Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-11-10
.TR0UP HITS BACK.
LIEUTENANT FLATLY DENIES SEVERAL OF
THE CHARGES STANLEY MADE.
Never Saw ANY Log BOOk-Ths Explorer Charged
With Making Unwarrantsd InsinuatiOns-Death
Of Barttslot's Slaysr-0iicial Record Of the
Court Martial That Condemned the Chief.

oi Barttelots Slayer-0ihcial Record OF the
Court Martial That Condemned the Chief.
BosToN, November 9.-Mr. Stanley's
detailed charges against the officers Of
the rear guard has led Lieut., Troup TO
make the following statement in his
own defense;
Mr.. Stanley now specifies several acts
OF cruelty said to have been reported to
him. Only two of these occurred dur
ing my residence in Yambuya Camp
from August II, 1887, to June s, 1883.
These were the shooting Of Soundan-
ese soldier for deserting and steal
ing a rifle and ammunition, and
the flogging of the interpreter, John
Henry. The former of these events has
been inaccurately stated by Mr.. STAN
ley. The man was executed after a
court-martial of all the officers had sat
upon the case. / voted against it, but
the majority condemned him. AS re-
CARDS the flogging of John Henry, this
occurred while | was in my hut, where
was laid up by serious Illness for six
weeks. At that time / was unable to
do active duty, so was not consulted
concerning the punishment, and was
not presented when it was inflicted.
Major Barttelot and Mr.. Bonney were
the only other officers in camp, and my
knowledge of the course Of events was
what ! gathered from Mr.. Bonney's
conversation.
Mr.. Stalney is reported to have said:
There is the log book as it was given
to me, with day after day the accounts
of the most horrible punishments. The
records are signed by all of the officers"
In denial of this, | assert that while
in Yambuya Camp, there never was any
log book, neither was there any docu-
ments containing record OF cruelties
or other acts signed by me. / never
heard of any such thing as Mr.. Stanley
can produce. No signature of mine is
to such book or document. He gives
"In Darkest Africa" extracts from 4 log
book that was kept after the departure
OF the rear column from Yambuya, June
II being the first date. This was begun
after was invalided home on June s,
and | cannot be held responsible for
anything contained therein.
His inclusion Of me in this accusation
is outrageous. Mr.. Stanley speaks of it
being possible to prevent Major Bartte-
lots acts simply by firmness. Again he
says a written protest would have had
more force than verbal one, and then
adds that we ought to have used per-
sonal violence, such as was used against
Congo official, as described by Mr..
Stanley.
1t is difficult to get from these varied
statements what ought to have been
our course of action If events really
happened as Mr.. Stanley describes. He
refers to Major Barttelot's rank in the
British army and recognizes this by
placing him in authority at Iambuya,
Yet he now indicates uthat we should
have acted in open mutiny and should
have overcome Major Barttelot by per-
sonal violence. Mr.. Stanley's insinu-
alton that | was Influenced by Major
Barttelot's family not to disclose the az
fairs of Yambuya Is utterly false.
had but one interview, and that
with Captain Barttclot. who called at
land. Mr.. Stanley's representative. Sir
+. ID. Winton, was also present. Mr..
Stanley knows the truth Of this, and
yet makes the above insinuation, which
deny. it being as untrue as many other
things Mr.. Stanley is reported as say
ing. The only other communication
with the family / had was when
wrote to ask for a photograph of the
Major for my book. AS regards the
other petty details Of personal matters,
many of which are entirely inaccurate,
do not desire to enter into any con-
troversy, but would refer Mr.. Stanley
to the statements in the preface OF my
book.
He condemns me with the others, ig-
noring the fact that / was invalided
home on June S, and that from the mid
die of April ! was too i'll to act as he as
serts | did. Now we have the lamenta-
BILE spectacle of Mr.. Stanley practically
withdrawing from the ground OF basing
nsinuation upon my letters, saying in
stead of that he has Mr.. Bonncy's au-
thority for them.
He says in his book, and told me per-
sonally, that he had been unable to OBJ
tain any information from Mr.. Bonney.
This shifting and changing is very re-
markable. He desires now to thresh
the matter out in a court Of law, but he
had an opportunity of doing so
last May, in connection with
the injunction of my book,
but rather than avail himself OF that,
for some reason, he preferred to COM
promise the case, paying my costs that
amounted to about $1,000.
/ have delayed my departure Tor Eu-
rope, in order TO hear what further
charges Mr.. Stanley has to make against
me, but instead of bringing any forward,
he retracts almost all his former re-
marks against me, except those now
deny. As far as | am concerned, the
controversy should close now, as Mr.
Stanley has failed to bring forward any
proof that acted contrary to his writ
ten instructions,