Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-08-29
TROOPS MASSACRED
A FRENCH COLUMN ANNIHILAfED By Ma
TIVES At TIMBUGT00.
The Arabs Armed With Lsncss and Knives, At
tackled Rsconnoiisriug Party in the Night and
0nly One Gffcsr Escapsi-Ths Natives Then
Invested The French Garrison at TImbUcloo.

PARIS, August 2s.-Startling news
has reached here from Senegal, West
Africa. According TO q report received
at st. Louis, the French garrison az
| Timsuctoo, after three days desperate
fighting with the Tauregs and other
hostile tribes which have been investing
| that city for long time, made sortie.
| The beleaguering were overwhelming
in mum bers and fell upon the sortie
party, fairly annihilattng it. This news
| has caused CONSERVATION in many cir
| cles, as IL is the second serious disaster
the French have met with in the vicinity
| of Tim buctoo since that important Sou
! danese town was occupied by them early
in the present year.
A French column, commanded BY
Col. BANNER, arrived at Timbuctoo on
January 10. and two days later de-
tachment of troops, with Col. BANNER
at It's head. accompanied by Command
ant Hugueny and the entire staff, start
ed out on a reconnoitering expedition,
leaving Capt. Philippe, as senior cap
tain, in charge of tho post at Tim0uc-
too. This detachment was surprised
asleep In camp az Dougoi, two hours
march north of Goundam aad three
days march from TImbuctoo.
The Arabs, chiefly Tauregs, mounted
aud on foot, and armed with lances and
knives, entered the French camp by
several sides during the dark and the
hours of early morning, and overturned
the stacked arms Ia frolt Of the sharp
shooters, who, when aroused, were
unable to seize their rifles in time to
defend them seves successfully. The
Arabs massacred nearly the entire de-
tachment, consisting OF the Fifth and
Eleventh companies OF Soudanese sharp
shooters. French officer, Captain
Nigotte, though very seriously wound
ed in the head, succeeded in
escaping to a platoon of soldiers left
some yards behind the main camp to
guard some captured flockS. The pla-
toon was under the command OF Lieu
tenant Sarda. II retreated TO Timbuc-
! too, bringing with it few wounded
men who had escaped the massacre at
Dougoi.
The TRuregs pursued the retreating
soldiers and practically invested Tim
buctoo, which Captain Philippe made
haste to defend, pending the arrival OF
achievements 1t was stated tina. at
Dougoi the French lost nine officers,
two European sergeants, six corporals,
and native sharpshooter.
For the defense OF Timbuctoo, Capt.
Philippe had 800 rifles and six cannon,
but this was very small force with
which TO hold town Of about y, 900
population, situated amid hot, moving
sands on the verge of morass and haY-
ing walled enclosure OF about three
miles in circumference. But a column,
commanded by Capt. Joffre, was on its
way to reinforce the French at Timbnc-
too, and, having sent messengers to
with the commander Of the
French fotilla on the Niger
river, the captain made the best dis
possl possible of his small force ana
with the cooperation OF the populace
succeeded in holding out until the Jof-
fire. column arrived. This column .as
composed OF company and hall OF
sharp-shooters, q squadron OF Spahis,
Splendid African cavalry, thirty auIill-
airy Sphasis and two guns; IL also in
Guided the horses, mules, drivers, ETC.,
OF the first column. II followed the
land route and met serious opposition
during its advance.
On january 20 company OF sharp
shooters marched on Nlafounke, sup
ported by cavalry and artillery. They
were confronted by two kilometres OF q
swamp which surrounded the village,
in front of which 400 warriors were
drawn up In battle array. The warriors
charged the French force. The latter
In less than fifteen minutes killed over
100 OF the African warriors. The others
took q ight, and the village was captured
without any loss on the part OF the
Joffre column.
Several such engagements took place.
Cannon and cavalry were repeatedly
called into use, but on February 2 the
advance flotila arrived at Goundam
and met the advance guard Of the Joffre
column, and on February ~ the latter
reached Tim buctoo.
In all probability, part of the force
OF Capt. Philippe and Col. Jotfre, which
has, according to the advices from Son
egal, been cut to pieces by the Arabs.
1t is believed that tho garrison OF Tim
buctoo has, since the Jotfre column ar
rived there, been again reinforced.
THAT TIRED FEELING which Is so
common AID so overpowering, IS entire
~ driven of by Hoods Sarsa parila, the
best blood purifier. Hoods Sarsaparllla
overcOmes weakness.
HOOPS PILLS are the best efter-din-
ner pills. assist digestion, cure head
ache. 25c q box.