World_Adventurers_Club_32-The_Borneo_Diamond

Summary

Episode Overview

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: World_Adventurers_Club_32-The_Borneo_Diamond
Date: March 3, 2026

This episode transports listeners to the smoke-filled, story-laden lounge of the World Adventurers Club, a fictional gathering spot where explorers and thrill-seekers swap tales of their most perilous journeys. The focus of this episode is Dick Hampton’s retelling of his harrowing expedition into the wilds of Borneo in search of a fabled diamond—a journey marked by betrayal, loyalty, and ultimately, tragic irony.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Introduction of the Club and Atmosphere

• [01:09-03:13]
  • The World Adventurers Club is introduced as a place where men who have “braved adventure and danger the world over” share their wildest stories. An opening poem celebrates the courage and camaraderie of adventurers past and present, setting an epic, nostalgic mood.

Dick Hampton Takes Center Stage

• [03:13-05:51]
  • Club member Dick Hampton is called upon to recount his most recent adventure. Initially reluctant, Dick quickly gets swept up in the anticipation from his peers.
  • Sets the stage for a story of “the loyalty of a black man and the treachery of a white”—deliberately subverting usual colonialist tropes.
  • Introduces the legend of the Borneo diamond: a stone “as large as an orange,” supposedly brought to earth by a meteor and revered by local Dayak tribes.

The Expedition and Encounter with Stockman

• [05:51-06:51]
  • Hampton describes meeting Stockman, a “sailor and a trader,” in the town of Tawa, forming a tense partnership despite his lack of trust in the man.
  • The pair (supported by native porters including Kulo) trek into the jungle and successfully recover the mysterious diamond.
  • Stockman’s demeanor changes—he becomes “like a man possessed,” consumed by greed and paranoia.

Kulo’s Warning and Rising Tension

• [06:51-08:39]
  • Kulo, Hampton’s loyal servant, wakes Hampton at dawn with an urgent warning—Stockman plans to double-cross and kill him to claim the diamond alone.
  • Kulo reveals Stockman’s orders: “Boss Stockman him catch him big diamond. Him want diamond all by self... Stockman tell black boy kill you pretty quick. Then him have diamond all by self. When you dead.”
  • Instead, Kulo sides with Hampton, preparing firearms and urging immediate escape.

Notable Quote [07:41]
Kulo: “All black boy know Boss Stockman. Him tell black boy kill you pretty quick. Then him have diamond all by self… But me, your black boy.”

The Escape and Pursuit

• [08:39-10:33]
  • Hampton and Kulo decide to flee at once, aiming to reach the coast and safety.
  • The camp stirs; a chaotic chase ensues through the jungle, culminating at the river where both parties (Hampton/Kulo and Stockman/others) find canoes.
  • The pursuers are attacked by crocodiles, stalling their chase and throwing Stockman’s party into disarray.

Memorable Moment [10:25]
Chorus: “Crocodiles!”
Narrator: “The crocodiles have capsized them. We're safe.”

Kulo’s Sacrifice

• [10:33-11:16]
  • Amid the escape, Kulo is mortally wounded. As the danger passes, Kulo insists Hampton take the diamond and escape alone.
  • Kulo, loyal to the end, succumbs to his wounds, sacrificing himself to ensure Hampton’s survival.

Notable Quote [11:16]
Narrator: “A black man loyal to the death. Now that was the sacrifice of Kulo. He died to lessen the way to the canoe. I had no choice but to go on alone.”

The Ironic Twist

• [11:16-11:44]
  • Hampton survives and reaches civilization, only to discover the “diamond” is nothing more than a massive chunk of quartz.
  • Stockman, the would-be traitor, is killed by crocodiles.
  • The expedition brought treachery, death, and sacrifice—but not riches.

Notable Quote [11:44]
Narrator: “The craving of two white men. Murder. Death and treachery, all for a piece of quartz. But I shall always remember Kulo.”

Reflections and Club Wrap-up

• [11:44-12:16]
  • Hampton closes with a somber reflection, crediting Kulo’s selflessness and contrasting it with Stockman’s greed.
  • He concludes, “I think his loyalty and Stockman's treachery make me think a little more of the black race and a little less of the white.”
  • The club prepares for its next tale, passing the torch to member Jackson.

