Richland beacon., 1888-10-13
a CATERPILLAR LUNCH,
hriiiinS Tzpcr'c ce OF a Noted
African Explorer.


African Explorer.
Inc cable Announced last week thai
Nr. Deane, one Of the agents of ,h
Congo Free State. had been killed il
Elephant charge while out hunting.
his gentleman was in command O
the Stanley Falls station when it was
attacked two years ago next month b,
The Arabs. On his retreat from tha,
station he had one of tho most thr II.
ng experiences that ever bcfcH =
white man IN Africa.
Before the station fell his amc,l,ri
ton had been almost entirely exhaust
ed ana the greater part of h S fer &C
had scurricd down the river, leavln y
aim TO his fate. In tho darkness OF the
night Deanc and his comrade, Dubois.
with three or four H1ussa soIdIe rs.
stole away across from STANLEY Falls
and ho:selessly made their way west
ward along tie river bank. Ii was
not leforc Dubo S. 81 PIP ng upon a
stone at the waters edge. fell into the
rapid current and was drowned. Deanc
was left alone with his two black com
rades and tho prospect that they would
escape was very slight.
They pushed on all ght. but in the
intense darkness they wero able to
make their way only n few miles
through the thick underground. Thor
oughlr tired out, they stopped at day.
light for a short rest The rain which
had been falling all night ceased. and
Deane took Oft his drcnchod garments
to partially dry theil. While his
clothes were hanging on the bushes
shouts were suddenly heard few
hundred feet behind The little party.
The Arabs had discovered their retrca.
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 fugit YES. Deane
had J'lst Tine 10 throw his clothes
over his arm and start at full speed
through the bush. followed b; his
Haussa attendants. They could hear
the shouts of the Arabs, who were on
their ira for hours. and every nerve
was strained to distance the pursuers.
AL last the no scs behind them grew
fainter. and by noon it was ev dent
that the enemy had grown weary of
the chase. Then tie hunted tile
party stopped for a breathing spell.
1t was wOebcgone and almost
hopeless band of fugitives. In the mad
race for life every HaussA had lost his
gun. and not weapon OF any sort was
left i'm the party. One ky one Deanc
had dropped his garments and lie had
nothing left except a small military
cape, which he threw Owe: his should
crs. In the midst of an African Jungle
he had not the slightest protection for
his bleeding feet. and even If he had
saved his boots he would not have
Jared to put them on. for the tracks
would have instantly revealed To- any
prowling Arab or hostile native that
white man was in the neighborhood.
A cannibal tribe, with whom Deane
himself had had serious fight, lined
he river below, and he dared not ap.
peal TO them for succor. He was about
hree hundred niles from the nearest
white station at Bansula. All that
could he done was to struggle down
ho river. through the dense bush an d
Orests. several miles inland, avoiding
Ill tho tribes, except ono or two that
we're known to be friendly. and living
IN whatever they could pick up that
would afford nutriment
For four weeks this white castaway
n Central Africa, almost naked, and
weak with hunger and fatigue. wan
Tered through the solitudes of the
country. The nights were cold, but
he ONLY covering the fugitives had
we're dried leaves. which they heaped
'ver themselves as they Law down on
he bare earth under tho trees. They
ound many wild grapes and some
'ther fruits OF the forest. but these
lone would not give them strength to
ecp up the hard march. An OCCASION
i monkey or a bird would have been a
delightful addition TO their food sup
lies. but without guns they could not
btain game of any sort. They did
ghat any one else would do when fight
ng against starvation. Many African
ribes esteem fried ants as q great deli.
acy. Whenever our fugitives came
o prosperous colony of ants they laid
q a supply. Then many caterpillers
rOssed the path, and these treasures
1cre carefully slowed away in cart.
idgc box. At dinner time the party
'ould build fire, roast their ants and
aterpi!lars. and disguise these solid
lands as much as possible with mouth
ils of grapes and other fruit Ii was
nything but palatable fool. but it
ept life in their bodies. though the
OOr fellows became SO weak that they |
ould travel only three or four miles a
ay.
At last they came to the Bakumn
'i5e. who live along the river. and the
igitives thought they might safely re-
cal themselves to these people. Their
onf,lcnce was not betrayed. and the |
lgilives were supplied with provisions
lich very agreeably varied their cat
r-piller diet Mean while the Bangala
tho deserted Deane at Stanley Falls,
ad reached home i'm canoes and in.
'rmed Capt. Coquilhat of the unhap-
y plight of his brother officer. The
,pta n ut once started to the rescue
n little steamer. He found Deane
bsolutelv worn out His face was
ably swollen. his eyes were sunken.
nd he could hardly crawl. He had
o disease. but famine had nearly used
i'm up.-St. Louis Post Dispatch.