Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-02-10
MASSACRE OF The FRENCH.
Details Of the Da,ta. Of Colonel
B0llltTS and bis Men.
The News Creating "a sensation In
Paris.-rhe Governmcat wni lie
aCaIisd 60 m Account

PARIS, Feb. O.--rhe secretary Of the
colonial department this afternoon re-
cuiyed a telegram from ~. Louis,
Senegal, stating that Colonel Bon.
niors anu eleven other ofiiccfs anu $50
privaios were mRssacroI by Tsuregcs.
Another account puts tho loss a, sixty.
seven.
The following details Of the disaster
are given out ny tue French govern
nout, upon Information received from
Cant Philippe, French cOmmandant
nt IimbucIOU:
The Tautges, armed with lances
aud knives, made the tfst attack upon
tho leading division OF this French
column. Hnu attack was 10 desperate
and well sustained that tns iirst d.
vision was apparently cut TO pieces.
The news OF the disaster was brOu %
10 the second portion OF tie column by
Capt. Nuseste, who, badly wounded,
managed TO escape.
Tue second division was encamped a
few miles 10 tho rear OF the advance
guard, which was surprised during the
darkness OF early morning.. The officer
IN command Of tue rear guard immedi.
Atrly commenced n retreat upou Tim
buoloo, leaving the vanguard, com.
manded by BJnnier, to It's late.
The official statement admits that At
least nine officers, iuoluling Colonel
BONNER, two European nOn.cOmmi-.
stoned officers anu sixty eight native
soldiers were massacroI.
Unofficial reports, emanaling from
the war department anu colonial ofllce,
say the loss Ia killed anu captured was
at least 300.
Thv rear guard reached Tlmbuctoo
December l7tn, carrying a numuer Of
wounded. Several men In ADDITION to
those admitted TO have been killed
when the vanguard was cut tospleces,
are said TO nave been either killed. or
loft dying along the route during the
retreat TO TimbuGtoo.
Captain Philippe gathered his whole
force together anu Oegan throwing up
intfenchmontA 20 secure his position,
M rimbuctoo was seriously threatened
by the Taureges. Tho Taurege, be-
came 10 aggressive that they pushed
close 10 the French soldiers at work on
the intronchments, and killed and
wounded several. Captain Philippe
organized small parties who made sal
lies upon the Taureges, driving them
back and killing number. Once or
twice every night the nativcs made
attacks on the French line, killing and
wounding several. This garrison IL
opposed by an enemy estimated at rom
400 10 10000. The French only had 800
men In their intrenchments, ana this
force was only supplied with six small
field pieces.
When Captain Philippe was In.
formed by native messengers that
Jotlere's column was on the way to
relieve him, he sent messenger 10
Colonel Jofiero 20 warn him that his
forces were IN danger Of attack by the
Arabs. Captain Philippe also sent a
request 10 the governor OF SOudan that
tbs French tlOtilla on the Niger should
not leave that diGtriot until the Joflere
column reached TimbuctOo.
The news OF the disaster has caused
a sensation In Paris, and II Ia already
announced that several questions on
the subject will be asked as soon as
possible In the chamber Of deputies.
II IL understood the government will
say that BonnieT's expedition was
undertaken upon his own Initiative
and against the orders OF the govern.
ment.
IL is semi.ofiiclally stated that tho
governor OF Soudan has taken extra.
ordinary measures TO relieve the French
forces ut TimbuotOo, and all the French
oulpoalB have been doubled.