Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-04
IN CENTRAL AFRICA.
An Explorer Who Found Himself in q
Desperate Situation.

IN CENTRAL AFRICA
An Explorer Who Found Himself in
Desperate Situation.
The cable announced some time ago
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 STAN
ley Falls station when it was attacked
two years ago by the Arabs. On his re-
treat from that station he had one of the
most thrilling experiences that ever befell
a white man in Africa.
Before the station fell his ammunition
had been almost entirely exhausted, and
the greater part of his force had skurried
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 noiselessly made their way
westward along the river bank. It 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 COM
rades, and the prospect 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 a 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
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
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 woebegone and almost hope
less band Of fugitives. In the mad race
for life every Haussa had lost his gun,
and not a 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 Deane himself had had
serious fight, lined the river below, and
he dared not appeal to them for succor.
He was about 800 miles from the near
est white station at Bengala. All that
could be done was to struggle down the
river, through the dense bush and for
ests, several miles inland, avoiding all
the tribes, except one or two that were
known to be friendly, and living on what
ever they could pick up that would
afford nutriment.
For four weeks this white castaway in
Central Africa, almost naked, and weak
with hunger and fatigue, wandered
through the solitudes of the country. The
nights were cold, but the only covering
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 occasional monkey
or bird would have been delighted ad-
dition to their food supplies, 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 esteemed fried ants
as great delicacy. Whenever our fugi-
tives came to a prosperous colony Of ants
they laid in supply. Then many cater
pillars crossed their path, and these trea-
sures were carefully slowed away in a
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 mouth
fills Of grapes and other fruit 1t was
anything but palatabls food, but it kept
life in their bodies, though the poor fell
lows became SO weak that they could
travel only three or four miles day.
At last they came to the Bakumu tribe,
who live along the river, and the fugi-
tives thought they might safely reveal
themselves to these people. Their con-
fidence was not betrayed, and the fugi-
tives were supplied with provisions which
very agreeably varied their caterpillar
diet. Meanwhile the Bangala who de-
serted Deane at Stanley Falls had reached
home in canoes, and informed Capt. Co
quiIhat of the unhappy plight of his
brother officer. The captain at once
started to the rescue on a little steamer.
He found Stanley Falls station burned to
the ground, and as he lay in the river he
had hot exchange Of compliments with
the Arabs in a rafting FIRE Of musketry.
It 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 n. q,
but no trace was found until CoquIihat
reached the Bakumu, who told him that
two days before they had releaved the
necessities Of the fugitives- A few mules
inland in q deserted hut the rescuers
found the naked white nan. II was
time. Deane was absolutely worn out.
His face was badly swollen his eyes
were sunken, and he could hardly crawl
He had no disease, but famine had nearly
used him up.