Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-10-19
CHAPTER /.
In the Wilus.

interest and swiftness.
CHAPTER 1.
In the Wilos.
had this story from one who had no
business to tell it to me or TO any otn-
er. l may credit the seductive in
nuence of an old vintage upon the mar
ralor Tor the beginning VI 1t and my
own skeptical incredulity during the
days that followed for the balance Oh
the strange tale.
do not say the story is true, for
did not witness the happenings which
ir portrays.
The yellow, mildued pages OF the
diary Of a man long dead and the rec
ords of the colonial office dovetail per-
tectly with the narrative Of my con-
yiyial host, and so l give you the story
as pieced it out from these several
agencies.
If you do not find it credible, you
will at least be as one with me In ac-
knowledging that it is unique, remark
able and interesting.
From the records of the colonial Of
flee and from the dead mans diary we
learn that a certain young English no
bleman, whom we shall call John Gay
ton, Lord Greystoke, was COMMISSION
ed to undertake peculiarly delicate
investigation Of conditions in British
west coast African colony from whose
natives another European power was
known to be recruiting soldiers for It's
army, which latter 1t used solely for
the forcible collection Of rubber and
ivory from the savage tribes along the
Kongo and the Aruwimi.
We learn also that on a bright May
morning in 1888 John, Lord Greystoke'
and his bride, Lady Alice, sailed from
Dover on their way to Africa
A month later they arrived at Free
town, where they chartered small
sailing vessel, the Fuwalda, which was
to bear them to their final destination.
And here John, Lord Greystoke, and
Lady Alice, his wife, vanished from
the eyes and from the knowledge OF
men.
Two months after they weighed an
chor and cleared from the port OF
Freetown, a half dozen British war
vessels were securing the south Allan
tic for trace of them or their little YES
sell and it was almost Immediately that
the wreckage was found upon the
shore of st. Helena which convinced
the world that the F'uwalda had gone
down with all on board, and thus the
search was stopped ere it had scarce
begun.
We know now that the crew of the
Fuwalda mutined, slew her officers
and spared John Clayton and his wire
because of a favor done to the leader
of the mutineers by Clayton. Later
the crew, fearing discovery, set John
Clayton and his wife ashore on the
wild west coast of Africa, giving them
sufficient arms and tools to enable
them to maintain life with work.
Near the shore Clayton built little
cabin for himself and his wife. They
endured much hardship, seeing no hu-
man creature, but watched often by
the giant apes which infest that region.
One day Clayton imprudently left his
wife alone. and she was attacked and
injured by one Of the great apes. Clay
ton slew the beast and bore his wife
back to the cabin.
That night little son was born in
the tiny cabin beside the primeval for
est, while a great tiger screamed be-
fore the door and the deep notes. oi
the lions roar sounded from beyond
the ridge.
from the shock Of the great apes at
tack, and, though she lived for veal
after her baby was born, she was new
er again outside the cabin, nor did she
ever fully realize that she was not ir
England.
In other ways she was quite rational
and the joy and happiness she took II
the possession Of her little son and the
constant attentions of her husband
made that year a very happy one fol
her, the happiest Of her life.
Long since had Clayton given up any
hope Of rescue. except through acci'
dent. With unremitting zeal he hat
worked to beautify the interior Of the
cabin.
Skins of lion and tiger covered the
floor. Cupboards and bookcases linet
the walls. Odd vases made by his owl
hands from the clay of the region helt
beautiful tropical flowers. Curtains O.
grass and bamboo covered the win
dows, and, most arduous task of al
with his meager assortment of tools
he had fashioned lumber to neatly sea
the walls and ceiling and lay smooth
floor within the cabin.
During the year that followed Cay
ton was several times attacked by tn
great apes, which now seemed to in
fest the vicinity of the cabin, but a
he never ventured out except with botl
rifle and revolvers he had little fea
of the huge beasts.
He had strengthened the window
projections and fitted unique woodel
lock to the cabin door, so that when h
hunted for game and fruits he had n
fear that any animal could break int
the little home.
At first much of the game he sho
from the cabin windows. but towar
the end the animals learned to fear tn
strange lair whence issued the terrify
ing thunder of his rifle.
In his leisure Clayton read. ofte
aloud to his wife. from the store o
books he had brought for their neN
home Among these were many 70