A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 14397, 3 January 1911, Page 8

A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

The story of a wonderful adventure is related in the diary ol the late incut. Boyd Alexander, who was murdered by natives in the i’rench Soudan early this year. A hox containing tho diary was recovered by fae French punitive expedition, and the record was found to contain full details oi a journey which had occupied nearly two years and extended over GOOD miles. Last year Lieut. Alexander ascended a great lonst-clad peak in the German Camcroons, and when he was camped at an altitude ol 81HKJ feet he had the rare experience of witnessing nn eruption of the mountain. His escape from death was miraculous. During several days and nights shocks were lelt every lew minutes, anti the mountain under him

“seemed to leap like a live thing.’* The earth opened in huge fissures, and *;rarps and ledges of rock broke away and tore down the mountain side, levelling the trees in front of them. The forests and the tall grass shook with a deafening hissing sound, while the great stems snapped ilko matches, and out of tin* confusion thousands of monkeys fled, screaming in terror, clown the .slopes. Then at last the crater oi uomountain burst open, belching up flame and throwing huge rocks red-hot into the sky, so high that they appeared to dwindle to the size of peas. .Many of the rocks as they fell met ill collision others ascending, and exploded with loud concussions, scattering fragments far and wide. Often heavy pieces of hot .stone 101 l within n few feet of the spot whore the explorer and his native* hearers were camped. M'lien the outburst was over and a descent of flic mountain became possible, very great difficulty was experienced in securing food. The story had gone abroad that the earthquake and the eruption bad been caused by 1 he white man, who had fired Ins gun down the crater and so aroused the auger of the devil who dwelt within the mountain. The people fled in terror hejrnv Lieut. Alexander’* advance, driving off their cattle and leaving the villages deserted. It is indeed sad that the explorer .should not have lived to tell his story among his own people. After braving a thousand perils he died at the hands of a small group of treacherous natives.