St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-02-25


LONDON. Feb. 24.-Dispatches of
this morning say that the cruis-
er Raleigh, twenty = four guns.
$3.50 tons, the flagship of the British
manded by Rear Admiral Frederick c.
Bedford, anu the tirst-elass screw gun
boat WIlgeOn. six guns. So5
tons. commanded by Lieut.. Com
mander William j. Scullard, arrived
yesterday at Bathurst, capital of the
British West African colony Of Gambia,
ami the III o spread that the
sailors mad been badly handled in an
encounter with the SlaytrS. Exact de-
tails of the affair are not obtalnable
owing to the refusal Of the admiralty
officials 20 make public their dispatches
at present. But it is not denied that
the British sailors had
BEEN DEFEATED ASHORE.
Later it was stated that landing par
ties from the ships had been sent ashore
in order TO punish Chief FodiSilah, a
notorious slave dealer, who had been
carrying off INTO bondage and severely
iil-freating the helpless natives OF a
number of villages along that part OF
the coast which lie rules over.
The British sailors are said 70 have
landed i'll force and to have marched
inland, where they met a severse re-
verse, losing 5 officers and 10 men
killed and 10 Wounded. Further details
OF the disaster to the sailors leaked out
this afternoon. 1t appears that the force
of British blueiackets which landed
near Bathurst was composed Of men
from the flagship Raleigh and from
the gunbuat Widgeon. The land
ing parties went ashore fully
equipped for Il march inland, and for
remaining ashore for some time. Several
machine guns were t, ken ashore i'll the
beats, and The landing parties carried
provisions for four days and an ample
supply OF ammunition. \ reserve force
was left ashore at the landing place,
which was thoroughly protected by the
guns of tie cruiser and the gunboat.
Alter tie biuejacketS and marines
had landed, the column began lis march
inland. But, owing 10 the nature Of the
country which the naval detachmentS
had to pass through - swainpy
land, thick bush, wood and forest
land-the advance party and the flank
ing parties were sUUn compelled TO
practically fall back upon Tie main
column, which pushed forward in ttis
manner fer the interior. For Il long
time after landing and commencing
the march inland little Or 40 signs or
natives were 10 be seen, i'll fact the coast
III the neighbOrh0od seemed TO have
been deSerted. But when The British
force had advanced inland. and were
surrounded by Il thickly wooded coun-
try, with rising land OH both sides, thc
natives who lad been hired 10 carry
the spare ammunition, provisions and
water,
BEGAN TO DESERT,
and eventually the whole lot of them
disappeared. The British force, how
ever, seemed to have continued its
march inland, and to have been eventu-
ally led into an ambush, for fire was
suddenly opened Oh it from, all
sides. and Tie sailors were routed
before they were able to make
any effective use OF the machine guns.
Chief E0diS!lab is Il notorious and des-
perate slave owner, well known on the
west coast Of Africa. His force was re-
ported 90 have been small in numbers,
and to have beer only armed with
primitive rifles. Consequently the Brit
1911 ldluliS DdIlIeS NcIc EOuSU TO DE
amply able TO c0pe with the force of the
SLAYER.
This afternoon the admiralty DEPART
ment admitted that they had received a
cable message from Admiral Bedford,
ON board the flagship Raleigh. at
bathurst, dated yesterday. and practice
ally confirming all the stories circulated
III regard to the disaster 10 the British
force.
Admiral Bedford said in his dispatch
that 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 carri-
ers caused the loss OF all the water sup
ply which had been taken inland.
Continuing, Admiral Bedford reported
that the sailors, upon reaching signs OF
native habitation, pushed forward and
captured tao villages which were de-
Tended by stockades.
The sailors occupied these two vii
lagos throughout the following night,
placing the machine guns at points of
vantage. and thus making themselves
practically secure from attack. But
the loss of the water supply
ana spare ammunition made Capt.
Gamble decided 10 return to the shore
with the intention of r~e-embarking
MS FORCES. Ihis movement was COM
MeHceu 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