The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-23

The king made q show of resistance,
but seeing there was no trifing with tho
officer, who was accompanied by an escort
OF British soldiers, his majesty re.
l~uctantly accompanied him, surrounded
by the escort. to the square. Arrived
there, King Prempeh took his seat upon
the stool OF state. Aftcr q few formal
words had passed between tho king and
Sir Francis, through the interpreters,
the king descended from his stool and
shook hands with the British commander.
TIL latter was then introduced TO the
British governor, who recited at length
the negotiations which had been con-
Quoted between the representatives Of
Great Britain and Ashantee, ending by IL.
forming the king that he must formally
submit to Great Britain and give up inn
mcdiately $4,000 ounces of gold as an In
demnity for the Expenses incurred by tho
British government In sending an expedi-
ton to bring his majesty 70 terms. The
king was also informed that he must keep
the streets cicHn, mxintuin order among
the populace, and that he would be held
responsible for any disturbances among
the natives.
Prempeh's Humble Submission.
King Prempeh was greatly impressed
by tho show OF force In the square, the
maxim guns being conveniently posted
and every yard being utilized by the Brit
ish and their native allies. Finally, the
king, through an interpreter, replied that
no was ready to submit to the British,
took off his crown aud sandals and adj
vanced to the seats formed by biscuit
boxes, upon which Sir Francis Scott and
the governor were seated, surrounded by
their stats. His majesty then placed his
head between the feet OF Sir Francis Scott
and those OF tho British governor. clasp
ing them with his hands and actually
groyelling In the dust as a mark of his
complete submission to the power OF tho
Queen OF England.
This display Of hclplessness upon tho
part of King Prempeh greatly impressed
the Ashantees present. They were greatly
agitated and talked excitedly together,
but they made no attempt at resistance, u
step which wonld have been useless i'm tho
face of the almost entire British expedi-
ton and the deadly rapid.tlre guns already
referred TO.
The governor finally made the king
arise, and recalled TO his majesty's mind
that he had been requested TO Immediately
pay $1,000 ounces ~ gold to the represen.
tatives OF Great Britain. In reply, his
majesty, who was greatly agitated, said
he only possessed $50 ounces Of gold and
that he had no means OF collecting tho
90. 900 demanded by the British. To this
the governor replied that such n state
ment was merely child's play, and that
the demands OF the British must b. com.
piled with, as the kings ability to pay tho
amount was too we'll known TO admit of
no discussion.
Bulidosed by the british.
King Prempeh then asked for time, but
the governor answered that upon a pre-
vious occasion the Ashantees had failed TO
keep their promises made to the British,
and that the latter had9 no intention OF
giving them the opportunity Of doing tho
same thing again The governor then
abruptly announced that King prempeh,
the queens mother, the kings father and
other chiefs OF Importance present would
be taken prisoners, under escort, TO Capo
Coast Castle.
Tho governors words fell like n thunder
bolt upon the assemblage Of Ashantee
natives, and there was an impetuous
movement forward which BODIED trouble,
but the troops, which had been at ground
arms, were promptly ordered Co carry
arms and the mhohine-like precision
with which the Martini.Henry carblnes
were lifted from the ground to the carry
struck dismay into tho Ashantees. and
probably averted serious trouble, for they
fell back as IL fearing a volley from tho
troops.
One OF the chiefs. however, rose from
his seat near King Prempch aud uttered
some shrin words in n loud tone OF voice.
Those were Interpreted IA saying that tho
Ashantees complained that the replies
which their ambassadors had brought
back from Great Britain had misled them.
and that the Ashantees, therefore, were
not TO blame.
The governor, in reply. said that their
snsaha tainbassadors) would DO mado
prisoners and frFsn ~ Gaps Coast Castle.
where they would he charged with rorgcr
I'm having put their names. nuparcntlv.