Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-20
CONGRESSMAN is CHARGED
WITH USING HIS POSITION
TOAD WATER POWER GRABS
BRITONS KILL AN
AMERICAN TRADER
Story of Death of James Ward
Rogers in African Jungle
Reaches London.

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 Captain C. V. Fox, inspector
of Mongolia province. who command,
| ed 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
lawless trade, which popular opinion
credited with netting him a fortune
| The remote regions along the LadC
Enclave and Congo boundaries were
the scenes OF his operations. Time
after time British officials OF the Su
dan had tried in vain to trap him. II
was this defiance of years which de
termined the government to crush the
old man.
Captain Rox's report shows that II
his long operations Rogers had done
more than had been dreamed of by
the colonial office. He had establish
ed an organized administration ovel
the wild, trackless country, and among
the natives was a virtual, II uncrown
ed king
Apparently the denouement of tn,
jungle drama came three months ago
The pursuers then had spent week.
plunging through the Jungle that al
most defied passage, Rogers cunningl.
leading them through the densest o
swamps, forests and across dee
streams. Before the outlaw was over
taken he had crossed the Nile into tn
Belgian Congo.
: Creeping up the Uganda bank OF tn
Nile, the expedition pushed forwar
for six weeks before the quarry wa
located. Fox and his men then ha
worn their clothes to tatters and thei
supplies were exhausted, leaving theI
facing starvation in the wilderness.
The last II hours of the pursuit wa
particularly trying. The chase lie
over a mountain, with Rogers me
only a short distance in advance. A
they fed, the ape-like natives of tn
outlaw sent back taunts and jeers a
their pursuers.
! In the jungle into which they ha
descended from the mountain, accord
ing to Captain Fox's report, his part
came suddenly upon camp. nativ
approached the English office an
! said:
THE commander wants you to com
, in He Is sick and cannot come out
, ! Entering the hut Captain Fox foun
himself in a room dimly lighted by
, candle. A white man was lying on
couch and beside him sat compal
ion, also white. For time there wa
dead silence, Captain Fox beiievin
he had been led into trap. Then b
asked
Which is Mr.. Rogers?"
"Mr. Rogers has been shot" replie
the outlaws companion.
YES" interrupted Rogers. "and b
: your men"
: Come stand right here so can loo
. al you," Rogers continued. His eye
we're blazing and from beneath a bla
u ket he drew a revolver and pointed
at the officer.
+ 81 am a dying man, | guess"
said. 81 didn't think they could ki
old Rogers, but they got him this tim
Still you are in Belgian territory al
YOU stand more chance for arrest tha
do"
Fearing the revolver which menace
him might be discharged at any n
ment, Captain Fox argued with Il
outlaw to gain time Finally Roge
turned to his companion, whom he a
dressed as doctor, and said:
u 81 want you TO witness what I 6;
doctor Captain Fox, / am dyii
man, so would not lie about anythin
This was my show and all my wor
am afraid I have brought you in
S trouble, doctor
V We'll, had my good times, as We
T. as bad. | cant stand religious peOpI
o II YOU have religions, just live up
n them"
;. \ noise in his throat interrupted Il
I old mans words.
Say. did you hear that?' he 9
claimed That's the death rattle. I
heard that too many times to ma
r any mistake This prediction prov
II correct. for these we're his last wore
q Throughout his talk with CAPITA
5 Fox Rogers shielded his white co
2 panion and did not reveal his identit
o. Captain FoI's report also is singular
al silent or this point, as he says he 4
g know the doctor. Il is thought like
,e however, that this was done to pl
tcct the man.
Wabash. IEd.-John Schuster, sci
at ing a term in state prison from 2
Nv ! Years for arson attended the