Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1911-10-27
CHAPTER l.
SOMETHING TO BE DONE.

rTE was a very sick white man.
He rode pickaback on
woolly headed. black skinned
savage the lobeS OF whose
ears had been pierced and stretched
until one had torn out. while the other
carried circular block Of carved wood
three inches in diameter. The torn
ear had been pierced again. but this
time not so umbtiously. for the whole
accommodated no more than short
CLAW pipe. The man-horse was greasy
and dirty aud naked save for an eX-
ceedingly narrow and dirty loin cloth.
bu, the white man chung to him close
iy and desperately. At times from
weakness his head dropped and rested
on the woolly pate. At other times lie
lifted his head and stared with swim
ming eyes III the cN"anut palms 'iat
rrelpd and swung in the ShlinmerlllS
heat. He was clad III II thin under
shiu and u strip of cotton cloth that
wrapped about his waist and descend
I'd to his knees On his head was a
battered Stetso,,. known to the trade
as Il "U;aden-PoweIl" About his MD
die was strapped a belt. which carried
n large Gathered automatic pistol ana
several spare clips. loaded ana READY
for quick work
The rear was brought up by black
boy Of fourteen or fifteen. who carried
medicine bottles. II pail Of hot water.
and various other hospital nppurte-
uances. They passed out Of the CON-
pound through small wicker gate
and went on under the blazing sun.
winding about among new planted CO.
cOanuts that threw no shade. Inere
was not II breath OF wind. and the
superbeated. stagnant air was heaVy
with pestilencc. From the direction
they were going arose IL wild clamor
as of lost souls wailins and OF men III
torment. a long. low shed showed
ahead, grass walled and grass
matched, and 1t was from here that
the noise proceeded. There were
shrieks and screams. some unmistak
ably Of grief. others unmis' ''hly or
uncomfortable pain. AS the w,ilte man
drew closer he could hear Il low and
continuous moaning and grooming. lie
shlddered ut the thought OF entering
and for Il moment was quite certain
that he was going to faint. For that
most dreaded OF Solomon island
scourges. dysentery. had struck Her
onde plantation. and he was all alone
to cone with It. Also. he was afflicted
himself.
BY shopping close. still on hanback,.
he managed to pass through the low
doorway. He took small hottie from
his follower and shifted strong am
mOnia to clear his senses for the
ordeal Then ne shouted shut up!
and the clamor stilled. 4 raised plat
form of forest slabs. six feet wide.
with n slight pitch. extended the full
length ~ the shed Alongside of it
was Il yard wide runway Stretched
on the platform. side 10y side and
crowded close. i:ly u score of blacks
That they were low In the order OF
human life was apparent Mt glance.
They were maneaters. Their faces
were asymmetricai. hestiai: their
bodies were ugly and apelike. They
wore nose rings Of clam shell aud
turtle shell. and from the ends Of then
noses. which were also pierced. pro
jected horns Of beads strung on stiff
wire. Their ears were pierced and
tlistended to accommodate wooden
plugs and sticks. pipes. and all manner
Of barbaric ornaments. Their faces
and bodies were tattoOed or Scared in
hideous designs. In their sickness
they wore no clothing. not even lOin
llouts. though they retained their shell
Rrmlets. their bead necklaces and their
leather belts. between which and the
skin were thrust naked knives The
bodies of many were covered with nor
ible sores. Swarms Of flies rose and