Engineering Wonders of the World
Volume I

THE AFRICAN TRANSCONTINENTAL TELEGRAPH. 203 “ EMINENTLY SUITABLE RUBBING-POSTS ” (see p. 200.) A Stirring Incident. the outbreak of the rebellion in Maslionaland in 1896. On June 16 of that year a telegram was received from Salisbury at the mining settle- ment of Mazoe, which the line had just reached, announcing that all the white men at the Beatrice Mine, some 40 miles from Salisbury, had been murdered by the rebels. All the white settlers around Mazoe were accordingly collected at the Alice Mine, and it was decided that an attempt should be made to reach Salisbury before a general rising among the blacks in the vicinity should occur. Telegrams were consequently ex- changed with Salisbury, from which place a wagonette was promptly dispatched under the charge of a Air. Blakiston, an employee of the Telegraph Company at Salisbury, to take back the women. Before it could get far on its return journey it was pursued and quickly caught up by a strong body of armed blacks. The whites had only five rifles and a very small supply of ammunition among them. It therefore became necessary to telegraph to Salisbury for assistance. The telegraph office was, however, about a mile and a half from the spot where the vehicle was being held up ; to reach it was a work of extreme danger. Messrs. Blakiston and Routledge— the latter being the local telegraphist—volun- teered to attempt the task. They succeeded in fighting their way through the rebels, and ultimately reached the telegraph office and dispatched the message. Unfortunately, how- ever, both were killed almost immediately afterwards as they endeavoured to force their way back to their party. Their gallant self- sacrifice was not in vain, however, for a strong party of horsemen speedily turned out from Salisbury and brought the party of settlers safely to the capital. During the building of the line there have been several other instances of almost equal valour, and the construction staff generally has shown a spirit of unflinching courage and deter- mination in the face of the utmost difficulties and dangers. It may be added that, by special direction of Mr. Cecil Rhodes, and in order to preserve the “ all British ” character of the line as much as possible, the whole of the material necessary for the construction, equipment, and TELEGRAPH OFFICE AT KOTA KOTA, LAKE NYASA. maintenance of the line has been purchased, and as far as possible manufactured, in this country. On the next page will be found a table of the principal distances on the line,