The sun., 1900-10-07
BYLoIAN HERO IN THE CONGO.
A Monument TO YounE De Bfuyne, VINO Per
i,hed Rather Than Desert His Friend.

monument was dedicated on Sunday, Sept.
0. 20 the memory of brave young sergeant in
the belgian Army who perished seven years
ago on the Iomami River in the upper part Of
the Congo Basin. IL WA no common net OF
hcrolsm to which the people Of Bel
GUM thus paid tribute. Contributions had
lowcd In from all phrts Of tho kingdom
for the erection Of this memorial 1t WIS
reared near the sea In the little coast town Of
Blankcnberghe, West Flanders, the birthplace
of Sergeant De Bniyne, who was scarcely
known outside his native town until the story OF
his self abnegation was told all over the world.
Tho hnroism and the pathos Of the net that
sealed his fate appealed To all who heard OF II,
and It is not surprising that a. vary large asscm-
bngc gathered at the little coast town last
month to honor the memory Of De Brlyne II
will be interesting here to recall the tragedy OF
KasSongo, when De Briyne went back to certain
death rather than desert his fellow prisoner.
It was during the war which the Arab slave
raidcrS began on the Belgians which finally
rr-Gltrd in the expulsion Of the slavcrs from
the Congo Free state Before the news Of the
Arab revolt had spread through the Congo
country De Bruync and Tippins who were In
charge Of the remote station Of kassonRo and
were still ignorant Of tho outbreak Of hostilltes.
wero taken prisoners by the Arabs.
After these white men had been in the hands
~ their enemies for nearly six months II occurred
20 tho Arab leader. Setu, that he might be able
20 use De Bruyne 20 get a lot OF the whites into
his power. so he sent De Bruyne In charge Of
n strong escort down TO the LomAmi River the
opposite shore Of which was held by the Belgians
and their native allies then Sefu's subordlnates
made It known to the whites that their friend
n 4 "A -
he would not he permitted to cross the river.
he might talk 10 them from tho opposite bank.
Tho prisoner made his way through the tall
grass 10 the bank and saw scores Of his army
friends on the opposite shore,
I'm here" he shouted, because Sefu i'm
AGNES that he can use me to carry out his p,,r-
poses. fle says he wants TO talk with you
about peace and he asks you TO send some
officers with an escort OF nfty men down tho
river ono mile where he will let you Cross and
hc will meet you with a similar escort. He
told me to tell you that he felt sure that peace
could he arranged Not man here but my
self can understand French and tell you plainly
that you must not do anything Of the sort.
know what Sefu is UP TO and he Is only trying
to lay trap for you"
Wen take good care not 10 fall into e.
replied the Englshman, DR.. flinde. who was
In charge Of the party on the other shore.
ninde kept talking 10 the prisoner while
cudgelinG his brain for some means Of resouing
the young Belgian who was almost within
stones throw. De Bruyne stood at the top OF
the bank while behind him were two chiefs.
gun I'm hand. who were his immediate
guards. Two or three rods further back were
a crowd OF armed Arabs and natives.
llinde quietly gave some orders TO his men
and kept on talking with the prisoner. In a
fcw minutes twenty Of the best shots In the
white camp had made detour and approached
the river some way down stream. Then they
quietly made their way through the tall rushes
10 n point directly I'm front OF the Arab party.
orders were given them to cover with their
guns as many Of the Arabs as possible and two
men In plain view were told 10 give particular
attention to the chiefs and shoot them II they
put their guns to their shoulders. Meanwhile
De Bruyno had stepped to the edge Of the water
and begun to battle his feet.
Il suppose you can swim. shouted the white
man to him from the opposite shore.
YES. answered the prisoner
We'll now you jump into the water and
swim for us. We can save you beyond doubt,
We have the Arabs well covered with our rifles
and wr'll shoot the first man who raises a gun.
Spring into the river"
The European spectators OF this scene say
that about minute OF terrible silence followed.
There sat the poor fellow who for a half year
had been In the hands Of his enemies The
white men said they could save him and a few
swift and strong strokes would almost certainly
land him among his friends He bent his head
and thought II over for a little Then he rose
TO his fcot
40. boys" he said. I'D like to do II but I
cant They'd kill lippins in an hour II ! went
over 20 YOU We've been together in thi. pickle
and couldn't think that I'd saved myself and
he'd got to die for II. Thank you all tho same
I'm going back
De Bruync clambered M the bank and dsap-
poared over the ridge with hi, guards A few
days later the whites moved over the river and
the Arabs fled Reaching native village. n
mile or 80 away, the heads Of eleven Europeans
were found impHled upon the palisades that
surrounded the town and among them were
those of De Bruyne and Iippins Their NUT
Hated bodies, found lying together. were tend
Crly wrapped In the flag Of the Congo Free state
and placed side by side in common grave:
and humble mausoleum now marks tho place
where rest the mortal remains Of these two
noble victims Of the African slave trade
CALLED THE WHITE DEATH.