The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1913-03-28

fSlNGN millions all over the world until
1NMJ the story of his tragic end was pub
lished broadcast. Yet SO many who
have travelled In Stanleys Darkest Africa'-the
territory which witnessed the truly remarkable
end of an adventurous career-the details of the
dramatic chase through the jungles and its still
more dramatic conclusion will not be a
ppe-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 the story brings regrets.
for Rogers was a fine type of man, even though
his latter days were spent in outlawry and de-
fance 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
incidentally, under the control of the Sudan
officials.
Prior to this-that is to say under Leopold's
rule-the Lado Enclave was the happy hunting
ground of band of British and foreign ivory
poachers. The Belgian administration of the
Lado was mere farce. Officials were few and
far between and the natives did they willed
without fear of let hindrance. 1t must be re
membered however, that if any Of the poachers
were caught red-handed with the poached ivory
they sent to the Belgian Congo capital Leo
poldsville, on the Congo river to undergo ten
years hard labor in a chain-gang
This little pleasantly of punishment was the
worse imaginable. They chained round the
neck and fastened to long string of the worst
native naefactors 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 a blazing sum- goaded to
further labor by the extreme brutalities of their
hard-hearted guards.
White and negro were treated alike. No
favors shown to any OF them.
1t may be safely stated that the death OF
Rogers closes the lorg chapter of lawless ele
plant poaching in the Congo. For years the
Lado Enclave known as mo Mans Land"
but it is not so now, for the Sudan government
assumed control in June 1910, and set about
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. V. Fox Of the Egyptian army and
discussed at length with him the prospects of rout
ing out the iVory-poachers.
At the time 1 little thought that triae 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 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 d
rect from my old friend Captain Fox and part
from other friends in Africa. Captain Fox's story
lacks a good many details, for the modesty of
the British soldier is reflected throughout his
ratlVe. There are many points you and would
like to have cleared up, but either Foxs modesty
or his sense of what is due to dying mans last
request prevent the calculation Of the blank
spaces
For instance, would like to know who is the
doctor referred to by Rogers and Captain Fox
Maybe we shall 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 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 sympathze with Rogers, even if one
dsapproves of his breaches of the law His is a
picturesque figure and he died doubt, he
would have wished to have died--with his face
to the front and shielding his comrade, the mys-
terious doctor
Rogers American who, at different
times, resident of many cities in California
He had spent many years of his life in
quenchable search after adventure-with big
A-unti he found his hearts desire in Central
Africa. He joined in the rush to the Klondike in
the late nneties and after his return he entirely
disappeared until the news came or 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.
He got the natives of the Lado Enclave under
his control that they did his every bidding
and acted his allies He established an or
ganized administration the wild trackless
country, and, among these naked savages who
had hitherto known no master virtually
king even If he was I'm uncrowned monarch.
Time after time he evaded capture by Sudan and
Belgian officials And, finally, we know that he
euded hot pursuit for six weeks
Entering the Lado Epclave with his white com
panion, he set to work to make the unruly and
hitherto unsubdued natives subservient to his
willard even more than that for he made
them stanch allies. On the approach of govern
ment officials the natives would give him annie
warning SO that he could escape Then he tray.
eled about the country until he saw a good site
for his headquarters, where he could store his
ivory, ammunition and supplies
The next thing to do to train a band OF
natives to act soldiers
All now being ready, he proceeded to mark