The Red Cloud chief., 1913-05-15

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- ApWN Paul Graetz OF the
+ W13MN German army In an
NLR autom bile. His
thrilling adventures
on this daring and
plucky expedition
are of too recent occurrence to nave
been entirely forgotten.
To have crossed Africa in an auto
mobile Ia no mean boast. when one
remembers that there are no roaos
and no repair or gasoline supply
stores en- route. The Cape.to-Cairo
railway--that great dream OF truly
great empire builder. Cecil Rhodes-'s
fast nearing completion: and IN
year, or perhaps a little more, traVei-
ers may journey in luxurious COM
fort by train and steamer from cape
Town to Alexandria They VINO 40
this will be able then to realize TO the
fullest possible extent what the
pioneers Of travel In the African MN
terland had to contend with
One would think that to bring TO
q successful termination such a g.
gantic feat as that which Lieutenant
0raetz set himself In his famous AT
Yican automobile expedition would be
suff,cient to satisfy even the most
eluttonous appetite for adventure. Yet
It is typical Of Lieutenant Graetz that
he should not rest content with this
one truly great achievement.
His project, undertaken on behalf
Of the African World. was to cross
the great and practically unknown re-
gions Of Central Africa from the In.
dian to the Atlantic ocean, by way
of the Zambesi river. Lake Bang
weolo, and the Congo river. How
ever, not by automobile this time, but
by motor boat. This offered some
thing unique in the way Of African
travel. II meant hardships and dis
appointments innumerable, but what
Of that?
He mapped out route that would
take him from Quilimane. the port on
the coast of Portuguese East Africa.
to the mysterious Lake Bangweolo.
by way Of the River Quaqua. LAGER
donia, River Shire. Port Herald. Chit
cuana, Fort Johnstone. Lake Nyassa,
Karonga. and then across the water
shed to Fife. The motor.boat was
specially prepared for this part Of the
Journey. being fitted with wheels fol
use on land.
From Fife he decided to travel by
way Of the Chambesi river, Kabinga
and thus arrive at the shores OF the
small inland sea. Lake Bangweolo
upon which no white man had ever
sailed. After spending some time ex
ploring this unknown water and col
lecting specimens OF aquatic and lant
life, Graetz planned to push on to the
Atlantic by way OF the Luapula, Lake
Meru. Paula. Kasengo, Lukongzolva
Kiambi, Stanleyville. Coquillhatville
Yumbi and Leopoldville. and thus Il
the mouth of the Congo.
Take up map OF Africa and trace
out this route for yourself. and yo,
may realize In part what this stupen
dous Journey OF six thousand mileI
(allowing for the necessarily tortuou
route to be followed) meant to Lieu
tenant Graetz and his companion. tn,
French cinematograph operator. Mon
sieur Octave Fere.
Graets had heard of the magi
Lake Bangweolo from the Awemb
tribe. II had q sinister reputation
among the native tribes resident bot
near and far from its shores. TIL
Awemba people told him that Bans
weolo was studded with islands, O
which were to be found colossal ell,
plants and gigantic giraffes. while o
its waters swan huge sea-serpent
and other strange creatures. Frol
the surface of the lake hot spring
rose and fell like fountains In the air
and pestilential winds, sweepin
across the reedy marshes. carrie
death to all living beings,
No health resort this; rattle
Dante's Inferno! No natives ventu
ing upon it's waters In their frai
fantastically shaped canoes had ev,
returned. II was regarded by son
tribes an q sort Of Hades. where
parted souls suffered continually II
most dreadful torments; while othe
again thought that It was the a
proach to Paradise. where the spiri
Of their dead relatives enjoyed pe
feet life under the protection OF the
gods.
II was known to be surrounded
thick and impenetrable rushes. ma
ing It's exploration matter OF gre
dificulty. The great prize whi
Graetz hoped to secure, In addition
being the first explorer of this VIC
derful lake set deep In the heart
the wilds OF Africa. was specimens
species Of gigantic buffalo, whi
were commonly believed by the Z
tives to make their home on 4
shores of the lake, They were know
TO be unusually fierce and dangerol
but this did not deter Graetz and /
plucky companion from their advs
turous quest after them.
Lieutenant Graetz left Berlin
February 25, 1911. accompanied