Closing Poem

• [12:16-13:31]
  • A haunting chorus poem evokes the dangers, violence, and primal law of the jungle, reinforcing the themes of peril and sacrifice.

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Timestamps and Highlights

• 01:09 – Welcome to the World Adventurers Club
• 03:13 – Dick Hampton is called upon to tell his story
• 05:53 – Discovery and retrieval of the Borneo diamond
• 06:50 – Kulo’s warning: Stockman’s betrayal revealed
• 08:39 – Flight through the jungle begins
• 10:25 – Crocodiles attack Stockman’s party
• 10:33 – Kulo’s fatal wounding and final sacrifice
• 11:44 – The cruel twist: the diamond is worthless
• 12:16 – Poetic reflection on the savagery of the jungle

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Tone & Style

The episode crackles with old-time radio drama energy—rich in dialogue, suspense, and character-driven storytelling. The language is direct, sometimes florid, and leans into the dramatic tropes of adventure fiction from the era. The interplay of loyalty, betrayal, and the ultimate futility of greed is handled with both nostalgia and a faintly modern edge of moral reflection.

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Notable Quotes

• Kulo’s Loyalty:
  “Me tell him. You me fix gun so you shoot em for Stockman.” – Kulo [08:02]

• On Treachery:
  “First the double crossing traitor. He wants my death to look like an accident and then he'll own the diamond.” – Narrator/Dick Hampton [08:10]

• On Kulo’s Sacrifice:
  “A black man loyal to the death. Now that was the sacrifice of Kulo.” – Narrator [11:16]

• Final Reflection:
  “The craving of two white men. Murder. Death and treachery, all for a piece of quartz. But I shall always remember Kulo. I think his loyalty and Stockman's treachery make me think a little more of the black race and a little less of the white.” – Narrator [11:44]

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Summary Conclusion

This World Adventurers Club episode vividly captures the hazards and heartbreak of golden-age exploration, spotlighting the line between friendship and betrayal, and the price of human decency in the face of greed. It’s a window into both the storytelling style and the cultural attitudes of the era—by turns thrilling, tragic, and reflective.

Transcript

[Announcer]

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[Narrator]

Once again, the World Adventurers Club bids you a hearty welcome. Here in the comfortable lounge, we find men who have braved adventure and danger the world over. It is the custom of this club to hold a series of informal meetings in which each member is called upon to tell the most thrilling experience of his lifetime. The World Adventurers Club invites you to draw up a chair and sit in with this inner circle and hear a thrilling tale of the royal road to adventure.

[Chorus/Poet]

Glory and love to the men of old Their sons may copy the virtue Bold courage in heart and sword in hand Glory to fight before the lamb now home again we come the long and fiery strife of war is over Rest charmed aside to toil beneath the stranger sun Beneath the wild stranger's son A maiden fair his waiting marriage to greet her true and soldier lover and many a heart will fail and proud will feel A blue apparel he has run Many a heart fail and many a heart will fail and will fail to hear the tale of Carolina's love We are at home we are at home we are at home we are at home Glory and love to the men of old Their sons may copy the virtue bull Curry gen hard of a sword in hand Already to fight for fatherland Already to fight Already to die for fatherland Are ready to fight all ready to die already to die far far. Gentlemen, gentlemen. Gather around. Gather around. I'm going to call this informal meeting to order.

[Narrator]

All right, find your favorite chairs and settle down for a new story of adventure. Into this club today walked our good member, Dick Hampton.

[Chorus/Poet]

Hello there, Dick.

[Narrator]

How are you? Hiya, Dick.

[Chorus/Poet]

Oh, now listen, boys.

