The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-23
Notwithstanding of Ashantee
Holding Him as Hostage. 81.
Demands $4,000 Ounces of Vel
low Gold as Indemnity.
THE STRIFE is OVER.
King Prempeh GrOvels in the
Dust Before the Lion.
England's Great Display of
Force Awes the Natives.

CAPE COAST CASTLE, west A1r1cds
Jan. 23.-The following details of the
palaver between Sir Francis Scott,
commander of he British expedition
airy force and King Prempeh, of
Ashantee, when the latter made his
submission to Great Britain at Coo
massie, have just been received from
that capital:
The troops formed in the principal
square at Coomassie at 2 o'clock the
morning of Monday last, preparatory
to the great palaver. Sir Francis
Scott and his staff were seated in
semi-circle in the square. Shortly af-
forwards 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
commander within five minutes after
this summons he would be taken from
the palace by force.
The king made a show of resistance,
but finally accompanied the officer,
surrounded by an escort, to the square.
Arriving there, the king took his
seat upon the stool of state. After
few formal words had passed between
the king and Sir Francis, through the
Interpreters, the king descended from
his stool and shook hands with the
British commander. The latter was
then introduced to the British gov
ernor, who stated the negotiations
which have been conducted between
the representatives, of England and of
Ashantee, ending by informing the
king that he must formally submit to
Great Britain and give up Immediately
so, 900 ounces of gold as indemnity for
the expenses incurred by the British
government in sending an expedition
to bring his majesty to terms The
king was also informed that he must
keep the streets clean, maintain order
among the populace and that he would
be held responsible for any disturb
ances among the natives.
KING Prempeh was greatly impressed
by the show of the force in the square,
the Maxim guns being conveniently
pointed and every yard being utilized
by the British and their native allies.
Finally the king replied that he was
ready to su bmit to the British, took
off his crown and sandals and adj
vanced to the seats formed by biscuit
boxes upon which Sir Francis 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 the British
governor, clasping them with his
hands and actually groveling in the
dust as mark of his complete sub
mission to the power of the queen of
England.
This display of helpIessness upon
the part of the king greatly impressed
the Ashantees present. They were
greatly agitated and talked excitedly
together, but they made no attempt
a resistance. a step which would have
been useless in the face of the British
expedition and the deadly rapid firing
guns.
The governor finally made the king
lea6 70 Iii -
mind that he had been requested to
Immediately pay 50,O ounces of gold
to the representatives of England. In
reply, his majesty, who was greatly
agitated, said that he only possessed
$4,000 ounces of gold and that he had
no means of collecting the SOC
ounces demanded by the British. To
merely child's play and that the de-
mands of the British must be complied
with, as the kings ability to pay the
amount demanded was too well known
to admit of any discussion.
King Prempeh then asked for time,
but the governor answered that upon
previous occasion the Ashantees had
failed to keep their promises made to
the British. and that the latter had
no intention of giving them the op-
portunity of doing the same thing
again. The governor then abruptly
announced that the king, the queens
mother and the kings father, with the
other chiefs of importance present,
would be taken prisoners under escort
to Cape Coast Castle.
The governors words fell like a
thunderbolt upon the assemblage of
Ashantee natives, and there was an
lmpeutOuS movement forward which
BODIED trouble. But the troops, which
had been at the "ground-arms,'' were
promptly ordered to carry arms"
and the machine-like precision with
which the Martin Henry carbinss were
lifted from the ground" to the s'car-
ry" struck dismay into the Ashantees
and probably averted serious trouble.
for they fell back as if fearing a
volley.
Strong guard of British troops
then moved forward and surrounded
the king, the queens mother. the
kings father, the prominent chiefs
and the ambassadors, without anv
trouble, so suddenly was the move
ment made, and so effectively was it
carried out The prisoners were
quickly removed to large house.
which was surrounded by the guard,
and then the AshanteeS were quietly
dispersed by the troops
1t NAV be said that the submission
and capture of King Prempeh will in
sure British supremacy in that part of
majesty, his relatives and the chiefs
captured will be kept at Cape Coast
Castle until the so, 0G0 ounces of pold
demanded by the British government
arc forthcoming. and until all the
other questions connected with the
expedition and its objects have been
arranged.