The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-22
Only Nine Out OF n Party OF over ESQ
EngIishmer and Native Carriers
Permitted tn Escape Butchery.
AMBUSHED In a NARROW WAY
AND CLUBBED. sPEARED or SHOT
By FANATICAL sAyAGEs.
Britain Preparing tn Punish the Mur-
derers and Destroy the Famous
"City of Blood,

LONDON. Jan. 21-The Evening News
publishes 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 General j. r.. Phillips by the inhab-
itants of Benin City early during the pres
ent month. The party consisted OF Consul
General Phillips. Major L. ". g. Copeland
Crawford. deputy commissioners and vice
consul i'm the Niger coast protectorate and
adjoining native territories; Captain a NJ.
Boisragon. commandant of the Niger coast
protectorate forces; Captain Mailing, of the
Sixteenth Lancers, an officer of the Niger
coast protectorate force; Mr.. r. Il. Locke.
of the consular stan; Mr. II. c. Campbell.
of consular staff; DIR. II. r. Elliott. med
ical officer, and Messrs. Powis and Gordon.
civilians.
The party was unarmed and was pro-
ceeding 10 Benin City i'm order 10 make a
request for conference with King Obbah.
in regard 10 increasing the trading fscli-
ties with that part OF Africa, the King hav-
ing previously consented that the expedi-
tion should visit the capital The nine off,
GERS went unarmed in order TO impress the
King with the peaceful character of their
mission, and over $50 native carriers were
and carry presents intended for the King.
After proceeding UP the river the expedi-
ton landed at a spot about fifteen miles
from Benin City and the carriers were sent
ahead through the dense jungle. the officers
following. Five miles from Benin City the
officers suddenly came TO a narrow defle
which was filled with the dead carrier<.
who were fearfully mutilated. Almost i'm
mediatey afterwards the officers and their
servants were surrounded and attacked
by hundreds Of savages armed with guns.
cutlasses, spears and clubs, and in few
minutes all the members of the party, ex-
cepting Boisragon and Locke. were killed.
Captain Boisragon and his companion,
after wandering in the bush for a week.
succeeded in reaching New Benin. wounded
and exhausted, bringing the first authentic
news OF the massacre. although seven
Kroomen Of the carrier party also Sue
ceeded in escaping, and were the first to
spread the reports Of the disaster.
dispatch received from Brass. Guinea
coast. late tonight gives further particulars
of the massacre. 1t says that the expedi-
ton left Sapele on Jan. .. wholly unarmed
and bearing all kinds of presents for the
King Of Benin. IL was divided into two
parties. The first party was about four
by host OF ambushed Benin warriors and
cut 10 pieces. not a man escaping. The sec
ond party. suspectlng nothing, suddenly
came on the piled corpses OF the vanguard.
and while they were examining the scene
of carnage they were attacked and shot
down from the bush. Acting Consul Cen
eral Phillips, DIR. Elliott and Mr.. Powis fell
dead on the spot. Major Copeland-Craw-
ford was wounded. Captain Boisragon and
Mr.. Locke carried him off. but he was
wounded again SO that he died in few
minutes. after imploring his companions TO
seek their own safety and leave him to his
fate. MIR. 1t. G. Campbell. of the consular
stan. was captured 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 or
Mr.. Gordon, one OF the civilians with the
party but he is believed TO be dead. Mr..
Locke who escaped, had revolver in his
possession. and shot several natives who
attacked Captain Boisragon, and was him.
self shot in the arm while beating back a
party of natives with stick. The two
eventually came to "A friendly village, where
their wants were attended To and they were
sent down creek ia "A covered canoe. being
met on the way by the relief launch. Mr..
Powiss native servant escaped the massa-
ere by taking flight in the bush. He say
he saw the headless body OF Mr.. Powis.
All of the Europeans who were Killed were
afterwards bcheaded. and King Obbah has
sent the finger rings belonging TO acting
Consul General Philips back as an act or
defiance.
Another dispatch says: out of $50 car
riers with the expedition only one escaped,
and brought the news 10 the coast A re-
lief party sent up the river in canoe
found Boisragon and Locke, who had been
hiding i'm the bush for five days, living on
plantains and drinking dew. Six men-of
war are now lying of the Nige4 coast
Protectorate and troops are massing at
Brass. \ steamer has gone TO Sierra Leone
TO fetch the West India troops"
The affair il regarded here as deserving
The sending of "A DunitiNc oxDpdiffOn
Benin City, known as the City of Blood. on
account of it's being the seat OF the fetch
priests of that part of Africa and because
human sacrifices are OF frequent occur
renee, the remains of sacrificed slaves be-
ing seen bleaching In the sun on all sides.
The British ships Phoebe Widgeon.
Alecto. Barossa, TheSeus and Forte have
already been dispatched TO the entrance OF
the River Benin. British officers left Liver
pool for the same coast Saturday. and ufu-
nitions OF war will follow on Saturday
next