The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-15
Summary Punishment Inflicted by
a British Squadron.
VILLAGES BURNED DOWN
"The Police Work Of Civilization" as Done
by British Seamen.
A SANGUINARY LESSON

/
Admiralty
Active IN THE RIVER CoyGo. Sept Is
SRI have the honor to report for the information
OF the LORD Commissioners of the Admiralty the steps
that have been taken to punish the natives I'm the Congo
for their pratca attack upon the British schooner Ger
aldne On the 30h OF August moved the force at my
disposal (Her Maesty's ships Active Encounter Speiu
Merlin, Foam Ariel and Supply from Sharks Point to
above Bull Island, to the scene of the outrage
and morning the boats of the squadron conveyed
landing party, consisting Of $50 seamen and 100 ma
rines, with rocket apparatus and 7-pounder boats
gun mounted for land service distance Of from four
TO i've miles up the Change Creek the north side Of
the river where they dsembarkcd and hostities
commenced The particulars of this days work, and
the subsequent operations of the expedition, are
fully narrated the enclosed reports
from Captain Bradshaw, OF Her Majesty's
ship Encounter who commanded IL, and Commander
NJ. B, Medycot of the Spteful who served under him
/ as second in command that beyond the Information
contained in the accompanying chart, which is
forwarded to show the positions OF the creeks,
&c, there is scarcely anything 10 be added.
/ In reviewing these reports their Lordshps will
/ observe that although well provided with
\ guides and the scouts throughout displayed the
greatest activity, all endeavors bring the landing
party into personal contact with the pirates failed;
and we invariably had TO take satisfaction in lombard
ing and burning their villages and farms lin all sixty
seven in the destruction of their and growing
crops, and in cutting down their palms and banana
trees. l. however feel satisfied that the moral
produced savages by three gunboas appearing
in creeks which it has hitherto been believed no
man of-war could ascend, and the unexpected
attack made upon them in their remot-
/ est habitatons, VIII combine to render
| the punishment inflicted electual to pre-
vent repetition of such outrages-at any rate, for
some time to comc-and believe the object OF the ex-
II
should it be found that there has been comparatively
little bloodshed.
The Shissionghis, or the natives who live islands
forming the Delta OF the Congo are by no means cow
ards, and, although they have attacked
US the march, most occasions they
hung about our rear, and, according to their
usual tactics commenced dropping fire as the force
re-cmbarked and the boats began to out of the
creeks and although-thanks the infcrorty their
arms and ammuniton-they have not proved them
selves on the present occasion very formidable | be
eve with less imposing force and fewer precautions
they would have been found by no means contempt
ble foe. As it was their slugs fired further than
thirty yards Off frequently fell thick about u.s. spite
OF the heavy bombardment Of the bushes by the gun
boats and the fusilade from the smalarms and had IL
been that the principal boats lifted with pro-
tectng plates OF sheet iron, backed with wood, and
raised about and half feet from the gunwale the
injury should have suffered might have been very
great The chief features which characterize the
try have been operating in dense bush and al
most impenetrable mangrove swanps and both officers
and men deserve great praise for the manner which,
in a trying climate they the many Difficult
ties that constantly presented themselves In the alb
of reliable information unable TO form
an approximate idea of the loss of lite sustained by
the natives but have authority for stating that
the shells from the Runboats did considerable
the rockets and rife bullets were not
without their effect The casualties side in
action amounted TO five wounded, three severely,
and two slightly return encosed; but IL is with the
deepest regret that in addition to these have re
port the accidental death Of Manuel Fernandez whose
services were kindly placed at NY disposal by Signor
Vale, merchant Of Ponta de Lonha, to
guide the expedition to the villages of Lucaa noted
mans Head.
