The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-20
General WoIseIey's March to
Coomassie. 'o..
The Ambassadors of King KOfes Under
Guard in the English Camp.
SUICIDE BY ONE OF THE ENJOYS.
CrOWner's Quest-A
Brief Verdict. srn1u
Points Of Native
Diplomacy.

Peculiar Points Of Native
Diplomacy. eat
PRAISE, ON THE PRAH, Jan. 8, 1874.
The Ashantee Ambassador, with his attaches
and captured scouts, are str under guard close to
headquarters. since their residence at this camp
they have contributed m incident which has
caused considerable surprise and subject matter
for atter-dinner discussions
SUICIDE OF DIPLoMATIsr.
On the night OF the 4th inst while the entire
camp. excepting sentries and others. was last
asleep, the loud report OF gun startled Us all
nom our sumbers. Various surmises were put
forth mentally by each OF US after we had heard 1t
as to what might have caused the ill-timed shot.
l. for one, imagined that sentry had detected
sinister figure crawling near headquarters and
had shot him, oruthat one Of the Asnantees had
actually gained the river trying to make his escape
or that clumsy sentry had discharged his gun
accidentally. l dare say not one who heard the
shot imagined that 1t was done bv sef-murderer.
But when inquiries had been instituted as to who
fred we were told that an Ashantee-one OF the
AmbassadOrial suite-had shot himself.
Then began the curious to ask why he had COM
mitted suicide. The sentry did not know. neither
did the Ambassador nor his suite know anything
of 1t. The sentry declared that the man had been
permitted to retain his gun, and had apparently
gone to sleep with the weapon lying by his side.
As he passed backwards and forwards before the
door Of the hut wherin the prisoners were guarded
he had heard no movement or STIR, but had been
suddenly startled by the discharge OF gun within
the hut When the hut was entered by the on
OF the stan, Immediately after the alarm, the
body OF the unfortunate lay sprawng on mis- mat,
while gaping wound in the lower part OF the face
and under the chin, and the scorched beard In
formed US how he had succeeded in the suicidal
act. 90
court OF inquiry was instituted next morning
on the body-a KIND Of cOroner's 1nvestgation-
but the oicers OF the court declared themselves I'M
able to agree as to the reasons which had induced
the uhhappy man to SHAY himself; they could only
OF two things must have been the true
cause. Having witnessed the mechanical
powers Of the Calling gun, and overcome
with dread at the prospect OF being compelled to
face the terrible weapon in battle he had preferred
to take his own life rather than wait Tor what he
may have considered q certain fate; OF upon ind
ing himself alone with his companions ne had ex.
t0led the powers Of the fatal Calling and depre-
Gated further resistance on the part OF the Asian
tee King to white men armed with such awtully
destructive weapons, and incurred thereby severe
censure from his superior, who had probably fur
Their threatened to report his words to the King,
who would know how to punish such language,
calculated to work mischief and perhaps democrat.
lie the Ashantee army. Knowing from manifold
experience the nature OF the punishment the King
would visit upon him, 1t is very likely that the
poor fellow seeing no other way to escape. sought
relief from 1t by suicide.
IRREGULARITIES OF THE DIPLOMACY.
This act, however, comedies with what travellers
have told Us of the peculiar temperament OF the
Anglo Ashan,ee war OF 1926, describes how at the
decisive battle Of Dubowah. which terminated that
campaign, the Ashantee chiefs severally blew them.
selves up when they saw the tide OF battle turning
against them and their followers flying precipi-
lately from the field. Other travellers on this
coast bear testimony to this feature In Ashantee
character.
MILITARY CONCESSION.
The Ashantee Ambassador and DIS followers were
very much gratined yesterday at being permitted
to bury their dead countryman on the Ashantee
side OF the Prah. They conveyed the body in q
kind of cage made OF bamboo and, having dug q
grave In shady place OF the forest. went through
some undressing ceremony common to West
with native earth.
BAD NEWS FROM GLOVER.
We nave exceedingly bad news from Glover,
ana from my well known championship OF him
consider him to be superior man IN every way.
and to have been merclessly chaned by several
officers. Glover, on being told by SIR Garnet by
letter that he would have to be on the Prah, close
to Dndawi, by the 18th Of January, replied by re-
turn Of mail that he could not move his allies to
march so precprately; that the only dependable
force he had with him amounted to only 700 men,
as he would have to leave some OF the most trust
worthy to guard his stores. Glover, when he re-
ceived the order from Sir Garnet, who has lately
been made responsible for the conduct Of all mii-
tary columns moving upon Ashantee, had already
crossed the Volta preparatory to attacking the
avowed allies OF the common enemy. Sir Garnet
further stated In his letter missioner Glover,
that as the Awunahs were merely hostile to
the English because the Ashantees were at war
with the English, who, when they saw the down
fall OF the Ashantees, would withdraw their alli
ance from them, it was not good policy to waste
precious time upon weak enemy; that the duty
OF the expedition was to crush the Ashantees as
soon as possible. When Sir Garnet received
Glover's reply that he could only depend upon the
Lagos contingent OF Haussas ana Yorubas he at
once wrote to Glover to march upon the Pran with
what force be could, even though lie had but 500
men with him.
The magnificent force which Glover had raised
to assist Sir Garnet in his invasion OF Ashantee has
thus dwindied down into an Insignificant number
OF TOO men but I, as neutral correspondent de.
void Of all prejudice, can conscentously say that
this reduction is no fault Of Gover's. 1t arises
from the peremptory order OF Sir Garnet enjoin.
ing upon Glover to be ct the Prah BY
certain date, which Clover knows to be impossible
with the small star Of officers he has enlisted on
his side to assist him in leading the vast but In
congruous force Of natives he has gathered about
him to invade Ashantee. Fetiches and councils