Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-02-06


one had been hit, just to encourage
our enemies. They, on their part
were perfectly silent only the bang
ing and flashing Of their long, heavily
charged fiint-lock guns disclosing
their presence.
After what seemed an eternity OF
crawling we were abreast of them'
and so close to some of them that we
could distinguish their dark forms ly-
ing on the sand. Here, needless TO
say, we had to move'with the utmost
caution, and we were very glad they
were so busily occupied. They SEEM
ed to be distributed in skirmishing or
der right across the bank, about
hundred yards from our encampment
or perhaps less.
WE crawled. steadily Tor an hour,
and at last distinguished the canoes
with their bows and arrows hauled up
a little on the bank. To our horror
and CONSERVATION, however, we saw
that they were in charge Of four men.
Evidently there was trouble ahead, for
the problem of how to capture the ca
noes was a difficult and dangerous one.
We had no desire. to terminate our
lives in an obscure native squapple.
We were peaceable traders, wantonly
attacked, and, having become involv-
ed in a fight not of our own seeking
our only, desire was to get out OF II
quickly and without unnecessary
bloodshed. Taking those canoes SEEM
ed to be the only way Of accomplish
ing this, yet it was hardly likely that
the guard would yield them up with
out a struggle-and that struggle
might bring the whole mob down up
on us.
Daylight was breaking and we had
only a short time at our disposal be-
fore discovery was inevitable. Our
business was to dispose of these -FOUR
men silently and swiftly. We could
not determine how they were armed
and our close proximity prevented our
a plan Of action, for the ma
tiye's ears are sharp. With hundred
odd fierce and well-armed savages be-
hind us, and only four men in front
our minds were quickly made up, and
silently and stealthily we crept up to-
wards them. We two white men were
in the lead, and had nearly reached
the nearest canoe when things were
taken out of our hands in startling
fashion.
Suddenly a terrible scream rang out
into the night, followed by discharge
of guns, and we clearly saw one OF
our Senegalese soldiers rise out OF the
water, whence he had succeeded In
the occupant of the nearest
canoe. Selling the man around the
neck, he had plunged his knife into
him; but one of the numerous charms
worn by all natives had diverted the
blade, and the blow had not proved
fatal. Pandemonium Immediately re-
suited. Concealment and surprises
were now both equally impossible
and rising to our feet, we rushed the
canoes, at the same time discharging
our reyolvers. With one bound
huge, powerfully built man leapt In
front Of me, aiming cut at me with
his hatchet which, had it proved Ell
fectiye. would have severed my head
from my body. STOPPING quickly
felt the whirl of the murderous wea-
pom pass over my head. Before he
could recover himself 1 struck out
with all my strength. My fist landed
fairly below the heart, and to my sur
prise the giant dropped and lay writh-
ing in agony at my feet.
Being now imbued with the fighting
spirit, 1 seized native paddle and
rushed forward to find fresh antag-
onist. c. was struggling on the sand.
gripping a native by the throat with
one hand. They rolled over and over,
wildly aiming blows at each other,
while the third boat-guard was dane
ing round, trying to get blow in with
his hatchet at the first opportunity.
He was quite unaware Of my approach
and l dealt him a heavy blow on the
head with my paddle, which probably
would have fractured the skull Of any
white man. AS it was, it laid him out
on the sand to all intents and pur-
poses lifeless, but later on in the day
l saw him apparently none the worse.
The arrival of one of the Senegalese
soon disposed Of C-'s adversary, and
none too soon, for the horde Of saw
ages, alarmed at the noise in their
rear, were now returning, discharging
their guns in the usual reckless native
manner.
BY this time the soldiers had sue
ceeded in pushing the canoes adrift'
and before the foremost native had ar
rived we had fioated off the last of
them and were padding as fast as our
strength would permit, out of danger
from the volleys of weird missiles
which natives are accustomed to cram
into the barrels Of their guns.
But our work was not yet done.
Apart from the injuries we had in
flicted on the men in the canoes, the
rest were unharmed, and so far very
unrepentant and infuriated mob of
savages who had yet to be taught that
they could not attack white men with
impunity.
We heard shouts of surprise and
rage when they discovered their ca
noes gone, and some of them COM
menced calling over to the mainland.
in the vain hope Of being heard. The
town, however, was a good three miles
away, so they found themselves fairly
trapped, for at daylight, if we wished,
our rifles could pick them off one by
one. There was no shelter for them
on the sandbanks, while we could cas-
lily keep out of the range of their an
cient guns.
After getting we'll out of range we
allowed our canoe to drift down
abreast of our encampment, where we
pulled in and landed. Before our re-
turn our boys had packed everything
up and sent all the kit to the launch.
We then ordered every one to get on