to stop
for some time in England where he
was nnder treatment for sun stroke
and neurasthenia caused by exposure
in the tropics. Twenty years ago, as
q mere youth, he went into the Congo
country with the hope of aiding IN
alevia ting as much as possible the
conditions there and to enlighten and
Chistianize the people. He was the
first colored missionary in that country
and suffered many privations and
trials in his early days, all OF which
he has recouuted to our people. But
several years ago, the cruelties OF the
Belgians towards the natives in their
mad rush for wealth, causedsMr. Shep-
pard and Rev. w. M. Morrison, a
white missionary fl om Lexington. Va, /,
20 publish statements regarding their
cruelties in forcing them TO produce
rubber. At the time these publica-
tions were made public, they caused
CONSERVATION throughout the civilized
worl1 and newspapers and magazines,
as we'll as societies and churches, too
the matter up; Investigations were
made, articles written, photographs
t AIKEN showing manning and mutila-
tion. Messrs. Sheppard and Morrison
were arrested, and whilst they were
not actually thrown into prison, they
were taken over nine hundred miles
from the interior to the town OF Leo
poldville, where they were at first
sentenced to pay O.0OO francs or be
imprisoned for five years. The pres
sure was SO strong from the outside
that the Belgian government, which
owns that country, was slow to en-
force the edict. Counsel was sent
from Belgium in the person Of Sena-
tor-Van de Welt who ably defended
them. He had twenty natives brought
down as witnesses, and on the trial
which followed these two missionar-
les were fully exonerated. The trip
was a long and arduous one, to be
present at the trial. Two hundred
miles was over land and seven hund-
red on small vessels down the Congo
to the falls. This exposure of Belgian
methods growing under the Leopold
regime has changed conditions for the
better, but has not entirely cured the
evil. No more manning takes place
to intimidate the people in order to
make them bring in their cargoes OF
rubber. but there is system of slavery
still extant, carried on by the agents OF
the Belgian government whereby they
COMPEL the people to work in the for
est about twenty days out OF each
month, gathering rubber. The mis-
sionaries are watched very closely by
the agents of the government, and fo1
the lest cause, or imaginary cause,
they are punished.
He saws that his town is a pros
porous one of about thirty thousane
natives, who have large trade IL
products Of the country surrounding
che city in such mercnandise,- stool
poultry and SO forth, as they raise
There are about two hundred teacher
of schools, and they have many schol
ars There is large tabernacle ther
and the attendance at Sunday Schoo
every Sunday is about one thousand
1 The printing and press work in book
is all done by the natives, and man
of the schools are taught by native
who have been educated by the miss
ionaries. The work of the mission
under the Presbyterian Church. MI
Sheppard expressed his deep sense {
obligation to his many friends IN thi
country and elsewhere, for their kindl
sympathy and substantial aid whent
and Dr.. Morrison were IN the toi
| of the Belgian prosecution, and h
takes this method of thanking the
for their devotion and kindness.
Mr.. Sheppard is stopping with h
/ sister here, Mrs. Eva Anderson. b
ia ther is a resident, also of STAUl
| TON but he himself was born in Wa
| nesboro. His son and daughter wi
5 have been in this country for son
r time and are being educated here, a
now at Warm Springs, Va, whe
they are staying at the invitation
e Mrs. John Eubank, who is the p1
s prietress. He has an invitation to 10
!. them.
n His health is not fully restored, b
# he is much better than when be Il
! Africa in April last. The editor
n this paper is indebted to him for
beautiful ivory headed cane the staff
e which is made from the wool OF
r, Barassas Palm. This wood is aim
n as hard as iron. 1t was carved by
is native with a knife much used
le them, but Is a beautiful piece
s work. The ivory handle has GRO
dile carved in it. In addition to til
he also presented him with some RI
made of Bakaba. These are very be-
n. tiful specimens of native work, a
ot are soft in texture and unique 6
in pretty in design. He also gave hir
nt native sword. The sword is alb
s. twenty inches in length, curved
ce form, about two inches broad and
a. namented with some carving.
L. owner had been converted to Oh
ty tianity and he had further use
.s- warelik weapons, so gave this one
ia his missionary teacher, to be brou
is here as souvenir.
N
ce
Mr.. P.A Areilart of the county l