The Raymer enterprise., 1913-03-27

TST/1 HIiIlOHS all over the world until
oNGJ the story OF his tragic end pub,
lished broadcast Yet so many who
have travelled in stanley's Darkest Afrca'-the
territory which witnessed the truly remarkable
end OF an adventurous career-the details OF the
dramatic chase through the iungles and It's still
more dramatic conclusion will not be a mere
pipe-dream.
There must be many others In America besides
myself who have been through this section OF
Central Africa and to whom Rogers was known
personally. And to US the story brings regrets.
for Rogers was fine type OF man. even though
his latter days were spent In outlawry and de.
hance OF lawfully constituted authority
In order that the causes which led up to the
tragedy may be better understood, It is neces.
sary to touch lightly upon history and political
facts. Many may recall that the British govern.
ment leased the strip OF the Congo territory
known as the Lado Enclave-a long strip stretch.
Ing along the banks OF the Nile from the south.
ernmost extremity OF Lake Albert to Kro on
the edge OF Sudan-to the late King Leopold OF
the Belgians. for the duration OF his lifetime On
his death. It passed back into British hands and
incidentally, under the control OF the Sudan
officials
Prior to thIs-that is to say under Leopolds
rule-the Lado Enclaye was the happy hunting.
ground OF a band OF British and foreign ivory.
poachers. The Belgian administration OF the
lado was farce officials were few aud
far between and the natives did as they willed
without fear OF let or hindrance. 1t must be re-
membered however that II any OF the poachers
were caught redhanded with the poached ivory
they were sent to the Belgian Congo capital, Leo.
podsville, on the Congo river to undergo ten
years hard labor in chan.gang.
Thls little pleasantly OF punishment was the
worse imaginable They were chained round the
neck and fastened to a long string OF the worst
native maefactors. Their legs were riveted into
chains and round their middes we're other heavy
chains supporting the enormous legrons. All
day these poor wretches worked In the forests or
In the open. under blazing sum- goaded on to
further labor by the extreme brutalitles OF their
hardheartcd guards
White man and negro were treated alike No
fayors shown to any OF them
II may be safely stated that the death OF
Rogers closes the long chapter OF lawless ele
phant poachIng In the Congo. For years the
Lado Enclave was known NO Mans Land"
but II Is not so now, for the Sudan government
assumed control In June 1910 and set about ex
terminating the poaching industry.
On my arrival au Mongolia the southernmost
post OF the Sudan on the Nile in those days
had the good fortune to meet my old comrade in
arms, Capt. c. V. Fox OF the Egyptian army and
ing out the yory.poachcrs
At the time little thought that. a triHe over
two years later Captain Fox would be the central
figure with Rogers in one OF the most dramatic
and exciting stories OF real adventure which has
ever come out OF the Congo, or for that matter,
Africa. But we who know our Africa have learn.
ed to be surprised at nothing
Part Of this remarkable story comes to me d.
rect from my old friend Captain Fox and part
from other friends In Africa. Captain Fox's story
lacks good many details for the modesty OF
the British soldier is reflected throughout his mar
rative There are many points you and | would
Ike TO have cleared up but either Foxs modesty
or his sense Of what is due to a dying mans last
request prevent the euc!dation OF the blank
spaces.
For Instance We would like to know who is the
doctor referred TO by Rogers and Captain Fox
Maybe We shall never know, Rogers lips are
sealed by death and the lips Of Captain Fox are
sealed by dying mans last charge. The doc.
tor must go down to posterity as a figure OF
mystery unless the Begians disclose his name
We know that he was the boon companion OF
Rogers and we have the latter's statement that
he was Innocent OF poaching.
One must sympathize with Rogers even II one
disapprOyes OF his breaches OF the law His is
picturesque figure aud he died as no doubt, he
would have wished TO have ded-with his face
TO the front and shielding his comrade the mys-
terlOus doctor
Rogers was an American who ut different
times was a resident OF many cities In California
He had spent many years OF his life in an un.
quenchabe search after adyenture-with big
A-until he found his hearts desire In Central
Africa lie Joined in the rush to the KlondIke in
the late nneties and after his return he entirely
disappeared until the news came OF his death in
Africa
After trying first one thing and then another
In Africa, he turned his hand to elephant paach.
Ing. and here he found his true element OF ad.
venture
He got the natives OF the Lado Enclaye under
his control 10 that they did his every bidding
and acted as his allies He established an or.
ganlzed administration over the Wild trackless
country and among these naked sayages, who
had hitherto known no master. was virtually
King, even II he was un uncrownod monarch
Time after time he evaded capture by Sudan and
Belgian officials. And. finally, we know that he
eluded hot pursuit for ever six weeks
Entering the Lado Enclaye with his white com.
panion, he set TO work to make the unruly and
hitherto unsubdued natives subserylent TO his
Willard even more than that for he made
them staneh allies. On the approach OF govern.
ment officials the natives would give him ample
warning 80 that he could escape Then he tray.
pIcd about the country until ha u,p . ,a.J liz