New-York tribune., 1890-04-30
EUROPEANS KILLED BY AMAZONS.

THE DAHoMAN ATTACK ON KoToNoN-AS
AMAZON OF SIXTEEN KILLS TWO SOLDIERS.
From lie Courier du soir.
A firm Of Rouen has received from traveller who
is actually at KotOnon, a letter containing the follow
ing particulars about the first attack by the Dahomans:
Kotonon, March 5. 1890.
During the last days there had been about fifteen
sharpshooers wounded. something was expected. but
gradually watcbfulness had become rather weak. The
consequence that the sentinels fast asleep at
half-past in the morning, when the Dahonians az
vanced in snake like gidngs they surprised tae sent
ncIs and oil their necks IN te same manner inc
quartermaster endeavored to defend himself. but an
Amazon Ia fine girl of sixteen stabbed him with .
poniard and cut his neck The same tate happened Y
ncer Ut artillery. Meanwhile the alarm had heen
given, the senegalese riemen arrived ON run and
swept of the first ranks Of the Dahomans, The Anna
zon caught. thrown to the ground and her neck cut
At the moment Mr.. Bayol, the Governor; sig
nailed 10 the gunboat Sane, at anchor lust on tle
battlefield Immediately hailstorm OF bombs aud
IIotchkiss ball, raincd over the Dahomans: The
firing Of great precision ana groups vi u'h W
twelve sayages were hardly formed when bomb was
sent bursting among them, and when the smose hah
cleared nothing could be seen standing up, Despite
TINS the Dalomans displayed an extraordinary and
obstinate During TWO hours my nurlso
themselves toward the few houses OF the settle
ment and reached several times 10 the bottom OF the
outside staircase Of the telegraph Office, whore they
were shot down close to the muzzle
Five Europeans and white lady touhd thcm.
selves shut up in the telegraph ofhoe Ihey blazed
during The M Whole g r s ss eex shar Oh 'Ps Pus Ie
the DahOnlans fled TO the underbriIsh, leaving IRON
800 600 Of their people on the ground. On oui
side we had fourteen dead and fifteen wounded,
among whom were five or six Europeans. Every
one admits that, but for the gunboat sane: tho tho
Dahomans would have succeeded In invading the
houses, they would have killed everybody. They
numbered 1,s00 or 1900 men,
The famous Dahoman Amazons though not 50 m
merous now as in former times, stll constitute tn
best part Of the army which King kondo has lus'
led to the gates of Porto Novo. winch Is under
French protectorate. This corps Of about $500
women. is mainly recruited from the young girls Of
the best families in Dahomey, designated by the
caprice Of the King for military service. They live in
barracks like regular soldiers. and sworn 10 per
petual vrginlty. Nevertheless, one-third OF tn"
Amazon corDs is composed Of immoral women. whose
lives have been spared the condition OF their en-
ustment and Of quarrelsome wives complained Of by
their husbands to the King, who is only too glad to
make use Of their fighting humor by incorporating
those female demons into his army One company
Of the Amazon regiment bears the name OF Razor VIZ
ensn because they are armed with razor hve Iee'
long, which Is terrible weapon IN Arcan ng,e,, non
and Is used in time of peace 10 decapitate the men
sentenced 10 death by the DdhOman KING, WHO aisO
use, hi, AmazOns a. public eXecnuoners' Anotner
comnany is named The Big Mlskcls,' eafh woman
soldier being accompanied by slave VINO carries u,e
L,5,,v diuf ock The "SuT 70 XIII company j
formed of the best sharpshOOters there are aao tns
"Carblnecrp and the BayOnet' compaiieS' inat VI
,ba - Array Hearers is composed OF gf!s 100 young
n3 ,or octnaI fighting, but who are employed As
recon noitring parties and in the ambulance corps
nr,ntive a. the latter is. one, the Elephant COM
many Is not destined for the bauened uuI ivr nun. h
InD the elephant and procuring the ivory for the
oval treasure The most daring agile ana athietc
girls are admitted in that company; ~nch mght ~
called the civil private service Ok KING hohdo