The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-07-18
sAvAGERY IN AFRICA
EXPERIENCE OF ONE OF UNCLE SANS
REPRESENTATIVES,.

81, -
REPRESENTATIVES,.
Cruelty Of the Inhuman Slave Traders.
Wholesale Massacre Followed by Hor-
ribie Mutiiation Of Dead Bodies-pat-
ties With Awful Results.
Mr.. Dorsey Mohun, United States COM
mercial agent at Bona, Congo Free state,
has made a thrilling report to the state de-
partment on the subject Of the African
slave trade, In which he gives details OF
cannibalfsm and other acts of barbarian.
What gives his report 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 NJ,
Chaltin. This expedition, both in point Of
strength and from the results which it ac-
complished, was one OF the most important
ever sent against the Arabs and practically
its deathblow. 1t penetrated the great
Lomami river region, the stronghold of the
slayt traders, and after considerable heavy
lighting 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, govSrn-
ment steamer, and eventually y5ached
Stanley falls. The United STAGES officer
did not join 1t until after NJ. Chaltin, who
had gone into the backlying country. He
caught the steamer on its next trip down
to Basoko, and later Joined Commandant
| 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
1900 houses. From that point the expedi-
| ton sailed for Benakamba, where it was
reorganized and set out for Riba Riba SIS
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 encoun-
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 CHASTITY barricade of 16 newly sever
ed heads. Tho 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 a
ford, and soon returned with the news that
a large body of Arabs was preparing to
cross the river at 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 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 it is the Gus
tom of this people, Mr. Mshun says, to re
; move their dead IL possible. After tn,
battle $50 men succeeded in crossing tn,
river and were ordered to Push on to Rib
1 Riba, as it was desired to reach that tow
: before the retreating forces of the Arab
7 could give warning of the approach of tn,
: expedition.
This detachment Mr.. Mohun accompa
; MED, but on reaching the town they foun,
the place deserted. The only thing the,
did find was another bit of Arab pleasantr,
in the shape of two right hands of whit
h men nailed to the flagstaff in front of tn
Q chiefs house. Mr.. Mohun expressed tn
=. belief Chat they were those of Messrs
+. Michaels and Noblesse, who were murder
$ | cd thara tho Nyaak hafora 4 10 ha inta
ton OF NJ. Chaltin to destroy these nests
, and the detachment marched away in tn
d light of the flames which assembled iron
j the village and returned to the main force
h Smallpox had made its appearance anon
u the men, and on the next day all of the sic
/, were sent back to Benekamba under guar
i The expedition followed few days late
a and reached the steamer on May 5, takin
4 three days to make the home journey, whic
@ had consumed nine days in going. Tn
Ii scenes on the road going back, accordin
to Mr.. Mohun's descriptions, were appal
ii ing The dead from the sick column line
70 the way, and occasionally corpse woul
be tumbled over as it lay concealed in tn
high grass So great was the mortality this
upon reaching Benekamba it was foun
that l04 persons had died in less than tvs
- weeks.
!, !, The battle which ended the expeditio
IN was fought at Stanley falls. The soldie
Is were in two detachments under cover of IL
ii fire from the cannon on the steamer Or
a detachment carried the factory at the poil
H. of the bayonet, and for awhile there WI
o, hot work. The retreating Arabs were pu
H. sued to the village, which the soldiers too
ia The other detachment on the right bar
80 of the river, had calamity captured anoth
Id town, killing the chief and 10 of his me
81 The defeat and rout of the Arabs was col
plete, and the slaughter from the rifles
the soldiers was fearful After this disp
trous defeat many of the Arabs slaves, s,
'e diers, women and other retainers ga
- themselves up. In all about 100 of the
he surrendered to the expedition.
re There being no further danger from t
y Arabs after such a complete rout, the c
II. petition left Stanley falls and went to Il
III mic, another Arab town, which they fou
eu had been already captured by small fol
W under the command of Mr.. Five, the
al, spector of the Congo state, and an oflic
no Here Mr. Mohun saw some sights viii
were revolving in the extreme, surpassi
In savagery anything that he had imagin,
Washington Star,