The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-10
The Story Of Murdered Missionaries.

Nearly two weeks ago a colored man
brought to this Office story purporting to
come from St. Paul dc Loanda, West Africa.
which, II true. would be read with great
sorrow by many hundreds OF people In this
country. The story was to the effect that
Ave American missionaries. three men and
two women. had been massacred at the
Palabala mission station. Seven converted
natives had also lost their lives. and all the
mission buildings had been burned and
the cultivated fields laid waste.
There was reason to believe that the story
was not true. The alleged letter from
Loanda bore the date Of Dec is. Loanda Is
connected with Europe by cable. and for
several years the news Of far less sensa-
tional events, involving trouble with
natives in the Congo region. has invariably
been received first by cable. either from
Loanda or from st. Thomas. Palabala is
not on the Congo. as the letter affirmed. but
Is q considerable distance south OF It. The
letter. moreover. described situation
at Palabala which existed two years
ago. but has not existed since. The at
tempted explanation OF the massacre was
simply ridiculous. The writer endeavored
to connect the tragedy with events oc-
curing several years ago. which he de-
scribed enormously. He asserted further
that Palabala was the scene Of these events.
while. as a matter Of fact. they occurred
over 200 miles further up the river. The
story had every appearance Of being the
invention OF some person not familiar with
affairs on the Con go River.
We decided that we could not give cur
rency to this irresponsible report Of the
cruel murder OF five American missionaries.
Even had the story been less improbable.
It's publication would not have been justified
without first asoertaining whether the So
ciety that sent these men and women to
Africa as its agents had information con-
firming or disproving its accuracy. These
missionaries are known throughout this
country to every one who Is interested in
the work Of the American Baptist Mission
airy Union. Their reports are read widely.
the work they are doing Is studied with in
terest. their welfare or misfortunes are
matters Of concern to thousands Of people
at home. The newspaper press discharges
q serious duty when 1t records any we'll
authenticated report that they have met a
cruel and a tragic fate; but 1t Is scandalous
to print as statement OF facts. without a
single qualifying expression. without any
effort to learn the truth. laundering. ire
sponsible yarn to the effect that five Ameri-
can missionaries. including two women.
have been butchered by savages.
This at least was the view that We
took Of the matter. Two Of our contempt
raries seem to have thought differently.
One Of them printed q condensed version Of
this young mans story as q special cable
gram" The other gave the entire compo-
sition. including the absurd version Of the
cause Of the tragedy. as especial corre-
spondence from Loanda."
Our judgment as to the real nature and
value Of this alleged news Is confirmed by
a letter sent to this office from the head
quarters OF the missionary society In Bos-
ton. where it Is believed that 1.-The story
was made up by some person who Is I'M
aware Of the changes which have been made
in our station at Palabala within the last
two years." As matter Of fact there is
now only one missionary at Palabala. No
white women are there. Most OF the work
Of that station has been transferred to Ma
tadi. the starting point OF the Congo Rail-
road. where about q hundred white men are
now living. and where such tragedy could
not possibly occur.
As mere question OF newspaper policy.
is It worth while for reputable metropolitan
journals to permit themselves to impose
upon their readers a pitiful lie. the true
character Of which would stand revealed
upon the slightest investigation