New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-27
CROSSING THE PRAH.

u
RELEASE OF A GERMAN hIssIoNARY-Hs AC-
COUNT OF AFFAIRS AT COOMAssIE.
| IRON THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT oF THE rRiBusEI
| On THE PRAu, Jan. l5.-This was the day upon
| which, had it not been for the breakdown OF the
transport department, we should have started with
three white bataions and all the rest OF our avail
able forces for Coomasse The greatest efforts have
been made to gather a large number Of natives from
all Fantee land, and the efforts have 30 far sue
ceeded that stores now coming up rapidly, and
in fortnight's time the amounts originally estl-
mated necessary will be gathered here. 1t would
| not however suIt the English General to permit
another fortnghts delay for each day spent IN the
country increases the risk of fever, and brings us
nearer to the wet season. Consequently the delay
will only extend week beyond the date first fixed
! upon and in order that the stores thus collected
| may be sufficient one of the white regiments the
ODD will not be landed. Major Russes native reg
| iment has now reached the Adansu Hills, half way
to CoOmasse and will there halt until joined sue
sessively by the rest of tho force Two hundred OF
the I'd West India Regiment went on two days ago.
Woods regiments and Rats native artillery crossed
this morning. All the native troops are now across,
and the Rifle Brigade, the 42d, 100 men Of the I'D
and the Naval Brigade will on the 23d, and
march to join Russell at Quessa, town three miles
beyond the Adansu Hills. We shall reach Coomasse
about the 18th of February.
Had il been probable that the Ashantees would
make a desperate resistance the loss OF the 23d
would be serious and important matter. News
has however, now been received which has dashed
all our hopes of this affair ending with brilliant
and well-fought action, and the campaign which
began so briskly and seemed likely to be go inter
esting is likely to end in dullness. Letters ex
changed every two days with the King and it is all
bnt certain that there will not be another shot
fired What are the conditions of peace which Sir
Garnet is debating, | know not they are indeed
kept profound secret. But it is known that the
terms of the Kings answers are pacific. The treach-
cry aud subtleness of the Ashantees are 80 Wen
known that one would place no confidence whatever
in professions of desire for peace intended as they
probably would be- only to cause delay But we
have no other means Of estimating the chances OF
peace and war;
On the 18th the Rev. Mr.. KHhne, one OF the Ger
man missionaries carried off by the Ashantees nearly
five wears ago, was sent into camp These mission
aries like those in tie Abyssinian campaign are one
of the Of dispute, but not IN any way con-
nected with the actual war. These missionaries are
not British subjects, nor were they captured upon
British soil, upon the soil OF the British Pro-
tectorate They were employed in mission station
near the VOLTA, the mission being a branch OF the
Basic mission establishment at Accra. One of the
Ashantee generals had camp across the rlyer, ana
invited them to cross over ard visit him. linen
they were seized and carried away into Ashantee,
and although the English Governors of Cape Coast
have acted as intermediates between the Basic mis-
sion and the King of Ashantee, and have begged
him to moderate the ransom demanded for them,
tho British have all along declined to look upon
il as matter in which they had any personal in
terest or responsibility. The ransom at first de-
manded was upward Of 10000, but upon the assur-
ance of the British Governor that the Basic mission
aries were utterly unable to pay such sum- 1t was
reduced to 900. After arriving at conclusion as
10 the price no understanding could be come to rs to
the manner and place of payment. The King OF Ash
antee insisted that 1t should be sent up to Coomasse
and that upon its receipt, he would send back the
captives. The missionaries naturally objected TO
this mode but offered to send it up TO the Prah ana
then pay it over when the captiyes were sent down.
or TO pay, and indeed they did pay, it over to the
merchant who is the accredited agent of the King
of Ashantee, at Cape Coast. Mother of these plans
snitedtbe King; and the state Of the captives has
appearod more hopeless than ever since he declared
war srddenly and sent his army across the Prah'
Indeed he made no secret to the missionaries that
he sbould only retain them until his troops took and
DESTROYED Cape Coast and that then, as they could
he of no use to him, he should kill them. he has
not taken Cape Coast; his army has returned
mere throng of beaten fugitiyes, and the conse-
ouence is he now proceeds to turn the missionaries
to use They are to act alike as hostages and as
tokens of his good WILL 1t is in the latter capacity
that he now sends in Mr.. Kthne.
That gentleman is in very bad state Of health,
and although it is hoped that prudence and good
feeding will do wonders for HIM, there is little
doubt that he would not have lived long had he
remained in captivity. The King, seeing this, made
r,er,t NJ necess,ty and sent him down in token of
his desire for peace and friendship. No doubt the
King calculsted that in Mr--Kihne he was certain
of finding a strong advocate in the cause Of peace,
for Mr. KHhnes mother, with his wife and children,
remain in the hands of King to whom the
words of pity and mercy are unknown. l
have had two interviews with Mr.. KHhne, and he
has given me a vivid account Of the state Of
things in the enemys capital 1t is a town of about
10000 inhabitants only, he says, but in this respect
believe he must be mistaken. 1t is at present in
state of great agitation at the news that white
army il approaching. The first intmation of dis
aster which they had was just month ago. At
that time the army, which they believed had con-
onered the whole of the Fantee country and would
shortly destroy Cape Coast, and so drive the white
man altogether from the country, came pouring
hack not conauerers, with emblems Of victory and
heavy loads of spoil, but a band of dspirited
fugitves.
The Ashantees themselves say that 10000 went
out. and that 20 900 only came back, so terribly had
small pox dysentery, famine, and shot done their
work For days the gaunt famne-stricken procession
| crav led through the town. and each man scattered
70 his home Furious the King at this immense
disaster to the army which comprised almost all the
| fighting strength Of Ashantee. All the chiefs VINO
had come back alive were fined. but even
min far Mr.