The Lamar register., 1894-09-01
FRENCH AND ARABS.
SLAUGHTER AT rIMeucroo.
Three Hundred French Soldiers Garrison
Ing Timbuctoo Fall Victims to the
Fury of a Horde of Arabs

Paris. Aug. 2S.-MoSt startling news
has reached here from Senegal, West
Africa. According TO II report received
mt 81. Louis, the French garrison at
Timbuctoo after three days desperate
fighting with the Taure:s and other
hostile tribes which have been invest
ing that city for long time past made
a sortie. The belcaguering forces were
overwhelming in numbers and fell
upon the sortie party. fairly annihilat-
ing IL. The news created consterna-
tion in many circles. rs il Is the sec
ond serious disaster the French have
met with in the vicinity of Timbuctoo
since that important Soudanese town
was occupied by them early in the
present year. A French column com
manded by Col. BANNER arrived ut
Timbuctoo on January l, and two
days later a detachment of troops with
Col BANNER al its head. accompanied
by Commander Hugicr and the entire
staff, started out on n rcconnoiterins
expedition, leaving Capt. Philippe as
senior captain in charge of the post at
Timbuctoo This French detachment,
In some manner never fully explained
TO the public, was surprised asleep in
camp at Dougoi. two hours march
north OF Gourdam and three days
march from Timbuctoo. The Arabs,
chiefly Tauregs. mounted and on foot
and armed with lances and knives. en-
tered the French camp by several sides
during the darkest hours OF early
morning and overturned the stacked
arms in front OF the sharpshooters
who. surrounded. were unable to seize
their rifles TO defend themselves sue
ct.ssfully
The Arabs massacrcd nearly the en-
tire detachment. consisting of the
Fifth and Eleventh companies OF Sou
danesc sharpshooters. a French Off
Ger. Capt. Nigottc, though seriously
wounded III the head. succeeded in es-
Gaping to q platoon OF soldiers left
some yards behind the main camp to
guard some captured hocks. This pla-
faon WIS under the command of Lieut..
Sartlu. II retreated to Timbuctoo.
bringing with il Il few wounded men
who had escaped the massacre at Dou-
goi.
The Tauregs pursued the retreatinl
soldiers and practically invested Tim
hrctoo. which Capt. Philippe made
haste TO dcferd pending the arrival of
Icintortemcnis. Ii WAS stated that mt
Doucoi the French lost nine officers.
TWO European Sergcants. an Interpret
er and one sergeant, SIX corporals and
~ native Sharpshooters. u
For the defense OF rimbuctoo. Capt
Philippe had 300 rifles and six can
non. but this was Il very small force
with which 10 hold a town of about
l2.VN population. situated amid hot,
moving; sands. on the verge OF a morass
aud having. Il wallco enclosure aboat
three miles in circumference. Bat
column. commanded by Col Jolfre.
was ON Its way TO reinforce the French
ai Tinbuctoo. and having sent messen-
-rrs 10 the colonel and communicated
with thu commander OF the French fio
ilh ON thu Niger river. the captain
made the hest disposal possible of his
small force, ana with the cooperation
~ the Iuputlnce succeeded in holding
ont until the loire column arrived
This colunn was composed OF n com
isiny ANA half Of sharpshootcrs. a
Iuadr0n of Spahis in splendid Afri-
eal cavalry, 80 auxiliary SpahiS and
l,yo guns. II also Included the horses
mules, drivers. etc. of the first column