Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-08-24
THE JUNGLE KING
SLAIN BY BRITISH
The American Outlaw Who Ruled
Natives for Years, Killed
in Africa

London, Aug 20 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 formal
ly late yesterday to the British colo
NAL Office from Capt. C. V. Fox, in
spector Of Mongalle province, who
commanded 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 fortune.
The remote regions among the Lado
Enclave and Kongo boundaries were
the scene of his operations. Time af-
ter time British officials of Sudan had
tried In vain to trap him. 1t was this
defiance OF years which determined
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 colonial officers He had establish
cd an organized administration over
the wild trackless country, and among
the natives was a virtual, if uncrown-
ed king
The success of 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 a better cause.
Not since the explorer, Henry M
Stanley, pierced the jungles in 1871,
and found DR.. Livingstone, had such
tale of hardships. trials, and dan
gers come out of Africa. Capt Fox's
report in this respect resembles most
nearly, perhaps, the tale of Gen. Funs
tons dogged pursuit of Aguinaldo, in
the Philippines.
For the purpose of tracking the out
law the English commander was given
a non-commissioned subordinate and
six Sudanese soldiers. Body carriers
and mules for the transportation OF
supplies were part of his equipment
His Instructions We're plain-not to
return until the outlaw was captured
With a soldiers disregard for red
tape, Capt. Fox. In his report, fails to
mention dates in describing the man
hunt. Apparently the denouement OF
the Jungle drama 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
of swamps, forests. and across the
streams. Before the outlaw was over
taken, he had crossed the Nile into
the Belgian Kongo.
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 we're exhausted, leaving
them facing starvation in the wilder.
ness.
The last twelve hours of the pur-
suit were particularly trying. The
chase led over mountain, with Rog-
ers' men only short distance in adj
vance. AS they fed, the apelike ma
tives of the outlaw sent back taunts
and jeers at their pursuers.