The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-03-12

a.
lH5zEs155%sIts)l Mr. and Mrs Martin Johnson
>--- had an experience in the Solo
mon islands in the South seas
not long ago that has thrills all its own. It's
different-Athats all. The Solomons, be it known,
are one Of the few places where the liking of the
Cannbal Islands" still reigns and does business at
the old stand OF course none of the natives in
bulge openly in Long Pig; the white man sees
to that But back in the bush it is still about as
wild as it ever and the white man can't
watch the savages all the time And the appetite
and the taste still persist in the Solomon islands
savage.
Also, back in the bush the petty king takes unto
himself many wives he wants, in the good
oldfashiOned way of the Solomon slands-may-
be that's where they get the name And natural
~ king with white wife in his collection would
be some punkns-whch is where Mrs. Johnson
comes into the story. AS for Mr.. Johnson, evil
IDENTIFY the kettle hasn't been cast that can con-
vert him into a cannibalistic titbit
Iohnsons home is in Independence, Kan, but
he is seldom there because there is adventure in
his blood and he cannot stay long in place
lIarking back few years, he was with Jack Lon
don on The famous cruise of the Shark Forever
after there nothing to the Sedentary life of
the ordinary American for him. He had to roam
and the region that has presented the greatest
lure for him is the Solomon islands.
Like many another woman his wife, Osa, did
not discover until after her marriage exactly what
sort of a man her husband really was. She as
sumed that she had married an enterprising young
business man whose passion for photography need
give her no alarm. She knew of course that he
had been a friend of the late Jack London but
how, when he displayed such a proper, newly
we'd interest in the rugs and furniture and cur
rains Of the little home in Independence was
the poor girl to guess that one fine day her spouse
Would decide that no 90
In the South seas again?
When he made the announcement about six
months ago, however, Mrs Johnson decided she
was bound to be n pal and helpmeet or die in the
attempt, she decided to go along. And thus
il came To pass that a few weeks later in what
is known as The Big Numbers" district home of
The hercest race of cannbals at present in exis-
renee, Mr. and Mrs Johnson were rsking their
lives to obtain photographs of these people. They
are said to be the first white people ever to en-
ter into this district and come away
From the moment of JOhnson's landing in the
New IIehrides and the white people became aware
Of his mission, he was warned against making
of the savage natives of the large
Island Of Malel;ula but the stories he heard only
made him want to photograph these people all the
more 1t with the idea of being close TO This
island that he visited the small island of Vac and
made arrangements to stop with an American
missionary located there and wait his chance
Every Gay for week he watched for some
schooner His intention to make arrange
mentS with the captain to take him TO the Big
Numbers district, % miles from Vac. on the other
side Of the island of Maekula. But no schooner
came along and he grew restless for he wanted
he pictures Finally he secured Il whaleboat be-
logging ia trader and persuaded five semi
civilized cannbals of Vac island to go along as
crew.
Right here is where Johnson made three mis-
takes. Mistake No. was in going No was n,
taking his wife with him. No was in not taking
along Il motion picture man.
They sailed away from Vac one morning and
shortly after noon of the same day came into Big
Numbers bay and drew the boat upon the sandy
beach. Al first not native was in sight. Then
about - savages emerged from different places
along the horseshoe bay and came to them They
We're of larger stature than any Johnson mad seen
in this group. Around their waists they wore
lark bands that covered them from their upper
hips 10 their first ribs. This band is sort of
hell that is wound around two or three tines
naiside of this they were entirely naked
Most of them had very hairy faces and big
leads Of buShy hair and many wore armlets and
jn6etS OF wild boar tusks. But their faces were
he striking part about them; they We're the ug-
nest aud crucest and most repulsive the ex-
llcrer had ever seen. Their mouths were large
heir eyes those of an animal and their skin was