Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-22
AMBUSHED AND MASSACRED
British Subjects Slain by 0annibal Tribes in
Africa,
DETAILS OF THE BENIN SLAUGHTEF
Queen Yictorin's Subjects who Go To
ward the Natives Quarters
Bcnring Flag OF Truce Are
EuthlcSsly Slain.

LONDON, Jan g1.-The Ev n'ng News pub
lshCs this afternoon a dispatch from Lagos,
capital OF the British West African colony
of that name, giving details of the massacre
of the British expedition under Consul Cen
eral j. II. Phillips, by the inhabitants of
Benin City, early during the present month
The party consisted of Consul General Phil
lips, Major p. w. G. CopelandCrawford.
deputy commissioner and vice consul in
the Niger coast protectorate and adjoining
native territories Captain A. NJ Boisragon,
commandant of the Niger coast protectoratc
forces: Captain Mailing of the Sixteenth
lsncers, an officer OF the Niger coast protec-
torate force r. Il. Locke OF the consular
staff; II. c. Campbell Of the consular staff;
Dr. r. H. Elliott, medical officer, and Messrs.
Powis and Gordon, civilians.
The party was unarmed, and was proceed
ing to Benin City in order to make request
for palaver, or conference, with King
Obboah in regard 10 Increasing the trading IA
cilities with that part of Africa, the king
having previously consented that the eN-
podition should visit his capital. The nine
officers went unarmed, in order to impress
the king with the peaceful character or
their mission, and over 200 native carriers
we're with the party to propel the canoes
and carry presents intended for the king
AMBUSH AND SLAUGHTER.
After proceeding up the river the eXpedi-
tion landed at a spot about fifteen miles
frcm Benin city and the carriers were sent
ahead through the dense jungle, the officers
following. Five miles from Benin City the
officers suddenly came upon narrow dehle,
which was filed with the dead carriers, who
were fearfully mutilated. Almost immcdi-
atel aftcrward the officers ana their servants
were surrounded and attacked by hundreds
of savagcs armed with guns, cutlassCs,
spears and clubs and in q few minutes ali
the members Of the party excepting Boisra-
gon and Locke were killed. Captain Bois-
ragcn and his companion, after wandering
in the bush for a week. succeeded in reach
ing New Berlin wounded and exhausted,
bringing the first authentic news of the
massacre, although seven Kroomen of the
carrier party also succeeded in escaping and
were the first to spread the reports of the
disaster.
Tho affair is looked upon as deserving Of
the sending of punitive expedition to
Benin City, known as the City of Blood on
account of its being the seat Of the fetch
priests of that part Of Africa and because
human sacrifices are of frequent occurrence
the remains of sacrificed slaves being seen
bleaching in the sun on all sides. The Brit
iah warships Phoebe, WidgeOn Alecto, Bar
cssa, Theseus and Forte have already been
dispatched to the entrance of the river
Benin British officers left Liverpool for
the coast Saturday and munitions of war
will follow on Saturday next.
A dispatch received from Brass. Guinea
coast, late tonight, gives further particulars
OF the massacre of Consul Phillips and
party. 1t says the expedition LETT Sapelo
on January 2, wholly unarmed and bearing
all kinds OF presents for the king of Benin,
II was divided into two parties. The fret
party was about four miles march ahead
when it was surprised by q host of am
pushed Benin warriors and cut to pieces, not
a man escaping.
The second party, suspecting nothing, sud
denly came upon the piled UP cOrpses OF
the vanguard, and while they were eNamin-
ing the scene of carnage they were attacked
and killed from; the bush.
Out of $50 carriers with Consul Phillips
expedition only one escaped and brought
the news to the coast. A relief party, sent
up the river in a canoe, found Boisseragon
and Locke, who had been hiding in the bush
for five days living on plantains and drink
ing dew.
Six men-of-war are now lying off the
Niger coast DrotectOrate, and troops are
messing at Brass. A steamer has gone to
Sierre Leone to fetch the West India trooPs.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
late telegram from Lagos, received to-
night, gives a still further detail of the
massacre at Benin on the Niger. The ex-
petition, it is said, was greeted in a friendly
received peaceful messages from the king.
But on approaching Benin City the mem
hers were fired upon from an ambuscade.
Acting Consul General Phillips, Dr. II. II.
Elliott and Mr.. POwiS fell dead ON the spot.
Major p. w. j. Co3lGnG-Crawford was
wounded Captain B0sseragon and r. F.
Locke carried him off, but he was wounded
again, so that ne died in a few minutes
after imploring his companions to seek their
own safety and leave him to his fate II.
C. Campbell OF the consular staff was cap
tured and taken to Benin City, but the
king had him taken to an adjacent village,
where he was killed
No authentic news has been received as
to the fate of Cord Gordon. one of the
civilians Of the party but he is believed to
be killed Mr. Locke, who escaped had a
revolver in his possession and shot several
natives who attacked Captain BoisseragOn,
and was himself shot in the arm while beat
ing back a party of natives with stick.
The two eventually came to a friendly viii
lage, where their wants were attended to,
and they were sent down a creek in COW
cred canoe, being met on the way by the
relief launch.
Mr.. Pows' native servant escaped the
massacre by taking flight in the bush. He
says he saw the headless body OF Mr.. Powls.
All the Europeans who were killed were
afterwards beheaded, and King Obbah has
sent the finger rings belonging to Acting
Consul General Phillips back as an act Of
defiance.