[Narrator]

I'm no good at making speeches. Johnson has called upon you. It's up to you, Dick. Oh, but I say I'm not prepared. In the wilds of Borneo, you were prepared for anything. Now all you have to do is to tell us of your last expedition. It looks as if I can't escape from this crowd. Once I started a revolution among some savages. And there was a time when I outwitted a dozen hungry cannibals. And I admit I can't dodge this bunch of adventure fiends. You've got me, boys. What can I do for you? We want to hear about Borneo. Yes. For many a day we've been waiting for you to come back. Now we've got you where we want you. I call this meeting together. But from now on, you're going to do the talking. All right, gentlemen. I'll tell you what happened to me in Borneo. It's not the sweetest story in the world, but it's one I shall never forget. You've all heard stories of white men who have been attacked by treacherous natives. But I'm going to tell you a tale that recounts the loyalty of a black man and the treachery of a white. It won't increase your respect for the white race, but it may give you a thrill or two. First of all, have you ever heard of the great diamond of Borneo? The richest stone in the world? The story goes that the famous Borneo diamond had been seen by a white man who discovered it far in the interior of that little known country. This diamond was said to be as large as an orange, worth a fortune to the man who found it. Now there are natives of Borneo known as Dyaks. A tribe of these Dayaks said that the huge diamond fell from the sky. A diamond from the sky? What could that have been? A meteor. Exactly. The natives discovered this meteor when it came into the Earth's atmosphere and crashed into the jungle of Borneo. They held it in terror. But a white man heard of it, a man named Stockman. It preyed on his mind. He had visions of countless riches if he could just get that huge diamond and get it back to civilization. I met Stockman at the town of Tawa in North Borneo. He'd been a sailor and a trader with natives. And he needed a partner to. And he needed a partner to fix up an expedition to go after that diamond. Fix up an expedition to go after that diamond. Fix up an expedition to go after that diamond. Fix up an expedition to go after that diamond. Fix up an expedition to go after that diamond. Well, I didn't like the looks of the fellow, but even though I didn't trust him, I decided to take a chance. We agreed to share and share alike, and we formed a partnership to reach the interior and retrieve the great Borneo diamond.

[Kulo]

So you started after it?

[Narrator]

We did. And what is more, we got it. You got it? You actually brought it out of Borneo? Well, what's become of it? Well, there's no use my boring you with the details of the trip. It's enough to say that after several weeks we found the spot where the meteor landed. We unearthed it and cut out the diamond. There it was, gentlemen, a glittering piece of wealth. A diamond as big as an orange. Stockman acted like a man possessed. He danced in glee, cursed at the natives and eyed me with suspicion. I think the idea of so much wealth must have unbalanced his reason. At any rate, he became surly and nasty and I was glad when we decided to start back the civilization. There was one Dayak native in the expedition whose name was Kullo. And at dawn on the day we were to leave with the diamond, Kullo, who had been acting as my personal servant, woke me and warned me to be quiet. What do you mean by that? Only a few words from Kulo were enough to convince me that my life was in danger and that I had to deal with a madman. Who?

[Kulo]

The native?

[Narrator]

No, Stockton. When? Oh Stockton. When Kulo awoke me at dawn in the heart of the Borneo jungle, he told me a story that I knew meant life or death and that I was acting once.

[Kulo]

Boss man. Fellow boss man wake up.

[Narrator]

What's this? What do you want? Kulo wake up.

[Kulo]

Boss man danger. Him come plenty quick.

[Narrator]

What? Hey there. What are you doing with those revolvers?

[Kulo]

Me load em boss man. Me fix them so boss man shoot and kill.

[Narrator]

What's all this about? Tell me. You black rascal.

[Kulo]

Boss Stockman him catch him big diamond. Him want diamond all by self. Him all by self. Him no want you half diamond.

[Narrator]

How do you know?

[Kulo]

All black boy know Boss Stockman. Him tell black boy kill you pretty quick. Then him have diamond all by self. When you dead. All black boy know but me your black boy. Me tell him. You me fix gun so you shoot em for Stockman.

[Narrator]

Great Scott. Stockman wants to kill me.

[Kulo]

Him tell black boy kill you. When some come up, me tells you.

[Narrator]

First the double crossing traitor. He wants my death to look like an accident and then he'll own the diamond.

[Kulo]

But Tim no do Kulo steal diamond. What diamond? Here me steal em. See me steal em for you while Boss Stockman sleep. Now you kill him. Boss Stockman or him kill you.

[Narrator]

Listen Kulo, I understand your loyalty. But white men don't kill each other like that.

[Kulo]

Then you die. When some come up, black boy kill you with poison arrow. Bostockman Tellum too.

[Narrator]

Listen Kulo, we won't wait for poison arrows. We leave. Now we'll try to make the coast. Now we'll try to make the coast. Now we'll try to make the coast. And we'll take the diamond with us. Back in civilization. I'll give Stockman his share and we'll call it quits.

