The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-20
SELF highly gifted with diplomatic ability. ana naa

In his language and bearing and low-toned in all
his conversations with Sir Garnet, as If there were
newspaper specials In every breath of wind.
Brackenbury gave the messenger 20 understand
that the Governor wished To treat the King in a
manner befttng his royal rank; that he had
posted sentries all round his palace TO prevent
mis- men despoiDQ II, and TO Keep 1t ready
for him when lie would consider it con-
venlent for MIN to Gomez that lie hoped
sincerely the King would come TO see the Governors
that the English and Ashantees might be friends
that a proper treaty of peace might he signed
between Them that he hoped the King would gee
the necessity ofsendng proper hostages to the Gov
ernor not as prisoners but as pledges OF his good
faith, and that a suitable, but not over heavy n-
demnIty 10 the Assuis would be paid by nun Tor
the injuries they had sustained during the invasion
OF their country. The Governor 10y coming to
Coomassie only obeying the Instructions OF the
Queen OF England; he had said he would come and
lie had kept his word II the King would not make
peace treaty 1t would be the Governors DIS
agreeable duty to burn Coomassie reminder in
future OF what be expected from the Eng
lish should he incur their dspleasure again.
COMPLICATIONS IN THE CAPITAL.
Before midnight the sleeping army was awakened
out of the rest it sorely needed by fires sprnging
up in different parts or the city; but did not see
that the star disturbed themselves very much
about the cOnnagratons though the prisoners
were ordered by Major HUM to do what they could
to save the town from burning. numbers OF
| plunderers were roaming about with lighted
torches 1t was supposed that these fires
lighted by accident; but as 1t was afterwards
clusvely shown that the houses were fired by the
retreating Ashantees, who, having been permitted
| TO load themselves with everything that vaiu-
able had used the torch out OF sheer spite Even
this conduct did not seem to strike Sir Garnet as
hain han nfh no .t,pis unott,
stan.
About midnight as the guards went about 10
endeavor to detect ana apprenend the incen-
DIARIES they came across youthful recruit Of the
| police force, Who just relieved from duty, was
found IN house in the act Of carrying some cloth
away. This man the guards took TO stern Old
Colonel Mcleod, who had distinguished himself so
| well IN each battle with the Ashantees and who
I was now acting as military commandment of Coo
massie. Almost before he heard the particulars
OF the youths capture he condemned him to he
| hung on the spot, as an example to all VINO might
! be found engaged IN the same forbidden act. The
unfortunate boy awakened The entire city with his
| cries, for the men commanded to perform the ugly
| deed were so nervous and 80 ignorant OF the work
that they bad hauled him up to a branch without
pinioning his arms or his feet. For than half
an hour the unframed hangmen bungled at their
work before they finally succeeded in 1t.
! The next morning prisoner was brought before
the same stern judge, who had, while guard at
the palace deserted his post and given his gun to
hold to an Ashantee until he returned from o loot
ing tour, and was afterwards found with his haver-
sack full OF valuable things. The stern Judge Or
dered him to be punished with three dozen lashes
The morning OF the 5th OF February. about twelve
| hours alter they had entered Coomasse, the
wounded, numbering about eighty Europeans ana
, native allies, were sent out OF Coomassie under
strong convoy on their way TO the sea, and it was
rumored that II the King did not come to see Sir
Garnet the entire army would commence its
return march homeward. About ten A. NJ, how
ever, Sir Garnet was informed by messengers rom
the King that His Majesty King Kofiee would surely
arrive that afternoon.
THE KING.
Meanwhile everybody stroied about the streets
and searched every house to discover the vast
''loot' that was reported to be in Coomassie. The
Kings palace and some other great chiels resi-
dences contained valuable plumber, but there was
not much care taken to guard 1T against the con.
scienceless rascals who always accompany an IN.
vadng army. 1t was observed too that there were
very lew Ashantees in the city compared to the
thousands who had lurtively eyed Us first ar
rival the previous evening. There were not many
guns was there much gunpowder. l believe
about twenty kegs comprised the entire quantity
discovered. Evidently there was some misunder-
standing or bad management somewhere but 1t
was not until the afternoon that the General or
his star seemed ~ waken TO the fact that all was
not as it ought to be.
Orokoko the Kings messenger, entered the
town about two p. NJ, and informed Sir Garnet
that the King intended to come, but half an hour
later he was seen giving arms and ammunition
out from some house to his followers TO carry
away. The Consequence OF which was that Oro-
Koko was arrested, along with Mosemaurs
great chief who was accustomed to travel to
Co0massie with 200 followers in his tram and three
other chiefs were also taken prisoners while in the
city under very suspicious circumstances The
Prince OF the Royal Body Guard narrowly escaped
capture, and, had efficient precautions been taken,
l doubt not the King himself would have been made
prisoner. After Oroxoko's capture Sir Garnet
! made up his mind that the King would not come,
and later In the day this was confirmed by the re.
port OF special messenger.
PLUMBER.
The palace during the night was entered
ana the most valuable things in the opinion OF
those detailed to collect the plumber were packed
up into sixteen bundles, to be conveyed to Cape
Coast. where they will be sold at auction The
Whole booty taken down may be worth 81, $780, or
$500 In gold but there must he eager bidding to
produce that sum. Among this booty are seven
masks OF plated gold worth, according to official
estimate, ESQ, or sl,40o.
TIE PLACE BLOWN Up.
The morning OF the 9Th the city was fired and
! the palace blown up, and the troops marched out
OF Coomassie on the road home. Alter march Of
l334 miles we have arrived tonight tthe 6tn,
when concluded my letter, as it IS to be con-
veyed early tomorrow morning by special mes
senger, the Hon. +. Wood, aide.de-camp to Sir
Garnet, TO the sea coast. whence he Will embark
! Immediately Tor England.
| have attempted TO describe the city ana
what saw tnere-the Kings palace, the Golgotha,
the curious treasures, the scores OF scenes and
incidents worth recordtng-because have no time.
We are now about to march each day Tor the coast.
| FIN tha 7th We rearh Amaofni IN TIM stn Arran