The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-12-07
BELGIAN HERO IN THE CONGO.
Monument to Young Ne Bruyne,
who Perished Rather Than
Desert His Friend.

Anyy OCPtC41OCA W Tic OAtUlOIJ VI u
brave young sergeant in the Belgian
army who persisted seven years ago
On the Lomami river in the upper part
Of the Congo basin. 1t was no common
act of heroism to which the people of
Belgium thus paid tribute. Contribu-
tions had flowed in from all parts of
the kingdom for the erection of this
memorial. 1t was reared near the sea
in the little coast town of Blanken-
berghe, West Flanders, the birthplace
of Sergt. De Bruyne, who was scarcely
known outside his native town until
the story of his self-abnegation was
told all over the world.
The heroism and the pathos of the
act that sealed his fate appealed to all
who heard of it, and it is not surprising
that very large assemblage gath
cred at the little coast town that
day to honor the memory Of De
Bruyne. 1t will be interesting here to
recall the tragedy of the Kassongo,
when De Bruyne went back to certain
death rather than desert his fellow
prisoners.
" was ing bAC W6I WHICH thC
Arab slave raiders began on the Bel
gians, which finally resulted in the ex-
pulsion of the slavers from the Con-
go Free State. Before the news of the
Arab revolt had spread through the
Congo country De Bruyne and Lippins,
who were in charge of the remote sta
ton of Kassongo and were still ignor-
NJ 1f L. q I,
taken prisoners by the Arabs, says the
New York Sun.
After these white men had been in
the hands of their enemies for nearly
six months it occurred to the Arab
leader, Sefu, that he might be able to
use De Bruyne to get lot of the
whites into his power. So he sent De
Bruyne in charge of a strong escort
down to the Lomami river, the opposite
shore of which was held by the Bel
gians and their native allies; then
Sefu's subordinates made it known to
the whites that their friend De Bruyne
had come to see them, and, though he
would not be permitted to cross the
river, he might talk to them from the
ORPOoAoC beaAhs hC "a AoOAOI IAdNlC AAlS
way through the tall grass to the bank
and saw scores of his army friends on
the opposite shore.
''I'm here" he shouted, because
Sefu imagines he can use me to carry
out his purposes. He says he wants to
talk with you about peace and he asks
you to send some officers with an escort
,f = he v.su 10
where he will let you cross and he will
meet You with similar escort. He told
me to tell you that he felt sure peace
could be arranged. Not man here but
myself 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 q
trap for you"
"We'll take good care not to fall into
it," replied the Englishman, DR.. Hinde,
who was in charge of the party on the
other shore.
Hinde kept talking to the prisoner
while cudgeling his brain for some
means of rescuing 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 in hand, who were his inn
mediate guards. Two or three rods fur
Their back were a crowd of armed Arabs
and natives.
Hinde quietly gave some orders to
his men and kept on talking with the
prisoner. In few minutes 20 of the
best shots in the white camp had made
detour and approached the river some
way down the stream. Then they quiz
city made their way through the tall
rushes to point directly in front of
the Arab party.
Orders were given them to cover with
their guns as many of the Arabs as pos
sible and two men in plain view were
told to give particular attention to the
chiefs and shoot them If they put their
guns to their shoulders. Meanwhile
De Bruyne had stepped to the edge of
the water and begun to battle his feet.
II suppose you can SWIM" shouted
the white man to him from the oppo-
site shore.
"Yes," answered the prisoner.
s'Well, now, you jump into the water
and swim for us. We can save you be-
yond doubt. We have the Arabs we'll
covered with our rifles and we'n shoot
the first man who raises a gun.
Spring into the river"
The European spectators of the
scene say that about a minute Of ter
rible 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 few swift and strong strokes
would almost certainly land him among
his friends. He bent his head and
thought it over for little. Then he
rose to his feet.
mo, boys" he said, I'D like to do it,
but can't. They'd kill Lippins in an
hour if went over to you. We've been
together in this pickle and couldn't
think that I'd saved myself and he'd
got to die for it. Thank you all the
same. I'm going back"
De Bruyne clambered up the bank
and disappeared over the ridge with
his guards. A few days later the whites
moved over the river and the Arabs
fed. Reaching a native village mile
or so away, the heads of II Europeans
were found impaled upon the palisades
that surrounded the town and among
them were those of De Bruyne and Lip
pins. Their mutilated bodies, found
lying together, were tenderly wrapped