He was shot by an able seaman Of the Spcful under
the following circumstances: The galley of the Spite
lul being the last boat OF long string the
LANDING place ro at the head dr.a of Lucla
clear away the bush in the immediate vicinity with
their rifles unloaded. Isaac Bow, A. b., 5. g., ci.,
one of her crew, having gone about $50 yards from
the boat, heard men haing to stop him. :: and
looking round he man running through the thick
bush, about 100 yards of in direction away the
boats He hailed him two or three times STOP and
waved his cutlass backward. No notice, however was
taken of his halls or signal, aud the running
faster, and the stick he had In his hand seeming
TO be gun, Bow loaded his rifle and shot him,
the belief that he was firing enemy. The
unfortunate deceased being old had lost
his nerve and afraid to disembark with
| Captain Bradshaw when he first landed. About
threcquarers of an hour aftcrward, however, It
! would appear that he changed his determination on
remembering that he had some Information TO impatt
and he indiscreety lett the boats without any
and thus met with his sad fate After fun inquiry
into the circumstances consider that Bow may be cx-
onerated from any culpable rashness in this matter |
enclose copy OF letter addressed to ST. Vale report
ing the unhappy event, and trust their Lordships,
under the circumstances of the case, will approve nv
promise to recommend Her Majesty's government to
render some pecunary assistance TO the family OF the
deceased any OF them should have been depend
ent him, observing that have yet received no
Information on this point
at first entertained hope of being able to recap
ture Manuel yacca but he fed from his village directly
ships made their appearance at Sharks Point and
even if they knew his hiding place which is doubtful
the traders that no bride would induce the
natives to deliver him up at present When however,
affairs get little settled again there may be a better
gla and hp anu An and
Cucula, who the most troublesome characters,
could be deported, feel convinced the traffic OF the
river would be comparatively secure.
A VILLAGE BURNED.
without guides II would have impossible TO find
! our way TO the different villages that have been
destroyed and these readily provided by King
Antonio and Ming Plenty, with whom have treaty
engagements and Chimbach, the most important Of
The Ponta dc Lenha princes and there being no evi
dence show that either of them In any way
tomns have been Shared and so ne most
powerful chiefs in the lower part OF the
native who reported in my despatch No. 80 of the
18th Of March, 1875, had insulted the Consul at a
paaver shore at Ponta de Lenha, had very large
town on that island consisting OF some $50 hus and
these have been burned as apunshment The boats
gagged in these operations were-The Actve's steam
pinnqce No. /; the Activc's steam pnnace No.
drought up from the Capel, charge Of SubLieuten
ant A G. Middleman the Ascension steam launch, in
charge OF Sub-Lieutenant NJ T. Scott, who
also in charge of seven FOUNDER field
gun; the Encounters steam pinnace, in charge
/ of Lieutenant G. NJ Richardson; the Suppy's
steam cutter, in charge different occasions OF
Navigating Lieutenant T. H. Flood of the Sptcful aud
Navigating Lieutenant T. G. Fem, Of the Supply the
Spiteul's cutter. Pulling boats-The Active's
launch IN charge Of Mr.. j. Miller, boatswaln; the Ac-
tve's first cutter, in charge Of Mr. s. H. Benson, as
sistant paymascr, volunteer, there being no execu-
tive appoint; the Actves second cutter, IN charge
different occasions OF Sub-Ieutenants H. O. Key
nolds and T. u. Trggs who were also second IN com
mand OF the Actve's company OF seameni the En-.
counters launch, charge on different occasions OF
Llcutenants H. G. Archer and y. MN. Riddel the In
counters first cutter in charge of Mr. L. Bayy, navi-
eating midshpman; the Encounters second cutter IA
charge of Mr. W. X Dodrdge, assistant paymaster,
volunteer there being no executive TO appoint; the
Spitefus pinnacc IN charge on different occasions OF
lieutenant Snowden and Lieutenant Gardiner the latter
also in command of the Speius company oil seamen
M the Sptefus paddle box boats-No. i, IN charge
on diercnt occasions Of Lieutenant Gardiner and Mr.
y In l1n on nnnn-