[Kulo]

Here. Guns. Boss man. Me go with you.

[Narrator]

Easy now. We'll fade away into the jungle. Then we'll give Stockman a slip. You guard the diamond. I'll take the guns.

[Kulo]

Trail to coast. This way.

[Narrator]

Give us a good start and we'll never let Stockman catch up. I think I'll be. What's that?

[Kulo]

That.

[Narrator]

What's that? That. What's that? That. What's that? That. What's that? That. What's that? That. What's that? That.

[Kulo]

Bambi poison.

[Narrator]

Man.

[Kulo]

Mcos. Go. Run, Boss man.

[Narrator]

The whole camp is awake. Follow me, Kulo. We've got to run for it.

[Kulo]

There's Stockman Hampton stealing the diamond.

[Narrator]

Now.

[Chorus/Poet]

Kill him.

[Narrator]

You black.

[Chorus/Poet]

Gilles, cut his heart out. After him.

[Narrator]

Come on, Kulo. Our lives depend on speed.

[Kulo]

Me here go by some boss. East.

[Narrator]

We must head for the east. Here's the river downstream.

[Kulo]

Here. Canoe on. By heaven.

[Narrator]

Out she goes. Climb in, Kulo. Off we go.

[Kulo]

Here, paddle, Boss man. Make him go fast.

[Chorus/Poet]

They're at the river.

[Narrator]

After him.

[Chorus/Poet]

Murder him. Kill him.

[Narrator]

Master Kuno. Faster. We can't stop the fire. Back.

[Kulo]

The Stockman got canoe too. Him catch us. Me frayed.

[Narrator]

Look. On the bank. A crocodile.

[Kulo]

Him after Bostockman.

[Chorus/Poet]

No crocodile.

[Narrator]

Help. They're upset.

[Chorus/Poet]

Crocodiles.

[Narrator]

The crocodiles have capsized them. We're safe.

[Kulo]

Bye, Bossman. Kulo go.

[Narrator]

What?

[Kulo]

Kulo stop. Bullet. Me shot here. Take home Diamond 4. Kulo die.

[Narrator]

The crocodiles will stop them. They can't chase us here. Let me see your wound.

[Kulo]

No Boss man. Kulo no good now. No camp patter. Take em. Diamond go lone. Kulo die here.

[Narrator]

Wait. What are you doing?

[Kulo]

Me going river. You go lone save diamond by Boss Man Culo.

[Narrator]

Great scott. The crocodiles will finish him.

[Chorus/Poet]

Kulo.

[Narrator]

Kulo. And he dies to save me.

[Kulo]

Kulo.

[Narrator]

A black man loyal to the death. Now that was the sacrifice of Kullo. He died to lessen the way to the canoe. I had no choice but to go on alone. After many days of hardships, I made civilization. And what of Stockman? And what of the diamond? The crocodiles finished Stockman. And the diamond, to my everlasting chagrin, proved to be nothing but a huge chunk of quartz.

[Chorus/Poet]

And not the real thing.

[Narrator]

All for a chunk of quartz. I told you it wasn't a pleasant story that came out of Borneo. The craving of two white men. Murder. Death and treachery, all for a piece of quartz. But I shall always remember Kulo. I think his loyalty and Stockman's treachery make me think a little more of the black race and a little less of the white. And now, gentlemen, I'd like to hear somebody else tell of an adventure to this organization. Jackson's next. Yes, I feel Jackson at the next meeting.

[Kulo]

We're counting on you.

[Chorus/Poet]

Oh, the savage fright of a jungle night Is a fearful sight to behold Here the Bushmen know that the red moon's glow Brings a chill to a heart that's bold Here the prowling beast has a gory feast and the earth is untamed and raw Here the flying guard Finds a ready mark and a life for a life is long O' er the ocean's pound With a hollow sound the crags of a rock found cold and the wind wails Fly with a scream on high like the cry of a tortured ghost hear the prowly beast has a gory feast and the earth is untamed and raw Here the flying dart finds a ready mark and a life for alive is long and a life for a life is law

[Narrator]

and as you say goodbye to the World of Adventurers Club, don't forget that you are always a welcome guest to hear of their strange adventures in strange land. Sam.