Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-08
A FEROOlOUS MONSTER.
How King TheOdOrus Massacred His
Prisoners,

The New York HeraIGs correspondent il Abys-
sinia describes the late King Theodorus massacre
Of his prisoners:
He had them drawn up 10 two lines numbering
two hundred and seventy-fve men, FIVE women and
twenty-eight boys. One Of them, Ras Ingerta, q
Gala Chief, defed the King 10 single combat, de-
elsring himself able, chained as he was, to cope
with the King. The latter saysgely declined ard
cried, "Spear the Gala dog, nigeria spear him,
say and Ras 0urary Euric ever ready 10 obey
rheodorus, leveled spear and flung it at his breast
"Thou hast done we'll ssid the King, as he saw the
weapon bad gone deep into his bosom; but Ras In
gera plucked il out Of the wound and flung il con
temtuously Of Theodorus feet. Another one {"
shouts Theodorus spear him again and six chiefs
Immediately sank their weapons into his body. The
wounded chief stood up bravely, and drew them all
out, after another, the blood squirting from his
wounds in crimson streams, when be fell down and
died.
Impatient at the slow progress OF the execution
the King shot ten dead with his own hand and
throwing his revolver away, he drew his sword and
leaped toward the trembling prisoners. Eyeing
them moment, he seemed TO choose one for whom
he entertained perfect hatred, for he said 10 one,
"Ah, your hour has come. l am going TO drink
your blood" and raising his sword he cut his head
of at one blow, and then drew il again across his
abdomen.
Theodorus face and clothes were covered Nth
blood, and like tiger which had tasted blood this
seemed TO increase his fairy. He foamed at the lips
and his eyes became bloodshot. After stabbing and
cutting about fifty with his own hand, he rested,
and ordered that his chiefs should try their hands.
Many Of them had personal hatreds against the cap
tives, and they proceeded with astonishing alac-
rity with the awful task of massacre. Whenever
he witnessed dexterous blows he applauded but
when he saw blows given that but MANNED the poor
wretches, the King would spring up and Demon
strate what an easy matter il was TO send the head
clean off the shoulders by choosing q strong sturdy
prisoner and decapitating him with his own hand.
A young and beautiful woman Of high rank, per-
ceiving that her time was coming rapidly, ran up
TO where Theodorus leaned upon his dripping
sword and throwing herself at his feet enreated in
piteous tones that he would spare her life "Now
Numbered Theodorus, ''you came to my camp twice
as a spy. Once l spared you, because one Of my
chiefs asked that you might be his wife, Now, by
the Savior of the world, you shall sleep below the
cliff of Magdala tonight" So saying, while she
yet bent with her face to the ground with his whole
might he delivered blow which almost severed
her in two Horrible as it may seem, child gushed
out of the womb and many of the European women
sickened and tainted at the sight
A boy prince, son of one Of the rebellious Gov
ernors who was still at large was next killed by
sweeping blow, which took his head and left arm
of.
In about an hour and half from The commence
yaart &c the wholesale sxeeation, the massacre
completed and as last as each one had been slain,
the body was taken to the dge Of the cliff and cast
down height of fifty feet or more. Atthe bottom
Of the cliff were several great rocks scattered here
and there and these were covered with brains and
blood. A CHASTITY heap of corrupting flesh was all
that was left of 30s human souls who but shortly
before had been the friends in captivity Of the Eu
ropeans. The human shambles contained pools Of
blood and gore, in several places nearly fOot deep