The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1868-07-09
Aatiuual &spablitat.
A Feroeious Menstcr-How King
Theodorus Massacre hts Prisoners.

-
Theodorus Mnssaered hts Prisoners.
The New York Herdids correspondent
in Abyssinia describes the late King
Theodorus' massacre Of his prisoners:
He had them drawn up in two lines,
numbering two hundred and seventy-ive
men, Ave women, and twenty-eight boys;
Ono Of them, Ras nigeria, Galla Chlef,
defed the King TO single combat, declar-
ing himself able, chained as he was, to
cope with the King. The latter savagely
declined, and cried Spear the Gala dog,
Ingertal Spear him, l say, and Ras
ourara Enric, ever ready TO obey The.
odorus, leveled spear and hurled it OF
his breast Thou hast done well, = said
the King, as he saw the weapon had gone
deep into his bosom; but Ras Ingerta
plucked il out OF his wound and flung il
contemptuously at Iheodorus' feet.
Another ono" shouts Theodorus, spear
him again, 'and six chiefs Immediately
sank their weapons into his body.
The wounded chief stood up bravely,
and drew them out one after another, the
bloodspirting from bis wounds in crimson
streams, when he 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 bis sword, and leaped to.
ward the trembling prisoners. Eyeing
them O moment, he seemed to choose one
for whom he entertained perfect hatred,
for he said to one, "Ah, your hour has
come. | am going to drink your blood
and, raising his sword, he cut his head of
at one blow, and then drew it again across
his abdomen.
Theodorus' face and clothes were
covered with blood, and like a tiger who
had tasted blood, this seemed to increase
his fury. He foamed at the lips and his
eyes became bloodshot. After stabbine
and cutting about fifty with his own
hand he rested, and ordered that his
chiefs should try their hands. Many oil
them had personal hatreds against the
captiycs, and they proceeded with an
astonishing alacrity with the awful task
Of massacre. Whenever he witnessed
dexterous blows he applauded, but when
he saw cuts given that but manned the
poor wretches, the King wonld spring W
and demonstrate what IN easy matter il
was to send the head clean off tn,
shoulders, by choosing a strong. sturd,
prisoner and decapitating him with hi
own hand.
A young and beautiful woman o
high rank, perceiving that her time wa
coming rapidly, ran up to where Theodo
rus leaned upon his dripping sword, an,
throwing herself at his feet, entreated il
piteous tones that he would spare he
life. "No!' Numbered Theodorus, ''yot
came TO my camp twice Us spy. One,
i spared you, because one Of my chief
asked il, that you might be his wife
Now, by the Saviour Of the world, yo,
shall sleep below the cliff Of Magdala to
night" So saying, while she yet ben
with her face to the ground, with hi
whole might he delivered blow whicl
almost severed her in two. Horrible a
il may seem, child gushed out of tn
womb, and several OF the European
women sickened and tainted at tn
sight.
A boy prince, q son Of the rebellion
governor who was still at large, wa
next killed by sweeping blow, whic
took his head and LETT arm off,
In about half an hour from the con
mencement Of the wholesale execution
the massacre was completed, and as fai
as each one had been slain the body WI
taken to the edge Of the cliff, and throw
down height of fifty feet or more.
the bottom of the cliff were several gre,
rocks scattered here and there, and the
were covered with brains and blood.
CHASTITY heap Of corrupting flesh was q
that was left OF 308 human souls, who b.
shortly before had been the friends
captivity Of the Europeans. The humG
shambles contained pools Of blood an
gore, in several places, nearly u 70
deep.