The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-10-20
DINING ON CATERPlLLARS.
The Latest Adventure of Deane, the African
Explorer.

inc thc
Explorer.
st. Louis Post Dispatch
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 ont hunting. This gentle
man was in command Of the Stanley Falls
station when it was attacked Two years
ago next month by the Arabs. On his
retreat from that station he had one of
the most thrilling experiences that ever
befell white man in Africa.
Before the st.tion fell his ammunition
had been almost entirely exhausted and
the greater part of his force had scurried
down the river, leaving him to his fate.
In the darkness OF the ,ight Degne and
his co:nrade, Dubois, with three or four
Haussa soldiers, stole away from Stanley
Fails and uoiselessly mcde their way
westward along the river bank. 1t was
not long before Dubois, slipping upon a
stone al the waters edge fen into the rapid
current and wns drowned. Deane was
left alone with his black comrades and
the prospect that they wonld escape was
very slight.
They pushed on al night, but IN the in
tense darkness they wsre able to make
Only few miles through the thick under
growth. Thoroughly tired out, they
arin which mad been falling all night
| ceased, and Daane took fl his drenched
garments to partially dry them. While
his clothes were hanging oD the bushes,
shouts we're suddenly heard few hun
drea feet Of Lsaind the party. The
! A:R5s had discovered their retreat and
were i'll hot pursuit. They were SO near
that DeUEe couId he-.r tho grass rattle as
the enemy sprang through It, rapidly fol.
| loving the muddy tracks OF the fugitive.
Dean had Just time 10 throw his clothes
| over his arm and start st full speed
through the bush, followed by his Haussa
| attendants. They could hear the shouts
| OF the Arabs who were or taeir trail for
| hours ana every nerve was strained I'd
! distance the pursuers. AZ last the noises
! behind them grew fainter, end by noon
it was evident that the enemy had grown
weary OF the chase. Then the hunted
little party stopped for breathing spell.
! It was q woeoegone ard rlucss hope
lees band of fugitives. In the mad rsce
for life every Hussa had lost his gun, and
not weapon of any sort was left in the
| party. One by one Deaue rad dropped
his garment and he had nothing left ex-
cept small military cape. which he threw
over his shoulders. Ia The midst of an
african jungle, he had not the slightest
protection tor his b,eedicg feet. And
even ii he had saved his boots he would
BoU have dared put them on, for the track
would havs instantly revealed to any
prowlinE Arab or hostile native, that
white man was in the neighhorhood. 4
ceunibGl tribe with when D cane himself
had had a serious fight, lined the river
below, ana he dared not appeal to them
for succor. He was about three hundred.
| sfAo rr,,- sI., l..
Bangale. All that could be done was to
struggle down the river. through the
dense bnsh and fores5, several miles in
lana, avoiding all the tribes, except one
or two that were known to be friendly,
and living on whatever they could pick
up thet would afford nutrimeut
For four weeks this white castaway in
central Africa, almost naked, ana weak
with huHgcr and fatigue, wandered
through the solitudes of the country.
The nights were cold, but the only cover
ing 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
delightful addition to their food
supplies, but without guns they
could not obtain game of aay sort. They
did what any one else would do when
fighting against starvation. Many African
tribes esteem fried ants as great deli
cacy. Whenever our fugitives came to
prosperous colony Of ants they laid in a
supply. Then many caturpillars crossed
the path, and these treasures were care
| fully slowed away ia q cartridge box. At
dinner time the party would build fire.
roast their ants and caterpillars and dis
guise these solid viands IA much az DOS
sibie with nouthtuls OF grapes and other
fruit. 1t was anything but palate Bile food,
but it kept life in their bodies, though
the poor fellows became so weak that
they could travel only three or four miles
a day.
At last they came TO the Bakumu tribe,
who live along the river, and the fugitives
thought they might safely reveal them
selves to these people. Their confidence
was not betrayed, and the fugitives were
supplied with provisions which very
agreeably varied their caterpillar diet.
Meanwhile the Bepgala who deserted
Deane ut Stanley Falls had reached home
in canoes and informed Capt. Coquiha,
of the unhappy plight Of his brother Off
| Ger. The captain at once started to the
| rescue on little steamer. He found
| Deane absolutely worn ont. His fac.
was badly swollen, his eyes were sunken
and he could hardly crawl. He had no
disease, but famine had nearly used him
| up.