Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-01-23
HORRIBLE MASSACRE.
Details Of Murder Of Unarmed English
xpedition by Benin Natives.
housh. 70 Be Friendly They Ambush r. riy
and Murder Nearly All.

London. Jan. 22-Further details
,ave reached here of the recent mas
acre Of members of a peaceable, un-
rrned British expedition by natives of
,enin country, and the facts as now
.nown have excited the deepest indig-
.ation, even among Titled Eng
anders" who declare that prompt pun
shment should he meted out to the
lurdercrs. 1t is learned that after the
Xpedition left S2peie, where it left the
acht Ivy, il proceeded without diff
ulty, save that experienced from the
azure of the country. TO within a few
niles Of Benin City.
The expedition was divided into two
ectlons TO facilitate travelling. AS iney
progressed into the country they were
greeted in a friendly manner by the
-esidentS of several villages. which led
o the hope that no opposition would
,e met with anywhere along the route
When the commander of the expedition
TAD reached a point 20 miles from the
Benin river, couriers from the King
Irrived hearing peaceful messages,
Which added to the feeling of security
which pervaded the party. Here it
vas determined to send a number of
he carriers ahead as bearers of pre-
ients TO the King.
Some of the kroomen sent forward to
eut a path through the jungle. The
carriers followed the route laid out
by the pioneers. and met with no hos
tility from any OF the natives who were
seen. These carriers We're four hours
ahead of the main body of the exped-
tion, when without warning of any
kind. they We're attacked by a large
number of warriors. who had already
despatched the pioneer Kroomen.
Everyone of the carriers and those
with them were rnassacred.
The second company, entirely un-
aware Of the fate of their predeces-
sors. We're marching along. when sud-
denly they came upon the piled up
bodies of their massacred companions.
There were no signs of an enemy about.
the PENN warriors having hidden
themselves in the thick jungle to await
the coming of the second parts. AS
the latter We're 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. DIR: FL
lott and Mr.. Bowls We're instantly kliieG;
Major Copeland Crawford was wounded
and died shortly after. The natives AGAIN
fired into the party and then lei, upon
them and either shot. stabbed or ciuDDed
them to death. The other white men
killed were Capt. Mailing and Mr.. Gordon.
Mr.. Campbell, one of the consular OH
cials, was captured and it is supposed ne
was taken to Benin to be executed
Capt. BoisragOn and Consular oincer
Locke were wounded. as were seven
Kroomen who subsequently reached the
coast. They managed to crawl unop-
served into the almost impenetrable Jun
gle. and after days of horrible sunerinS
from their wounds and the exhaustioh o.
the toilsome journey. succeeded IN reavh-
ing New Benin on the coast some q miies
west of Bonney. 1t is stated that Cap,.
Boisragon and Mr.. Locke each had a re-
volyer and before they made their escape
into the bush they shot several OF tue
attacking party. of
When they got away from the scene Oh
the massacre they made their way ".
ward the river subsisting as best wv!
could on casSava. The only means iei .ueS
the dew off the plants at night lns.
finally reached the river ana uitiiiia..es
procured a canoe from friendly na,Nso
and made their way to New Benin, WIZ
they met British launch. HAD .ncS Il
not procured the canoe it is doubtful II
they would ever have reached .,,s;sS tMS to che
The King has sent to the Britlsn .mo m
rings worn by Mr.. Phillips. rms ,s tha
garded as an act of defiance. wnich NJ ~.
King will soon have cause 10 reSret.
Powis is agent of Miller Bros. a. ~. ~
Glasgow. and Mr.. Gordon represente4r 18th orb
African Association of Liverpooi. Do 'ov.
had been on the coast as traders ior Sc
rt.aI rxastrsS