The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1894-01-23

Cruelty OF the Inhuman slave ArAuors'
Wholesale Massacre Followed by Hor-
rible MutiIation of Dead Bodies-Bat-
ties with Awful Results.
Mr.. Dorsey Mohun, United States com
mercial agent at Bona, Congo Free state,
has made thrilling report to the state de-
partment on the subject of the African
slave trade, In which he gives details OF
cannibalism and other acts of barbarism.
What gives his report a special interest in
this vicinity is that the author is lifelong
resident OF this city He is the only repre-
sentative Of this government In that part
of the dark continent" He was sent
there With view of advancing the com
mercial interests of the United States and
incidentally to investigate the slave trade.
| In order to gain clear insight into the
whole matter Mr. Mohun attached himself
to the expedition which was sent out by the
Congo government under command of M.
| Chaltin. This expedition, both in point OF
strength and from the results which it &C
complished, was one Of the most important
ever sent against the Arabs and practically
gave the slave trade in the Congo country
its deathblow. 1t penetrated the great
Lomami river region, the stronghold of the
| slave traders, and after considerable heavy
fighting and in the face of great mortality
from smallpox and fever, succeeded in
breaking up several Of the most noted
bands, whose operations had terrorized the
entire locality.
The expedition started from Basoko, on
the Congo river, in the Bruxelles, a govern
ment steamer, and eventually reached
Stanley falls. The United States officer
| n. IL. a. 81
had gone into the backlying country. He
caught the steamer on its next trip down
| to Basoko, and later Joined Commandment
Chaltin. He found that the officer had
been most successful, defeating the Arabs
in an open fight and completely destroying
the village Of Tchari, which consisted of
| !, 200 houses. From that point the expedi-
ton sailed for Benakamba, where it was
reorganized and set out for Riba Riba 555
strong. Then began the stirring and ex-
citing adventures which lasted until the
object of the expedition had been accom-
plished. Evidences of inhuman cruelty on
the part of the slave traders were enooun-
tered.
When the town Of Ikamba was reached a
grewsome sight greeted the expedition
The chief of that district, being an ally Of
the Arabs, had placed directly across the
road q CHASTITY barricade OF Is newly sever
ed heads. The natives had fed, however,
and the town was deserted save for these
grisly warnings. Without needing this
| fearful sight the expedition pushed on, and
on March 20 was stopped by an impossible
stream. Scouts were sent out to find q
ford, and soon returned with the news that
large body of Arabs was preparing to
cross the river at a point not far away.
These were the first slave dealers who had
been encountered, and the force was imme-
diately placed in position for an attack.
The Arabs had not discovered the pres
ence Of the expedition. and the first warn
| ing they had was a shell from the field
piece which dropped into their camp.
After several hours of hot fighting across
the river the Arabs withdrew, and upon
crossing over the blood which spattered the
ground and bushes showed the victors that
some deadly work had been done. Only
one dead Arab was found, as 1t is the Gus
tom Of this people, Mr.. Mohun says, to re-
move their dead If possible. After the
battle $50 men succeeded in crossing the
river and were ordered to push on to Riba
Riba, as it was desired to reach that town
before the retreating forces of the Arabs
could give warning Of the approach of the
expedition.
This detachment Mr. Mohun accompa-
MED, but on reaching the town they found
the place deserted The only thing they
did find was another bit Of Arab pleasantly
in the shape Of two right hands of white
men nailed to the flagstaff in front of the
chiefs house. Mr.. Mohun expressed the
belief that they were those of Messrs.
Michaels and Noblesse, who were murder
ed there the week before 1t is the inten-
ton Of NJ. Chaltin to destroy these nests,
and the detachment marched away in the
tight of the flames which assembled from
the village and returned to the main force.
Smallpox had made its appearance among
the men, and on the next day all of the sick
were sent back to Benekamba under guard
The expedition followed few days later
and reached the steamer on Mays, taking
three days to make the home journey, which
had consumed nine days in going. The
scenes on the road going back, according
to Mr.. Mohun's descriptions, were appall-
ing. The dead from the sick column lined
the way, and occasionally a corpse would
be tumbled over as 1t lay concealed In the
high grass. So great was the mortality that
upon reaching Benekamba it was found
that 104 persons had died In less than two
weeks
The battle which ended the expedition
was fought at Stanley falls. The soldiers
were In two detachments under cover of the
fire from the cannon on the steamer One
detachment carried the factory at the point
Of the bayonet, and for awhile there was
hot work. The retreating Arabs were pur-
sued to the village, which the soldiers took.
The other detachment, on the right bank
of the river, had calamity captured another
town, killing the chief and rs of his men.
The defeat and rout of the Arabs was COM
plete, and the slaughter from the rifles Of
the soldiers was fearful. After this disas-
trous defeat many of the Arabs slaves, sol
diers, women and other retainers gave
themselves up. In all about 100 of these
surrendered to the expedition.
There being no further danger from the
Arabs after such a complete rout, the ex-
petition left Stanley falls and went to Ro-
mic, another Arab town, which they found
had been already captured by small force
under the command of Mr.. Five, the in
spector of the Congo state, and an officer
Here Mr.. Mohun saw some sights which
were revolving in the extreme, surprising
In savagery anything that he had imagined.
Washington Star.