The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-01-22
MAssAcRED WITHoUr CAUSE.
Full Details of the Attack Upon the British
Expedition in Benin, Africa.

Full Details of the Attack Upon the British
Expedition in Benin, Africa.
London, Jan. 21.-Further details
have reached here of the massacre of
the members of a peaceable, unarmed
British expedition by natives of the
Benin country and the facts as now
known have excited the deepest indig-
nation, even among the Little Eng
landers," who declare that prompt
punishment should be meted out to the
murderers.
1t is now learned that after the eX-
pedition left Sapele, where it left the
yacht Ivy, it proceeded without diff
Guilty, save that experienced from the
nature of the country to within few
miles of Benin. The expedition was
divided into two sections to facilitate
travelling. As they progressed into the
country they Were greeted in friend
ly manner by the residents of several
villages, which led to the hope that no
opposition would be met whatever along
the route.
ton had reached a point twenty miles
from the Benin river couriers from the
king arrived bearing. peaceful mes
sages, which added to the feeling of
security which pervaded the party.
Here it was determined to send mum
Der of the carriers ahead as bearers of
presents to the king. Some of the
Kroomen had been sent forward to cut
a path through the jungle. The car
fiers followed the route laid out by the
pioneers, and met with no hostility
from any Of the natives who were seen.
These carriers were four hours ahead
of the main body of the expedition,
when. without warning of any kind,
they were attacked by a large number
of warriors, who had already despatch
ed the pioneer Kroomen. Every one of
the carriers and those with them were
massacred. The second company, en-
tirely unaware of the fate Of their pred
eces'sors, We're marching along, when
suddenly they came upon the piled up
bodies of their massacred companions.
There were no signs of an enemy
about, the Benin warriors having hid
den themselves in the thick jungle to
await the coming of the second party
AS the latter stopped by the sight of
the bodies and began to examine them
a murderous volley was poured into
them by the ambushed natives. Acting
Consul General Phillips, DR.. Elliot and
Mr.. Powis were instantly killed Ma
jor COPELAND Crawford was wounded
and died shortly after The natives
again fired into the party and then
fell upon them and either shot, stabbed
or clubbed them to death The other
white men killed were CAPTAIN Mailing
and Mr. Gordon.
Mr.. Campbell, one of the consular of
| ficials, was captured, and is is sup
posed that he was taken to Benin to be
executed.
Captain Boisragon and Consular Of
! flcer Locke were wounded, as were also
the seven Kroomen, who subsequently
reached the coast They managed,
however, to crawl unobserved into the
| almost impenetrable jungle and after
days of horrible suffering from their
wounds and the exhaustion of their
| toilsome journey, succeeded in reach
| ing New Benin, on the coast, some 220
miles west of Bonny. 1t is stated that
Captain Boisragon and Mr.. Locke each
had revolver and before they made
their escape into the bush they shot
several of the attacking party.
When they got away from the scene
of the massacre they made their way
towards the river, subssting as best
they could on cassava. The only means
they had of quenching their thirst was
to suck the dew off the plants at night.
They finally reached the river and ul-
timately procured canoe from friend
ly natives and made their way down to
New Banin, where they met a British
launch. Had they not procured the
canoe it is doubtful if they would ever
have reached the coast.
The king has sent to the British the
rings that were worn by Mr.. Phillips.
This is regarded as an act of defiance,
which the king will soon have cause
to regret.
Mr. Powis was the agent of Miller
Brothers & Co., of Glasgow and Cor
don represented abe African associa-
ton of Liverpool Both had been on
+ba ooae+ for several wears