The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1916-03-01
VISITOR ARRIVES IN FALLON
FROM DARKEST AFRICA
Three Months of Constant Travel
Required for journey Home. Will
Return With His Bride

Last week there dropped into
Fallon visitor from Darkest Afri-
ca" in the person of J. A. Burger,
who is spending a few days here on
visit with his sister, Mrs. Paris
Markwell.
Mr.. Burger was for many years a
resident of Tonopah and about three
years ago accepted a position as
field engineer and prospector for an
American Belgian syndicate, COM
prising the Forminiere company.
The company has big mining CON
cession in what was formerly the
Congo Free State but which is now
termed the Belgian Congo and their
territory is located in the very heart
of Darkest Africa" in the section
made famous many years ago in the
travels of Livingston and the mem
orable journey of the American
Stanley in search of the lost ex-
plorer.
Some idea of the immense dis
tance Travelled by Mr. Burger TO
again reach civilization, 1t may be
stated that the scene of his present
labors is 1900 miles up the Congo
which empties into the Atlantic
ocean on the west coast of Africa.
The journey occupied twenty-seven
days by caravan through trackless
forests and by river boats to the
coast. Mr. Burger left his camp.
which is but 200 miles from Lake
Victoria Nyanza, on the first day OF
November and has been travelling
constantly ever since with the ex-
ception of six days spent in London.
and another stop in Chicago, where
he acquired a bride, a sweetheart of
former Tonopah days, and which Is
supposed TO have been the impelling
reason for the long journey. Mrs.
Burger accompanied her husband to
Fallon and states that it is her In
tention to return with him to Africa.
undeterred by the fact that she Will
be the only white woman within q
radius of hundreds of miles. Mrs.
Burger is alive TO the possibilities
of her future homo and intends ac-
quainting herself with the operation
of the motion picture camera and
thus equipped purposes to have
something to show when she again
returns to civilization. They expect
to leave America on the return trip
about next June.
Speaking of the country. MIR. Bur-
ger says It is densely forested and
as his camp is located but two de-
grees from tho equator there Is little
change in the temperature the year
round averaging about ~ degrees.
However, as the elevation is 1000
feet 1t is comparatively free from
the dreaded jungle fever so prevail
ent along the banks of the Congo
and aside from the monotony Of
temperature is quite healthy, al
though conducive to feeling of
lassitude that can only be dispelled
by occasional visits to temperate
climate.
According to Mr.. Burger the ma
tive are q tractable people and give
no trouble to their white brethren.
They subsist chiefly by exporting
ivory. palm oil and rubber. No part
of this, however. is spent in cloth
ing, which consists principally of
fresh air with an occasional conces-
sion to the amenities by the addi-
ton of an abbreviated kilt of bark
The voyage from the African
coast to England was devoid of ex-
element although when nearing
home a keen lookout was kept for
submarines. none were encountered
The trip out occupied three months
and Mr. Burger expects that the re-
turn trip will be equally as long.
.