Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-08-20
A RELENTLESS PURSUIT
AMERICAN OUTLAW FINALLY
RUN TO EARTH BY BRIT
ISIIIiRS.
ORDERS were 0BEYED
TroOp Were Told Not 10 Return
without the Outlaw, Dead or
Alive.

LONDON, Aug. l9.-IIunted down
by British soldiers in the depths Of the
Jungles of Central Africa, where for
years in defiance of all authority he
had pursued the career of an ele-
phant poacher and Illicit ivory trader,
James Ward Rogers, an American, Is
dead lie was shot down by n little
force of troops who had been sent
into the wilderness in pursuit with
orders not TO return without the out
law, dead or alive
News of Rogers death came for
mally today to the British colonial
office from Captain c. V. Fox, inspec-
tor Of Mongalli province who com
manded the expedition. Although told
In an official report. the story re-
Vealed Is one Of the most dramatic in
colonial annals. For years Rogers
had carried on his lawless trade,
which popular opinion credited with
netting him a fortune. The remote
regions along the Lado lnclave and
CONGO boundaries We're scenes of his
operations. Time after time British
officials in Soudan had tried in vain
to trap him. 1t was this defiance
of years which determined the gov
ernment to crush the old man. Cap
tain Fox's report shows that in his
long operations Rogers had done more
than had been believed by the colo
NAL office. He had established an
organized administration over the
wild, trackless country and among
the natives was a virtual uncrowned
king.
Success Of the outlaw in handling
his subjects and in pursuit of his
trade, drew from Captain Fox in his
report, the tribute that Rogers work
was worthy of better cause. Not
since the explorer Henry M Stanley,
pierced the jungles in 1871 and
found DR.. Livingston, has such tale
of hardships, trials and dangers come
out of Africa. The report of Captain
Fox in this respect resembles more
nearly perhaps the tale Of General
Funstons dogged pursuit of Aguin-
aldo in the Philippines
To track the outlaw, the English
commander was given a commission
ed subordinate and six Soudanese sol
diers. Carriers and mules for the
supplies were a part of the equip
ment.
His instructions were plain-to not
return until the outlaw was captured.
Captain Fox in his report, fails to
mention dates in the man hunt.
1, of
jungle drama came three months ago
The pursuers then had spent sew
eral weeks plunging through the jun
gle that almost defied passage, Rog- |
ers cunningly leading them through
the densest of swamps, forests and
across deep streams Before the out
law was overtaken he had crossed the
Nile into the Belgian Congo.
Creeping up the Uganda 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 clothing to tatters ana
their supplies were exhausted leaving
them facing starvation in the wilder
ness.
The last 12 hours of the pursuit was
particularly trying. The chase led
over mountain with Rogers men
only a short distance in advance. AS
they fled ape-like natives sent back
taunts and jeers at their pursuers'
Dramatic in the extreme is Captain |
Fox's description Of the death of Rog-
ers. In the jungles into which they
had descended from the mountains
his party came suddenly upon a camp |
A native appeared before the English |
officer and said, "the commander
wants you to come in. lie Is SICK anu
cannot come out
Entering the house Captain FOX
found himself in a room lighted by
a candle. A white man was lying on
a cot and beside him sat companion,
also white. For time there was
dead silence. Captain Fox believing
he had been led into a trap. Then
he asked:
(Which is Mr.. Rogers|
'Mr. ROGERS has been shot" replied
the outlaws companion.
yes" interrupted Rogers, "and by
your men,"
Come, stand right here so | can
look at you" Rogers continued
His eyes were blazing from beneath
n blanket as he drew a revolver ana
pointed It at the officer.
~ am a dying men. | guess ne
said. II didn't think they could KIN
old Rogers, but they got him TINS
time. Still you're in Belgian territory
and you stand more chance for arrest
than | do"
Fearing that the revolver that men