The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-23
MURDERED, BY SAVAGES.
Further Details Of the Fate Of the
Phillips Party.

London, Jan. 22-The Evening News
publishes this afternoon dispatch from
Lagos, capital of the British West Afri.
can colony of that name, giving details
OF the massacre of the British expedition
under Consul General j. r. Phillips by
the inhabitants of Benin City, early dur
ing the present month.
The party consisted of Consul General
Phillips, Maj. =. w. G. COPELAND .Craw-
lord, deputy commissioner and vice con-
sui III the Niger Coast protectorate and
adjoining native territories; Capt. a. NJ
Boisragon, commandant of the Niger
Coast protectorate force; Captain Mall
ing. OF the Sixteenth Lancers, an officer
OF the Niger Coast protectorate force; r.
f. Locke. of the consul staff; II. C.
Campbell, of the consul staff; DIR. r. II.
Elliott medical officer, and Messrs.
Fowls and Gordon, civilians.
The party was unarmed, and was pro-
ceeding to Benin City in order to make
request for palaver or conference with
King Obbah in regard to increasing the
trading facilities with that part of At
RIGA, the king having previously consent
ed that the expedition should visit his
capital The nine officers went unarmed
in order to impress the king with the
peaceful character OF their mission, and
over two hundred native carriers were
taken with the party in order to propel
the canoes and carry presents intended
for the king
The expedition. it is reported, was
greeted in IL friendly way ut every town
along its course, and received peaceful
messages from the king. But upon an,
proaching Benin City the members were
ilred upon from an ambuScnde in both
front and rear Acting Consul General
Phillips. Dir. II. il. Elliott and Mr.. Fowls
fell dead on the spot. Maj. p. w. G..
Copeland Crawford was wounded Cap
tain Boisragon and Il. Il. Locke carried
him of, but he WAS wounded again, so
that he die,: in Il few minutes, after i'm
plorng his companions to seek their own
safety and leave him to his fate. H. c..
Campbell, of the consul staff, was cap
'turcd and taken to Benin City, but the
king had him taken to an adjacent vii
lage, where ne was killed. no authentic
news has been received as to the fate of
Mr.. Gordon, one of the civilians with the
party, but he is believed to be dead
Out of $50 carriers with Consul. Phil
lips expedition only one escaped and
brought the news to the coast. A relief
party, sent up the river in Il canoe, found
BoisratOn and Locke, who had been hid.
ing in the bush for five days. living on
plantains and drinking dew. Mr.. Powis'
native servant escaped tie massacre by
taking flight in the bush lie said he
saw the headless body Of Mr. Fowls
All those who were killed were after
wards beheaded, ami King Obbah has
sent the finger rings belonging to Acting
Consul General Phillips back us an act OF
defiance.
The affair is looked upon as deserving
OF the sending OF II punitive expedition
TO Benin City, known rs the City of
Blood on account of it being the seat of
the fetch priests of that part of Africa,
and because human sacrifices are of fire.
qncnt occurrence, the remains of sacrificed
slaves being seen bleaching in the sun on
all sides. The British warshps Phoebe,
Widgeon, Alecto, Barossa. Thesus and
Forte have already. been dispatched to
the entrance of the river Benin. British
officers left Liverpool for the scene Satur.
day, and munitions Of war will follow on
Saturday next