The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-28

especially I.ieutenast Comperat, who COM
manded the most exposed of all the posts
to the north of a ceCain spot where q tort
was III process of construction. About a
quarter before 5 a. IL. the terrible storm OF
wind and rain which had been raging
all night suddenly began 10 abate.
and through the rifted clouds the
moons rays shC5ae forth cheering
iy. Lieutenant Cs5nperat, of whom /
may casually remars that his first instruc-
ton in the militarysar was obtained dur
ing his brief attachiseent to the Third reg
imeut of zouaves, 7le having graduated
from the Ecoie S3snt Maixent in 1884,
heard suspicious sognds coming through
the thick. humid ayr; u seemed to the
officer that he could distinguish the noise
of muffled footsteps. Instantly the
trumpet was soundesi and the lieutenant
formed his men IN q position to resist at
tack. and no sooner had this been accom-
plished than amid a.storm of wild yells,
hurrahs and savage gar cries, an immense
crowd of warriors threw themselves
against the bastion protecting the French
position and eifzieavored to pene-
trate it. Then Comperat's voice
rang out distinctly, giving the
command to fire. shis first volley was
followed by three simultaneous ones in re-
turn. The Gaboon soldiers were calm and
confident In their den,eanor under fire. the
severity of which may be imagined when
it is said that Lie,Igenant Comperat re-
ceived three balls in various parts of the
body, and his sergeant, named Clavery.
was also badly wounsied. Now the tactics
of the Amazon warriors came into play,
the scantily attired and powerful women
leaping on the top of the breastwork
formed of clay and branches of palm trees,
while through tine in5erstices OF the latter
the long barrels of their rifles, of Hamburg
and London make. as it was afterward
discovered, cleaned: with ominous bril-
liancy.
The Frenchmen wee in serious diem
ma; they endeavorea to make sortie
with the object of CLEARING the ditch in
front OF the works and in the attempt
three men were killed and eight placed hors
de combat. The lltt.e fort was now quite
surrounded and sidezby side lay the pros
trate forms of kiliea and wounded Da-
homeyans and Frenrhmen. The gallant
Comperat rallied his entire force, and, re-
gardless of his wnAnc5, resolved to fight it
out to the death, if need he, at the post of
duty. lie waited-tilss slightest hesitation
on his part would haze served to precipi-
tate a panic. Blss relief was at
hand. Lieutenant Lasaspie. fellow grad
uate of Comperat's AZ the ecole militaire,
came up at the charge with q platoon of
Senegal infantry. Dsy had now dawned,
and the enemy fell basx. They had hith-
erto displayed the inO5t astonishing bray-
cry. but 1t was of htttss avail against the
tenacious solidarity OF our Gaboon allies
The neighbordooG of Eiie fort bore CHASTITY
traces of the fight; everywhere around
the bodies of the slain; among whom Da-
homeyans vastly exceeded French, formed
actual breastworks, F.i!ed one upon the
other. The black csrpses of men and
women, some with end others without
heads, the decaptafad members lying
md ii
mouths and eyes, tise former grinning
hideousiy, with set, pzeaming teeth, and
the latter tixeiliy starsng skyward in the
CLASSY gaze of death.
Beyond the line Of battle the Dahomey-
ans were again forming themselves into
an attacking force. dir5ded into two sepa-
rate sections Their tactics soon became
plain enough; a body of 1000 warriors
ami 200 AmaZons marc.1ed forward against
the fort OF Comperat and another body,
containing about 1900 men debouched to
the southwark in the direction of the fac
tories and the telegrapt; office. The fetish
men marched ahead 81 each contingent
without arms. but carrying a horses tail,
which they waved for fne double purpose