The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1888-11-08
IN CENTRAL. AFRICA
An Explorer Who Ecuud Himself IN q
Desperate stS11atton.

+
Desperate ssSuatton.
The cable announced aoine time ago
that Mr.. Daane, 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 he.
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. 1t was
not long before Dubois, slipping upon Q
ston6, at the waters cdge, 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 q
few hundred feet behind the little party.
The Arabs had discovered their retreat
and were in hot pursuit. They We're 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 attendants. 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 1t was evident that the
enemy had grown weary Of the chase.
Then the hunted little party stopped for
breathing spell.
1t was woebegone and almost hope
less band of fugitives. In the mad race
for life every Haussa had lost Ais 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 a 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 i'll
stantly revealed to any prowling Arab Or
hostile native that a white man was in
the neighborhood. 4 cannibal tribe,
with whom Deane himself had had a
serious fight, lined tn river below, and
he dared not appeal to tbcm for 3ucccr.
He was about 800 mics from The near
est white station at t}c@g2iA ~ ,l,1
could be done was t. s.rucG'e d,N1n no
river, through the deusl t,,stl AL, FOX
ests, several miles inland, avoiding Ill
the tribes, except one Or ,Uo that were
known to be friendly 81, Twin" 80 c"f1,:t-
ever they could =" #'. g., a,.
afford nutriment.
For four weeks this T-1.,- cc2Iaway III
Central Africa, almost naked, and weak
with hunger and fatigue, wandered
through the solitudes Of the country. The
nights We're cold, but & ".1'~ covering
the fugitives had was lr..vj i..~a which
they heaped over thep43e1v'e as they Icy
down on the bare earth under the trees.
They found many vii grupes and some
other fruits of the fo1 st, Tut these alone
would not give them 1t-C1gt!, to keep UP
the hard march. AT ucccain17l mc&lag
or q bird would have been . delighted al
dition to their food supplies, but without
guns they could not o3ta. = game Of any
sort. They did what any one else would
do when fighting against starvation.
Many African tribes eslGcmed fried ants
as great delicacy. Whenever our iugi-
tives came to a prosperous colony of ants
they laid in q supply. Then many cater
pillars crossed their path, and these trea-
sures were carefully slowed away in q
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
fuls of grapes and other fruit. It was
anything but palatable 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
quilhat of the unhappy plight of his
brother officer. The captain at once
started to the rescue on little steamer.
He found Stanley Falls station burned to
the grs~-:".nd, and as he lay in the river he
had lot exchange Of compliments with
the Arabs in rafting fire of nusketry.
| It was evident that Deane had either been
. killed or was making his way down
stream. ----.- =
Then began a search along the riSer
banks for the unfortunataa white n n,
but no trace was found until CoqI..
reached the Bakumu, who told him that
two days before they had releaved the
necessities of the fugitives. A few miles
inland in a deserted hut the rescuers
found the naked white man. 1t was
time. Deane was absolutely worn out.
His face was badly swollen, his eyes
were sunken, ana he could hardly crawl.
He had no disease, but famine had nearly
used him up.
This bitter experience did not wcan
Deane from his love of African adventure.
He remained in the service Of the Congo
Free State, and he is one OF The very few
white men who have ever persisted IN =
charge of enraged elephants, though
Baker and several writers nave given
vivid descriptions of fhis danger which
hunters sometimes encounter. - New
York Sun.
A Land of Cigarettes.