New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-25
THE WAR IN UGANDA.
NARRATIVE OF AN EYEWITNESS.
hING MwANGA'S FLIGHT AND RETURN-EXPE'
RIENCE OF AN ENGLISH MISSIONARY
ANOTHER VERSION OF THE STORY.

| that powerful native MngdOm IN the nOFtHcs" IAN"
country memorable In the history OF Livingston and
stanley and OF Christian mission work In the Dark
Continent. Lying within the British "spherc of In
luence IN position OF the greatest possible strategic
Importance It las long been regarded sure 10 be-
| come erelong a part Of the British Empire In Africa
Il was indeed formally occupied not long ago by the
| British East Africa Company. But the country pres
eytly iccame involved In between the, various
tribes, especially between those that had ON the one
side accepted the teachings OF the British Protestant
missionaries and the other, those who rad become
disciples OF the French Roman Catholic missionaries
Unable to control the country, the chartered company
made appeal for aid to the British Government when
after some hesitation has at last decided TO send
Commissioner thither and make Itself responsible Tor
| the future welfare OF the Kingdom.
OF thl, present state Of affairs and this changed
future prospect the tribal war OF few months ago
was the immediate cause. Various accounts OF tle
hostllities have been given from various points OF
view The latest and one OF the most clrcu1s'ail'lu'
IS frcm the lips Of English missionary, Mr. Col
| llns WHO has Just returned from Uganda ana VINO
relates 10 the Reuter- agency those things which he
himself saw. His story may be taken as from the
point OF view Of II British Protestant, and differs rna'
teally in respect TO the cause OF the outbreak ana
the responsibility for H. from that Of the French
| Catholic missionaries
"When | left Mengo. King Kwanga's capital &c
| SAYS "ma,tcrs fairly tranquil but during the
| few months Immediately preceding my departure
continuous series OF battles and s&rmlshes between
| the Procstants ard the Catholics occurred one
| day news was received that the Catholics Intended
| 70 burn the Shamba, country estate. OF the
| Protestant chief Muondo. at Chagwe and the chief
Immediately went TO the King TO inform him that he
| was going down to defend his property. Mwanga
told him he was not TO CO. but he nevertheless gath
cred 100 men and left later in the day When the
King heard of this lie despatched four powerful chiefs
| and 800 men to overtake and XIII him. AS soon as
captain Williams knew OF the diSpatci Of this force
| he went TO the Kimbugwo the principal Cath'hc
chief and the Katihro Uhc leader OF the Protestant
pary and persuaded them to send messengers ORDER
| ing tho force 10 return. The greatest excitement
prevailed In TIE town. Armed men were gathering
in all directions. and was momentan'y expected
| to break out.
Large numbers OF women came into The stations
bringing various things for us TO Take care Of orr
people asked to leave our enclosure. but we
we're advised By Captain Williams 20 leave one of our
pars I'm charge OF the station AMI 90 Into the fort AZ
| Kampnla. As night came on drums were beating In
all directions and the widest excitement prevailed
About noon on the following day the SuIaSi cnaer
OF the people, beat the war drum, ana soon
| large bands OF armed men were gathering. AL these
preparations. however came to nothing. and the men
returned 10 their homes. As n Protestant chief was
returning the capital he and his men were attacked
by Roman Catholic force and had 10 retreat. Great
irritation was felt at this unprovOhci assault The
Procsants warned not 10 take any serious steps
without consulting Captain william; and forming some
definite plan OF action. That day Captain Wliams
declared his intention to seize all guns found and
ordered n patrol OF the roads, but TO guns We're
taken.
"On the following day news was received from
the Mulondo to the effect that he sill feared nm
attack from the Catholics, but that lie should not
fight unless first assailcd To the joy of all OF
the company's caravans arrived In the midst Of this
trouble and nil fears Of outbreak were ior the
time removed After this incident period OF calm
cnsued and the arrival OF Captain Lusnrd With
force OF soudanese soldiers gave rise to the hope that
no further disorder would occur.
"One day. soon after Captain Lugard's arrival. We
heard the firing Of guns near our place. and 1t after
ward appeared that had been shot by
Catholic chief in consequence OF dispute ABOUT 'he
ownership OF gun. The affair was taken before the
King for judgment, and he dismissed thc case shpSe
onontv declining 10 reconsider his decision. On the
following dag Captain Lpgard sent 10 the hing
demanding that tho murderer should be handed over to
,ustlee but stlll Mwanga refused and told Captain
Lugard's messenger that the English might fight II
they wished but II they did they would be- Killed ana
their riches taken away As Mwanga persisted III
his refusal Captain Lugard determined on lShng'
necessary, and means Of precauon guns were
served ont to the Protestants We heard that the
priests had told the Catholic party that the company
was trading company. and that they dared not hight,
or they would spoil their prospects Tor tradIhS'
Early morning we heard the firing OF guns ana
we knew that another page OF Cganda's history was
about to be written in blood. In short lime
, We received a note from Captain Lugnrd from
Kampala saving that ~ remained In the station
orr lives would be endangered. and that ne cond
NOT le responsible for orr safety unless we went
into the fort after consultation we packed mp our
goods and went there. When We reached the Tort
wc found about 900 women there. and Others were
still going IN Captain Lugard sent message to the
thoth a u+nfi1
himself and leave everything 20 be settled in council
next day, II they would only give up the CHIEF who
shot the man Kc previous Tuesday
Inst as the messenger left the fort we heard two
guns fired, and n moment aferward Two more an"
then terrible volley which tod us that the ehsase
mcnt had begin. AZ CHS moment n large party OF
Catholics were seen rushing down the mn from the
King's enclosure evidently with the object OF taking
the fort; but Captain Lugard turned the Maxim gun
on them and Tncy rushed heltersbefcr among the
bananas Captain Williams also opened ire on aho'her
marty with the other Maxim When the Protcstanis
heard the sharp rattle OF the big guns they brst mo
rounds OF cheering. few minutes later we saw that
tho Catholic mission station on Rubaga hill was on
fro and that their new church MISC atsaze, ana
we knew that people had taken Kubagn' Inc
Protestant wounded numbering from hftv 70 SiNry'
we're ten brought into the fort anG attended ~ py tue
doctors The dead buried next day by our own
pcople considerable number OF the Catholics were
killed probably from seventy to eighty, ana large
nnnber wounded but tho latter were Immediately
taken away It IS impossible to estimate tn" exact
figure.
AT this time position was most critical We !
were hcmmed in all sides north. sonth. cast ana
west by Catholics, Mahamotans and heahenS; and |
rs Cap,an Lugard understood that plan was being |
formed 10 close In upon he decided 70 attack the
Island on which the King had taken refuge after |
his late defeat. In pursuance OF his plan Captain |
williams IN command Of large force OF Soudarese
and Dagandn left the fort for spot on the lake shore
opposlte the island. which Only ahout the length
Of rife shot distant. Captain Williams at once got
his Maxim ino position. and seeing ibis, the Kings
marty tried 10 escape from the island In their canoes
hpt no sooner were the boats flied Than they were
sunr ono after the other ty the Maxim. and an
immense number OF the natives were drowned, going
down in boatloads King Mwanga himself managed |