Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-08-20
KILLED IN THE JUNGLE.
Strange Story that Comes from Depths
of Africa.

OI ttITtC8.
London, Aug. 19.-Hunted 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 elephant
poacher 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
to return without the outlaw dead or
alive.
News of Rogers death came for
mally today to the British colonial Of
fee from Capt C. v. Fox, inspector of
Mangahall province. who commanded
the expedition. Although told in an
official report the story revealed Is one
Of the most dramatic in colonial an
nails.
For years Rogers had carried on his
lawless trade, which popular opinion
credited him with netting him for
tune. The remote regions along the
Lado Enclave and Congo boundaries
were the scenes Of his operations. Time
after time British officials of the Sou
dan had tried in vain to trap him. It.
was this defiance of years which de-
termined the government to crush the
old man.
Capt. Fox's report shows that in his
long operations Rogers had done more
than had been dreamed OF by the CO.
lonial offices. He had established an
organized administration over the wide
- n fry nd af,toI
uncrowned king. The outlaw In hand
ling his subjects and In the pursuit of
his trade drew from Capt Fox In his
report, the tribute that Rogers work
was worthy of q better cause. Not
since the explorer, Henry M. Stanley,
pierced the jungles in 1871 and found
DR.. Livingston has such q tale OF hard
ships, trials and danger come out of
Africa Captain Fox's report In this
respect resembles most nearly perhaps
the tale Of Gen. Funston's dogged
pursuit of Aguinaldo in the Philip
pines. 90
For the purpose Of tracking the
outlaw the English commander was
given noncommissioned subordinate
and six Soudanese soldiers. Carriers
and mules for the transportation OF
supplies were part Of his equipment.
His instructions were plain-not to re-
turn until the outlaw was captured.
With soldiers disregard for red tape
Captain Fox, in his report, fails to
mention dates in describing the man
hunt. Apparently the denouemeht OF
the jungle came three months ago.
The pursuers then had spent weeks
plunging through the jungle that al
most defied passage, Rogers cunning
ly leading them through the densest
swamps, forests and across deep
streams. Before the outlaw was over
taken 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 had
then worn their clothes to tatters and
their supplies were exhausted, leav-
ing them facing starvation in the will
derness.
The last twelve hours of the pursuit
were particularly trying. The chase
led over a mountain with Rogers men
only a short distance in advance. AS
they fed, the ape-like natives Of the
outlaw 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 jungle into which they
party came suddenly upon camp. A
native approached the English officer
and said:
1.-The commander wants you to come
in. He is sick and cannot come out"
Entering the hut Captain Fox found
himself In a room dimly lighted by
candle. A white man was lying on
couch and beside him sat a compan-
ion, also white. For time there was
Gil q
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, land by
your men,"
Come, stand right here, so I can
look at you," Rogers continued. His
eyes were blazing and from beneath
blanket he drew a revolver and point
ed It at the officer.
II am dying man, guess" he
said. II didn't think they could kill
old Rogers, but they got him this time.
Still you are on Belgian territory and
I do"
Fearing that the revolver that men
aced him might be exploded at any
time. Captain Fox argued with the
OulldW u gam fhOBcIS
turned to his companion, whom he ad-
dressed as Doctor" and said:
81 want you to witness what I say,
doctor. Capt. Fox, am q dying man,
so I would not lie about anything. This
was my show and all my work. am
afraid have brought you into trouble,
doctor.
"Well, I had my good times as we'll
as bad I can't stand religious people.
II you have religious feelings just live
up to them"
A noise in his throat interrupted the
old mans words.
Say, did you hear that?" he ex-
claimed. That's the death rattle. I've
heard that too many times to make
any mistake"
This prediction proved correct for
these were his last words.
Capt. Fox's report also Is singularly
silent on this point, as he says he did
not know the doctor. 1t Is thought
likely, however, that this was done to
protect the man.
- Lancaster, August II: The county