News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-08-23
KILLED BY WILD ELEPHANTS.
A White Man who Once Found Him
self Destitute in Central Africa.

The cable announced last week that
Mr.. Deane, one of the agents of the
Congo Free State, had been killed in an
elephant charge while out hunting.
This gentleman was in command of the
Stanley Falls station when it was at
tackled, two years ago next month, by
the Arabs. On his retreat from that
station he had one of the most thrilling
experiences which ever befell white
man in Africa.
Before the station fell his ammunition
had been almost entirely exhausted, and
the greater part of his force had skur-
RED down the river, leaving him to his
fate. In the darkness of the night,
Deane and his comrade, Dubois, with
three or four Haussa soldiers, stole away
from Stanley Falls and noislessly made
their way westward along the river
bank. 1t was not long before Dubois,
slipping upon stone at the waters
edge, fell into the rapid current and was
drowned. Deane was left alone with
his few black comrades, and the pros
pect that they would escape was very
| slight.
They pushed on all night, but in the
intense darkness they were able to make
their way only few miles through the
thick underground. Thoroughly tired
out they stopped at daylight for short
rest. The rain. which had been falling
all night, ceased, and Deane took off his
drenched garments to partially dry
them. While his clothes were hanging
on the bushes, shouts were suddenly
heard a few hundred feet behind the
little party. The Arabs had discovered
their retreat and were in hot pursuit.
They were so near that Deane could
hear the grass rattle as the enemy
sprang through it, rapidly following the
muddy tracks of the fugitives. Deane
had just time to throw his clothes over
his arm and start at full speed through
the bush, followed by his Haussa attend
ants. They could hear the shouts of
the Arabs, who were on their trail for
hours, and every nerve was strained to
distance the pursuers. At last the noises
behind them grew fainter, and by noon
it was evident that the enemy had grown
weary of the chase. Then the hunted
little party stopped for a breathing
spell.
1t was q woebegone and almost hope
less band of fugitives. In the mad race
for life every Haussa had lost his gun,
and not weapon of any sort was left in
the party. One by one Deane had
dropped his garments, and he had moth
ing left except small military cape,
which he threw over his shoulders. In
the midst of an African jungle he had
not the slightest protection for his bleed
ing feet, and even if he had saved his
boots he would not have dared to put
them on for the tracks would have in
stantly revealed to any prowling Arab or
hostile native that white man was in
the neighborhood. A cannibal tribe,
with whom Deaue himself had had
serious fight, lined the river below, and
he dared not appeal to them for succor.
He was about 300 miles from the nearest
white station at Bangala. All that could
be done was to struggle down the river,
through the dense bush and forests, sew
eral miles inland, avoiding all the tribes,
except one OF two that were known to
be friendly, and living on whatever they
could pick up that would afford nutri-
ment.
For four weeks this white castaway in
Central Africa, almost naked, and weak
with hunger and fatigue, wandered
through the solitudes of the county.
The nights were cold, but the only Gov
ering the fugitives had was dried leaves,
which they heaped over themselves as
they lay down on the bare earth under
the trees. They found many wild grapes
and some other fruits of the forest, but
these alone would not give them strength
to keep up the hard march. An occa-
sional monkey or bird would have been
n 1a1I frI1 or RI
plies, but without guns they could not
obtain game of any sort. They did what
any one else would do when fighting
against starvation. Many AFRICAN tribes
esteem fried ants as a great delicacy.
Whenever our fugitives came to q pros
porous colony of antslthey laid in O sup
ply. Then many 1aterpillars crossed
their path, and these treasures were
carefully slowed away in cartridge box.
At dinner time the party would build
fire, roast their ants and caterpillars,
and disguise these solid viands as much
as possible with mouthfuls of grapes and
other fruit. It was anything but pala-
though the poor fellows became SO weak
that they could travel only three or four
miles day.
Az ldSG GIlOJ CdLlG ~ GIl0 DdhtlI11u lIlD0
who live along the river, and the fugi-
tives thought they might safely reveal
themselves to these people. Their con-
tidence was not betrayed, and the fugi-
tiyes were supplied with provisions
which were agreeably varied their cat
erpillar diet. Meanwhile the Bangala
who deserted Deane at Stanley Falls
had reached home in canoes, and inform
ed Capt. Coquilhat of the unhappy
plight of his brother officer. The capt
ain at once started to the rescue on
little steamer. He found Stanley Falls
station burned to the ground, and as he
lay in the river he had hot exchange
with the Arabs in rat
Ting fire of musketry. 1t was evident
that Deane had either been killed or was
making his way down stream.
Then began search along the river |
banks for the unfortunate white man,
but no trace was found until Coquilhat |
reached the Bakumu, who told him that
two days before they had relieved the |
necessities of the fugitives. A few miles
inland in a deserted hut the rescuers
found the naked man. It was time |
Deane was absolutely worn out. His
face was badly swollen, his eyes were
and he could hardly crawl. He
bad no disease, but famine had nearly
used him up.
This bitter experience did not wean
Deane from his love of African advent
IRE. He remained in the service of the
Congo Free State, and he is one of the
very few white men who have ever per-
shed in a charge of enraged elephants,
though Baker and several writer's have
given vivid descriptions of this danger
which hunters sometimes encounter.