Congo Free State
Joseph Conrad’s novel "Heart of Darkness", originally published in 1899 as a three-part series in "Blackwood's Magazine", inspired by his service as a captain on a steamer on the Congo 12 years before, sparked an organized international opposition to Leopold's exploitational activities. In 1900, Edmund Dene Morel, a part-time journalist and head of trade with Congo for the Liverpool shipping firm Elder Dempster, noticed that ships that brought vast loads of rubber from the Congo only ever returned there loaded with guns and ammunition for the "Force Publique". Morel became a journalist and then a publisher, attempting to discredit Leopold's regime. In 1902, Morel retired from his position at Elder Dempster to focus on campaigning. He founded his own magazine, "The West African Mail", and conducted speaking tours in Britain.
Heart of Darkness (horse)
Heart of Darkness began his career in a maiden race over six furlongs at Goodwood Racecourse on 4 August in which he started at odds of 9/1 and finished fourth of the eight runners, six and a quarter lengths behind the winner Majlood. Thirteen days later he was stepped up in class and distance for the Listed Washington Singer Stakes over seven furlongs at Newbury in which he was ridden, as on his debut by Steve Cauthen. Starting the 11/2 outsider of the four runners, he raced at the rear of the field before accelerating into the lead inside the final furlong and winning by one and a half lengths from the Barry Hills-trained Caerdydd.