New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-09
A SURPLUS OF HORRORS.

One of Mr.. SANKEY'S revelations imposes .
heavy Tux upon credulity. He alleges that
jameson of the rear-guard procured practical
demonstration of cannibalism. Tippu Tib is
represented as saying to him: =" 1t is easy
enough to prove, if you like. Pay for slave
and give it to those men there. They will
show YOU" Whereupon jameson assented, and
furnished twelve pocket-handkerchiefs for the
purchase of a girl ten years old; and then he
stood by while the natives plunged knife into
her heart, sketching the revolving scene and
the still more horrible orgies OF brutality which
followed. Six of these sketches are stated to
have been made. Mr.. Stanley AYERS that these
allegations are supported by the sworn affidavit
of an eyewitness and that European pro-
fessed to have seen Jamesons sketches. That
Jameson may have made drawings of revels
of cannibalism is not incredible; but that he
should have procured the assassination OF
native girl for the express purpose OF having
working model for striking illustrations OF
his future book clearly exceeds the limits OF
belief Englishmen may be brutal, but they
are not savages. Mr.. Stanley weakens his own
case by repeating 50 incredible and unspeak-
ably horrible story.
Indeed, we may as well frankly say that
while the Stanley mongers have been seriously
at fault in bringing on various controversies
over the relief expedition, the explorer him
self now needs to exercise sef-restraint In re-
plying to his adversaries. The market for
African horrors in both England and America
is one that may easily be overstocked. Let
Mr.. Stanley succeed in proving that tho picked
men who accompanied him to the Congo were
barbarous savagcs capable Of purchasing slaves
with cotton handkerchiefs and rapidly sketch
ing their death agOnies and the public will not
want to hear him lecture nor to read any moro
of his books, nor to have any further mention
made of errands of mercy in midAfrica. There
arc many other incidents in his special recital
for "The London Times" which challenge be-
lief. but this is one which is so unutteraby
horrible and improbable that he exposes him.
self to censure for repeating it. 1t is not a
camp tale which ought to have been told about
dead man.
Life in Africa undoubtedly tends to brltalize
Europeans Men like Barttelot and Jameson,
surrounded by naked savages and released from
the restraints of civilization, may readily be-
come wanton in their cruel treatment of help
less natives and even acquire morbid ap-
petite for the horrors of barbarism. The mania
for writing books of startling adventure may
also have some influence in bunting the sensi-
bilities of soldiers OF fortune in the Dark Con-
tnent. When all these concessions are made
it still remains inherently improbable that a
species of human vivisection such as Jameson
is described as deliberately sketching could
have been bargained for and procured in cold
blood. 1t is one thing to prove that the officers
| of the rear-guard were blunderers and mar
plots; it is another to attempt to convince
| Christendom that they were tiends trafficking
in assassination and cannibalism for the sake
of getting few striking sketches for book
of travel. Even If it be possible to prove that
Jameson was guilty of such unspeakable atroci-
ty, it is not for Mr.. Stanleys interest to do so.
Men and women wish TO be able to attend
his lectures and to read his books without sup
ping upon CHASTITY horrors and barbarous crimes.
Let many more lnstalments OF his revelations
be put before the public and relief expeditions
and exploration tours in mid-Africa will cease
to interest anybody with heart