Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-02-28
BLOODY BATTLE IN A JUNGLE,
Bueja AmbuSh9d by African Slave.
Traders and Many Shot Down.


Traders and Many Shot Down.
LONDON, Feb 24.-Dispatches re-
ceived here from the West Coast of
Africa announce that a number of
British officers and sailors have been
killed in an encounter with the slave
dealers on the West Coast of Africa.
The men were from the cruiser Raleigh,
the flagship of the British squadron of
that coast, commanded by Rear Adj
miral Frederick G. Bedford, and the
first class screw gunboat Widgeon,
commanded by Lieut.. Commander Will
lam J. Scullard.
Official reports of the affair received
to-day state that landing parties from
the ships had been sent ashore in order
to punish Chief Fodisilah notorious
slave dealer who had been carrying off
into bondage and severely ill-treating
the helpless natives of number of vii
lagos along that part of the coast which
he rules over. The blueiackets landed
near Bathurst, fully equipped for a
march inland and for remaining ashore
for some time. Several machine guns
were taken ashore in the boats, and the
landing parties carried provisions for
four days and an ample supply Of am
munition. A reserve force was left
ashore at the landing place, which was
thoroughly protected by the guns Of the
! cruiser and the gunboat.
Owing to the nature of the country
which the naval detachments had to
pass through-swampy tracts, thick
bushwood and forest land-the ad-
vance party and the thanking parties
were soon compelled to practically fall
back upon the main column, which
pushed forward in this manner for the
interior. When the force had advanced
well inland and was surrounded by q
thickly wooded country with rising
land on both sides, the natives
who had been hired to carry
the extra ammunition, provis-
ions and water began to desert, and
eventually the whole lot of them disap-
peared. The troops, however, CON
eventually led into an ambush. Fire
was suddenly opened upon the men
from all sides, and the sailors were
routed before they were able to make
any effective use of the machine guns.
Admiral Bedford, in his official
dispatch, said the leading force was
under the command Of Capt. Edward
II. Gamble, and that the carriers by
their desertion caused the loss of all
the spare ammunition taken ashore for
the use of the landing parties, and that
in addition the carriers caused the loss
of all the water supply which
had been taken inland. Con-
tinuing, Admiral Bedford repeated
signs of native habitation, pushed for
ward and captured two villages which
were defended by stockades. The sail
ors occupied these two villages through
out the following night, placing the ma
chine guns at points of vantage, and
thus making themselves practically Sc
cure from attack.
The loss of the water supply and
spare ammunition made Capt. Gamble
decide to return to the shore with the
| intention of re-embarking his force.
This movement was commenced early
the next morning, and the column was
on its way back when the sailors were
suddenly attacked on all sides. The
fire which was directed upon the sailors
was SO severe and the slavers were SO
we'll concealed in the bush that the
bluejackets fell on all sides and be-
gan to retreat hastily, carrying
their wounded and dead with
them sc far as possible. Lieut.. William
II. Arnold, of the navy, and Lieut..
of Marines Francis w. Hervey were
the first two officers killed, and Sub
Lieut.. Francis w. Meister and ten men
soon shared their fate Lieut. the Hon.
Robert f. Boyle was dangerously
wounded and Lieut.. Herbert j. Savill
was seriously wounded. Capt. Gamble,
Surgeon w. r. Hite, Midshipman Ar
thur Chambers and forty bluejackets
were wounded during the retreat.
Chief Fodisilah is notorious and des-
perate slave owner, well known on the
west coast of Africa. His force was re-
ported to have been small in numbers
and to have been only armed with
primitive rifles. Consequently the Brit
ish landing parties were thought to be
amply able to cope with the force of the
SLAYER.