The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-06-29

QUEER EXPEDITION, HUNTING FOB
DIAMONDS. LEAVES CHICAGO.
Story is that the Son of the King of Bingee
is Stranded, by Set OF Curious Circum-
stances, in America with His Pockets
Full of DiamOnds--He is Swindled Out
of these and Now Takes a Crowd Back
with Him to get Some More--Members
of the Party are Preachers Who Claim
They are Going over to save Souls.

Chicago, June ga party Of a dozen
! people. mostly from Chicago, took their
departure yesterday for Central At
| RIGA, partly to convert the natives to
Christianity and partly to collect dia-
monds for themselves. The project
was to large extent a secret one and
not a great deal is known about it.
Though the Adventures were busy
around the Polk street depot for two
hours before the Wabash train left with
them, a reporter who was seeking an
explanation of the enterprise was at
first rebuffed and could not get to the
bottom OF the affair at last.
This adventure originated with a
young African prince called Conmo-
dore Bongee who has lived at Engle-
wood for the last three years. Bongee
claims to be the son Of the king OF
Bongee in the Congo country. His
fathers subjects, he thinks, may num-
Der $4,000. Six years ago, when he was
probably 10 years old, his father sent
him to this country in charge of Ger
man tutor TO be educated. On the
ocean voyage the tutor died, and Bon
gee who could not speak a word any
language but his native tongue, land
ed in New York the most helpless and
distressed boy imaginable.
his son away in dependent condition.
He had no bank account, but on his
sons departure he had filled his trous-
er's pocket with diamonds. OF these
precious stones the boy did not realize
the value, and he had not been in New
York a week before he had been swim
died out of almost the entire lot. OF
this lavish patrimony he retained.
when he had got to Chicago. only one
gem, which he easily disposed of for
$500. After settling in Englewood he
entered the normal school, and soon be-
came proficient in his studies and ably
to speak English and German fluently.
At the same time he devoted himself
to lecturing among the colored people
on Africa, at which he was highly sue
cessful.
Bongee appears to be q years old,
and is much under size and is anything
but graceful. He is dignified, but affa-
BILE and courteous, and spAkS with a
decidedly strange accent. His counter |
ance is honest looking, and has evil
IDENTIFY inspired confidence in the people
he has met. This is obvious from the
fact that on his bare representations a
party of people have united to accom-
pany him back to the domains of his
royal father to enjoy the good things
in which the country abounds. Bongee, |
since coming to Chicago, has become a
Christian. and is a member of the Simp- |
son Methodist church, of which the Rev |
o. E. Murray is pastor; and the band |
of adventures who have fiocked a.
round him are white Methodists, with /
the exception Of two colored men who !
are members of the Pilgrim Baptist |
church. The leader and backbone OF /
the enterprise is the Reverend Alex |
ander c. Scott, Methodist minister Of |
Fairview, Michigan.
Mr.. Scott is large and athletic man
apparently fifty five years old. with |
full grizzly whiskers. He rushes a