Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-08-20
James Ward Rogers Had De-
fled English Laws and Killed
Elephants for Years in Dark
est Africa.
ESTABLISHED RULE
IN LAWLESS COUNTRY
Captain Fox ChaSeS Outlaw for
Weeks Through Jungles and
Across SwanpS and Rivers of
Congo Region.


iBy Morning journal Special Leased wire.
London, Aug. l9.-llunted down by
British soldiers in the depths Of the
iungles OF Central Africa, where foi
Years. in defiance of all authority, he
had pursued the career of elephant
poachcr and Illicit ivory trader James
Ward Rogers, an American, Is dead.
HE was shot down by little force of
troops which had been sent into the
wilderness in pursuit with orders not
10 return without the outlaw, dead or
alive.
News of Rogers death came for
mally today to the British colonial
Of ice from Captain G. V. Fox, in
spector of Mongolia province, who
commanded The expedition.
Although told in an official report,
the story revealed is one of the most
dramatic in colonial annals.
For years Rogers had carried on
his lawlcss trade which popular opin-
ion credited with netting him for
tune. The remote regions along the
Congo boundaries were the scenes of
his operations. Time after time Brit
ish officers of the Soudan had tried
in vain to trap him. 1t was this de-
iiance of years which determined the
government 10 crush the old man.
Captain lSox's report showed that
in his long operations Rogers had
done more tha had been dreamed o.
by the colonial office.
lie had established an ORGANIZED
administration over the Wild track
Tess country and among the natives
vas 4 virtual, IL not q crowned king.
The success Of the outlaw in handl-
ing his subjects" and in the pursuit
or his trade drew from captain Fox,
in his report the tribute that Rogers
work was worthy Of better cause.
Not since the explorer, Henry NJ.
stanley. pierced the junglcs in 1871
and found pr. Livingstone, has such
q tale Of hardship, trials and dangers
come ont Of Africa. Captain lNo-,'s re-
port in this respect, resembles most
NEARLY perhaps, the tale Of General
Frederick p. l'unstons dogged pur-
suit Of Asuinaldo in the Philippines.
For the purpose Of tracking the
outlaw, the English commander was
given n-commissicned subordi
nate and six Soudanese soldiers Bod
and mules for the transpor
tation Of supplies were part of his
His Instructions were plain
not to return until the outlaw was
captured.
With n soldiers disregard for red
tape. Captain Fox in his report fails I
to mentor dates in describing the |
man hunt. Apparently the denounent |
Of the jungle drama came three |
months ago.
The pursuers then had spent weeks |
plunging through the jungle that al
most dcflcd passage, Rogers cunning
by leading them through the densesi |
Of swamps, forests and across deep |
streams. Before the outlaw was over
taken he had crossed the Nile into I
the Belgian Congo.
Creeping mp the Unganda bank of
the Nile. the expedition pushed for
ward for six weeks before the quarry
was located Fox and his men then
had worn their clothes to tatters and
their supplies were exhausted, leaN
inn them facing starvation in the will
derness.
The last twelve hours of the pursuit
was particularly trying The chase itd
over mountain with Rogers men
only a short distance in advance As
they fled the ape-lke natives of the
outlaw sent back taunts and jecrs ai
their pursuers.
Dramatic in the extreme is captain
Foss description of the death of
Rogers.
In the Jungle into which they had
descended from the mountain. liis
party came Suddenly upon a camp
lathe approached the English officer
ind said
The commander wants YOU TO
'ome in. lie is sick and cannot come
,ut
Entcrine the hut Clptain fDN
uund himself in a room dimly lighted
" a candle. \ white man was lying
"a couch and beside him sat a COM
lanion, also white. For Il time there
vas dead silence. Captain Fox be
ieying he had been led into "A trap.
'hcn he asked
Which is Mr.. Rogers
Mr. Fogt RS has beer shot" replied I
he outlaws companion
Yes" interrupted Rogers. ''anc hN :
our men"
Come stand right here so can
lok at YOU" Rogers continued. His
YES were blazing and from beneath {
blanket he drew a revolver and I
ointod il at the officer. |
Z am a dying man. I guess. he
aid. Il did not think they could kill
Ia Rogers. hut they got him this I
me. Still. you are in Belgian terri I