Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1913-03-28

uSned broadcast. Yet so many VINO
have travelled In Stauleys Darkest Africa the
territory which witnessed the truly remarkable
end OF an adventurous career-the details of the
dramatic chase through the junges and its 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 known
personally. And to the story brings regrets.
Tor Rogers was fine type of man. even though
his latter days 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 the Lado Enclave-a long strip stretch
ing along the banks of the Nile from the south
ernmost extremity of Lake Albert to Kiro. 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.
accidentally, under the control of the Sudan
officials
Prior to this-that is to say under Leopolds
rule-the Lado Enclave was the happy hunting
ground of a band of British and foreign ivory
poachers. The Belgian administration of the
LaadO was mere farce. Officials were few and
Tar between and the natives did as they willed.
without fear of let or hindrance 1t must be re-
membered, however, that if any of the poachers
were caught red-handed with the poached ivory,
they were sent to the Belgian Congo capital, Leo
poIdsviIle, the Congo river, to undergo ten
years hard labor in a chain-gang.
This little pleasantly of punishment the
worse imaginable. They were chained round the
neck and fastened to long string of the worst
native malefactors. Their legs were riveted into
chains and round their middles were other heavy
chains, supporting the enormous legirons All
day these poor wretches worked in the forests or
In the open, under blazing sun. goaded to
further labor by the extreme brutaties of their
hard-hearted guards.
White and negro were treated alike. No
.favors we're shown to any of them
1t may be safely stated that the death of
Rogers closes the long chapter of lawless ele-
plant poaching in the Congo For years the
Lado Enclave known mo Mans Land"
but it is not now, for the Sudan government
assumed control in June, 1910 and set about ex
terminating the poaching industry.
On my arrival at Mongolia, the southernmost
post of the Sudan the Nile in those days,
had the good fortune to meet my old comrade in
arms, Capt. C. " Fox of the Egyptian army and
discussed length with him the prospects of rout-
ing out the ivory-poach6.:s.
At the time little thought that, tride 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
cd 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
rative. There are many points you and would
like to have cleared up, but either Fox's modesty
his sense of what is due to a dying mans last
request prevent the elucidation 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 a figure OF
mystery unless the Belgians disclose his name.
We know that he the boon companion of
Rogers and we have the latter's statement that
he innocent of pOaching
One must sympathize with Rogers, even If one
disapproves of his breaches of the law His is
picturesque figure and he died as. doubt, he
would have wished to have died-with his face
to the front and shielding his comrade, the mys-
terious doctor.
Rogers was an American who at different
times a resident of many cities in California
He had spent many years of his life in an un-
quenchabIe search after adventure-with big
A-until he found his hearts desire in Central
Africa. He joined in the rush to the Kloddike in
the late nineties and after his return he entirely
disappeared until the news of his death in
Africa
After trying first one thing and then another
In Africa, he turned his hand to elephant poach-
ing. and here he found his true element of adj
venture.
his control that they did his every bidding
and acted, as his allies. He established an or
ganized administration the Wild trackless
country, and among these naked savages, who
had hitherto known master, virtually
king even IL he was un uncroWned monarch.
Ts3vr1co fnn 6nd hxyC rxdn
Belgian officials. And, finally, we know that he
eiuded hot pursuit for ever six weeks
Entering the Lado Enclave with his white com
panion he set to work to make the unruly and
hitherto unsubdued natives subservient to his
willard even than that for he made
them stanch allies, On the approach of govern
ment officials the natives would give him ample
warning that he could escape Then he trav-