Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-11-04
A TALE OF HORROR.
The Last of the Flatters Mission to the
Soudan-Cannibalism on the Desert
ELEVEN MEN KILLED AND EATEN.

Clegnerec, near Pontivy (Morbinin,
will take place the Inauguration of
a monument, raised by public sub
scription, to the memory of Joseph
Pobeguin, Quartermaster of the
Spahis and member of the second
Flatters Mission.
Several variations of the heroic
and terrible incidents of the Flatters
mission have already appeared in the
press, but, as yet, the Journal dc
Route, the detailed history of the aw-
full voyage,as narrated by the few sur
vivors of Flatters and Pobequin, and
as collected in Algeria by the enter
prise of the Service Central des A +
fdires Indigenos, and has not been
public. Consequently, those pass
ages of the dramatic recital we pub
]ish herewith are now presented to
French readers for the first time -
Paris Figaro, September 26.
Monday, Oath, March '82.-There is
now only one camel left. 1t is decided
that Quartermaster Pobeguin, who
is still unable to walk, shall mount
the animal and try to reach the
nearest well-after which he will
send the camel back, so that we can
move the baggage. The gu arter
master starts, accompanied by few
men. He halts on arrival within q
few hundred yards of the well.
A man then proceeds to the well,
and brings him back some water.
Then he sends the riheman Ell Mokh-
tar to take back the camel to his
comrades. After awhile the latter,
weary of waiting for the animal,
march on; and coming up angrily
reproach their comrades for not
having sent back the camel as agreed
upon. The accused parties assert
positively that the animal was con-
fided to Ell Mokhtar to be taken
back to them. In short time it is
found that the rifeman Abdel Kader
benz nlGorieb, who had gone on in ad-
vance, was also missing. Tnen it
was discovered that he and Ell Mokh-
tar had deserted, taking the last
camel with them.
Pobeguin at once orders the two
least fatigued of the company to
pursue the fugitives with orders to
kill them if they can be found, and
to bring back the camel,
A HORRIBLE CRIME.
Tuesday, 22d to Thursday, 24th.-
The two spahis sent in pursuit OF
the fugitives return at sunset without
having been able to overtake the
guilty comrades. All yield to the
most profound despair at thus learn
ing that their last resource had been
taken from them. Only few men
are able to walk. Tirailleur Adde'S
selam ben Ell Hadji asks leave to
start to Ell Mesegguem to obtain aid
from Raja. Pobeguin consents to
allow him to start by himself, and
promises him handsome recon-
pense if he succeeds in reaching
Hassi ell Mesegguem. About an hour
after his departure shots are heard.
Several men had left the well, in
order, they said to hunt. At great
distance they could be seen light
ing big fire. When they came
back they brought some cooked meat
with them which they offered to Pob-
eguin They said it was the flesh of
wild sheep. The Quartermaster
saw that it was human flesh, and
pushed it away.
The column is unable to continue
the march. Everybody is in a con-
dition of extreme weakness. A few
men scatter here and there, and sue
ceed in hiding some insects and liz
yards, which they devoured greedily.
The general despair is at its height.
No one now ever dreams OF help.
Some few, more energetic than the
rest, try to revive their comrades
1t is at last decided to make one
more effort to reach Hassi-el Meseg-
guem.
NAMES OF THE VICTIMS.
Friday, March 25.-The column
starts in the afternoon. Nine men
have become so feeble that they can
not stand upon their legs. They are
left behind at the we'll, with the
promise to send them aid just SO soon
as Ell Mesegguem is reached. These
nine men are:
*El Mebrouk ben Mohammed (cam-
eleer).
*Ahmed ben Tahar (tirailleuI). ;.
*Lakhoar ben Sulan (tir.).
*Rahmani ben Ahmed (tir.).
*Ben Aouda ben Braham (tir.)
*Mohammed ben Ahmed (tir.).
*Diehid ben Mohammed (tir.).
*Ahmed ben Zanoum (tir.).
Khelifa ben Derradji (tir.).
TThe asterisks show those who were
afterward killed and eaten, or eaten
after dying of hunger.-TRANs.
The sixteen other spahis proceed
over the sandy route, after having
buried their money. They succeed
in making about three kilometers
only.
During the night three or four rifle
shots are heard. It is feared that 9
band of Thouaregs may have attacked
the men left behind at the we'll.
MORE MEN KILLED AND EATEN.
Saturday, March 25.-Two men g
back to the well, in order to find out
the cause OF the shots heard during
the night. When they return in The
afternoon they announce that Djedio
ben Mohammed had got into quar-
rel with two of his comrades, and had
killed both of them, namely, Mo
l.o,,,xoJ Lo,, Ab,,,oJ or1 Ro,, ou6s