The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-01-23


Captors. and His Surrender Was Most
Abjeot-Held for Ransom.
CAPE COAST CASTLE, Africa, Jan 3d.
The following details of the palaver be-
tween Sir Francis Scott, commander of
the eXpeiitionary force, and King Prem
peh, of Ashantee, when the latter made
his submission to Great Britain at Coo
massie, have just been received from that
capitals:
The troops formed in the principal square
of Coomassic at o'clock in the morning
on Monday last, preparatory to the great
palavcr. Sir Francis Scott and his staff
were seated in a semi-circlo in the square
shortly afterwards, and an officer was sent
to the palace with instructions to impress
upon the mind of King Prempeh that if
he did not appear before the British com
mandor within five minutes after this
summons that he would be taken from his
palace by forc1.
The king made IA show of resistance, but
finally accompanied the officer, surrounded
by an escort, to the square. Arriving there
King Prcmpeh was introduced to the Brit
ish governor who recited at longth the ne
gotiations which had been conducted be-
tween the representatives of Great Britain
and Ashantee, ending by informing the
KING that he must formally submit to
Great Britain and give up Immediately
$4,000 ounces of gold as an indemnity for
the expenses incurred by the British gov
ernment in sending an expedition to bring
his majesty to terms, The king was also
informed that he must keep the streets
clean and maintain order among the pop
ulace.
King Prempeh was greatly impressed by
the show of force in the square, the Maxim
guns being conveniently posted and every
yard being utilized by the British and
their native allies Finally the king,
through an interpreter replied that he
was ready to submit to the British, took
off his crown and sandals and advanced
TO the seats upon which Sir Francis Scott
and the governor were seated surrounded
by their sGaffs. His majesty then placed
his head between the feet of Sir Francis
Scott and those of the BriGish governor,
clasping them with his hands and actually
grovelling in the dust as u mark of his
complete submission.
This display of helplessness upon the
part of King Prempeh greatly impressed
the Ashantees present. They We're greatly
agtated and talked exctedly together,
but they made no attempt at resistance.
The governor finally made the king arise
and recalled to his majesty's mind that he
had been requested to Immediately pay
$4,000 ounces of gold to the representatives
of Great Britain King Prempeh said he
only possessed $50 ounces of gold, and that
he had no means of collecting the 80, 900
ounces demanded by the British. To this
the governor replied that the demand of
I ppit eh hn ial tb.,
kings ability to pay the amount demanded
was too well known to admit of any dis
cussion
King Prempeh then asked for time, but
the governor answered that upon pre-
vious occasion the Ashantees had failed to
keep their promises made to the British,
and that the latter had no intention of
giving them the opportunity of doing the
same thing again The governor then
abruptly announced that King Prempeh,
the queen mother, the kings father and
the other chiefs of Importance present
would be taken prisoners under escort to
Cape Coast castle.
The governors words fell like thun-
derb0lt upon the assemblage of Ashantee
natives, and there was an impetuous move
ment forward which BODIED trouble But
the troops were promptly ordered to carry
arms" and the machine like precision
with which the Martini Henry carbines
were lifted from the ground struck dsmay
into the Ashantees and probably averted
/ serious trouble, for they fell back as if
fearing a volley from the troops.
One of the chiefs, however, rose from
his seat near King Prempeh and uttered
some shrill words in loud tone of voice
Those were interpreted as saying that the
Ashantees complained that replies which
/ their ambassadors had brought back from
/ Great Britain had misled them. The GOV
ernor said that their ambassadors would
also be made prisoners and taken to Cape
| Coast castle, where they will be charged
/ with forgery in having put their names,
/ apparently, to documents of Il misleading
nature
/ 4 strong guard of British troops then
| moved forward and surrounded the king
| the queen mother, the kings father, the
prominent chiefs and the ambassadors
| The prisoners were quickly removed to u
| large house, which was surrounded by the
guard, and then the Ashantees were
quietly dispersed by the troops.
! The whole affair was splendidly ar
ranged and admirably executed. In fact
/ from the moment the expedition was first
! organized unJll IL ioaCneu COOlnaSSle Unefe
has not been a single hitch in the arrange
ments, and it has not been necessary to fire
| a shot.
| The submission and capture of King
Prempeh will ensure British supremacy
| in that part of Africa for many years to
come His majesty, his relatives and tho
chiefs captured will be kept at Cape Coast
castle until the $4,000 ounces Of gold de
manded by the British governor are forth
coming and until all the other questions
connected with the expedition and its oh
jects have been arranged.
Near Coomassie the British discovered
and burned the notorious sacrificing grove
full of skulls and bones of the victims of
King Prempeh. The making of human
sacrifices was one of the leading com
plants which the British had against
King Prempeh and his predecessors and
this practice has now been put stop to.
Enforcing Sunday Laws.
| WMKEsBARRE, Pa, Jan. 23.-The Law