Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1897-01-29
WEST AFRICA MASSACRE REToLD.
Details of the Slaughter of Captain
BOisra&On's Party.

London, Jan. H.-The Evening News
publishes this afternoon dispatch from
Lagosa. the capital of the British West
African colony of that name. giving de-
tails of The massacre of the British ex-
petition under consul General ]. r.
Phillips by the Inhabitants of Bernin
City, early during the present month. Tho
party consisted of Consul General Phil
lips Major P. w. G. Copeland Crawford,
deputy commissioner and vice consul In
the Niger coast protectorate and adjoin-
ing native territory; Captain A. M. Bois-
ragon. commandant of the Niger coast
protectorate forces; Captain Mailing OF
the Sixteenth lancers, an officer of the
Niger coast protectorate force; r. f.
Locke of the consular stan; III. c. Camp
bell Of the consular staff; Dr. r.. II. Ell
lott medican officer. and Messrs. Fowls
and Gordon, civilians.
| The party was unarmed and was pro-
ceeding to Benin City In order to make
a request for palaver or conference with
King Obboah In regard to the increasing
of the trading facilities with that part or
Africa.
The king having previously consented
that the expedition should visit his capt.
tai, the nine officers went unarmcd In or
der to impress the king with the peace
full character of their mission, and over
! 200 native carriers were taken with the
party to propel the canoes and carry
presents intended for the king. After
proceeding up the river the expedition
landed at a spot about Is miles from
|, Benin City and the carriers were sent
: ahead through the dense jungle. the Of
ficers following.
Five miles from Benin City they came
upon a narrow defile which was filled with
a the dead carriers. who were fearfully
a mutilated. Almost Immediately after
= wards the oficers and servants were sur
rounded and attacked by hundreds OF
CltIlSSeS
7. spears and clubs. and in few minutes
A all the members of the party excepting
"a Boisragon and Locke were killed.
4 Captain Boisragon and his companion,
~ after wandering in the bushes for a week,
succeeded in reaching New Benin, wound
lie ed and exhausted. bringing the first au-
1t thentic news of the massacre, although
t. seven Kroo men of the carrier party also
IL escaped and were the first to spread the
in report of the disaster.
a. Benin City Is known as the city Of blood
on account of It's being the seat Of thu
fetch priests of that part of Africa, ant
n because human sacrifices are of fire.
quent occurrence the remains of sacri
VI feed slaves being seen bleaching in tn
ID sun on all sides.
Id, Alecto, Barossa, Thesus and Forte hav
OF already been dispatched to the entrance O
as the river Benin. British officers left Liv
ID erpool for the same coast Saturday, an
" munitions OF war Will follow on Saturda
~ next.
II A late telegram from Lagos receive
rn' tonight, gives still further details of tn
MS massacre at Benin. on the Niger. TT
e. expedition, 1t Is said, was greeted In
u.s. friendly way in every town along Il
. course and received peaceful message
me from the king, but on approaching BEN
III City the members were fred upon fro
mo ambuscade. Acting Consul General Phi
OF lips, DR.. r. H. Elliott and Mr.. Pow
nt' fell dead on the spot. Major p. J. Cop
zen land Crawford was wounded. CAPITA
nc Boisragon and r. +. Locke carried hi
off, but he was wounded again, 80 tn
ere he died in a few minutes. after imploril
nj his companions to seek their own safe
inc and leave him to his fate.
10 Mr.. Campbell, of the consular sta
was captured and taken to Benin Cit
mr but the king had him taken to an a
the | taoont ,,,Iloga whara he was kiiIad
the Europeans who were killed were a
rty forwards beheaded. and King Obbah h
rue sent the finger rings belonging to Acti
ION Consul General Phillips back as an a
of defiance