The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-02-14
SAvAGERY In AFRICA
EXPERIENCE OF ONE OF UNCLE SANS
REPRESENTATIVES.

REPRESENTATIVES.
Cruelty of tho fnliumnN Slave Traders.
Wholesale Massacre Followed by Hor-
ribls MutiIation of Dead Bodies- Bat
tics with Awful Rssults
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 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 a1in clear insight into the
whole matter Mr. Mohun attached himself
To the expedition which was sent ont by the
Congo government under command OF NJ.
Chaltin. This expedition, both in point of
strength and from the results which 1t ac-
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
l.omami 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 operaton had terrorized the
entire locality.
The expedition started from Basoko. Oh
the Congo river, In the Bruxelles, u govsrn,
ment steamer, and eventually reached
Stanley falls. The United States officer
did not join 1t until after NJ. Chaltin, who
had gone into the haeklyipg country. liz
caught the steamer on its next trip dowu
to Bssoko, and later joined Comnandant
Chaltin. He found that the officer had
been most successful, defeating the Arab.
in an open fight and completely destroying
the village of Tchari, which consisted OF
200 houses. From that point the eSpedi
tion sailed for Benakamba, where il was
reorganized and set out for Riba Riba 55J
strong. Then began the stirring and OK
citing adventures which lasted until tn,
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 IkRmba 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 II CHASTITY barricade of rs newly sever
ed heads. The natives had fled, 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 Il
ford, and soon returned with the news that
N 1nr h.NAt % nal.
cross the river at n point not far away.
These were the first slave dealers who had
been encountered, and the force was irnme
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 thai
some deadly work had been done. Only
one dead Arab was found, as it 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,
Miehaels and Noblesse, who were murder
ed there the week before. 1t il the inten.
tion OF NJ. Chaltin to destroy these nests.
aud the detachment marched away in the |
light of the flames which assembled from
the village and returned to the main force.
Smallpox had made it's 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 Mayo, 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.. Mohuns descriptions, were nppall- |
ing. The dead from the sick column lined
the way, and occasionally a corpse would |
be tumbled over as it lay concealed in the
high grass. So great was the mortality that
upon reaching Benekamba it was found /
that l04 persons had died in less than two
wceka
The battle which ended the expedition
was fought at Stanley falls. The soldiers
were In two attachments 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 retfeating 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 IS 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
to the expedition.
There being no further danger from the
Arabs after such q complete rout, the ex-
petition left Stanley falls and went to Ro-
mie, 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, aud an officer
Here Mr.. Mohun saw some sights which
were revolving in the extreme, surprising
In savagery anything that he had Imagined >
Star