The San Francisco call., 1897-01-22
A Few Hide in the Jungle and
Escape After Terrible
Suffering.
The English Will Punish This Can.
nibal King Whose City Is Full
of Human Bones.


clare that prompt punishment should be
meted out 10 the murderers.
Asreported at the time in dispatches to
the United Associated Presses, an ex-
pedition started from Bonney, on the Nj
ger coast protectorate, West Africa, for
Benin, its object being to ask the King of
Benin to remove the obstacles he places
in the way of trade. The expedition con-
sisted of acting Consul General Phillips;
Major Copeland Crawford. Deputy Com
missioner; Captain Boisragon, command
ant of the Niger coast protectorate force +;
Messrs. Locke and Campbell of the staff,
and Messrs. Powis ana Gorden, civilia ms,
together with about twenty-five Kroomen
and native carriers.
None of the men were armed, and they
we're in no wise prepared to meet an at
tack should one be made upon them. This
was considered here to be 4 remarkably
fooIhardy method of entering Benin, as it
lad been known for some time that the
king of that country was hostile toward
the English, Notwithstanding he had en-
tered into treaty Obligations with them.
1t was explained that the expedition did
not desire to make any show OF force
against the king, it being thought its OBJ
jects would be more readily attained were
no firearms carried. This was a fatal mis-
take, as subsequent events proved.
The expedition left Bonney about the
first of January and in about TWO weeks
the } acht Ivy. belonging to the consulate,
returned 10 Bonney, after having left the
expedition, preparatory to making the
land journey to Benin, with the news of
the massacre of the entire expedition.
Later ii was learned that seven of the
Kroomen escaped and that Captain Bois-
ragon and Consular Officer Locke had also
escaped.
Now it is learned that after the expe-
dition left Sapele it proceeded without
difficulty, save thai experienced from the
nature of the country, 10 within a few
miles of Benin City. Some OF the Kroo-
men had been sent forward to cut a path
through the jungle, and when the re-
mainder of the expedition were almost
within 81 hit of the town they came upon
the bodies OF these pioneers, who had been
massacred. Before the expedition could
retreat, the Benin tribesmen attacked
them and, having them completely at a
disadvantage, the party was almost COM
pletely annihilated.
Captain Boisragon and Consular Officer
Locke we're wounded, as were also the
seven kroomen who subsequently reached
the coast. Tnev managed to crawl unob-
served in the almost penetrabe Jungle
and after days of horrible suffering from
their wounds and the exhaus lion of their
toilsome journey succeeded in reaching
New Benin on the coast, go miles west of
Bonney.
It was announced some time ago that
an expedition was to leave Bonney for
Benin City, and it was said then, as the
King of Benin was "Ju Ju'' man, and as
his city was full of the remains of human
sacrifices, it was not expected that he
would agree to the request of the protec-
torate officials for better trade facilities.
In the event of his refusal it was in
tended TO get the sanction of the British
Foreign Office for an armed expedition to
proceed against the King, who had threat
ened to kul the next white man who al
tempted to visit him. In view of this
threat it is difficult to understand why an
unarmed expedition should have sought
to enter his country.
AS soon as the news of the massacre
reached England orders were gwen for
the British officers stationed on the coast,
who were home on furlough, to return to
their posts, and instructions were given
for the formation OF an expedition to pun.
ish the King OF Benin.
This expedition will consist of forces of
the Niger coast pro ectorate and contin-
gents of sailors from the vessels of the
West Africa squadron. 1t is said that
ceed to Benin City in, short time, even
bad the massacre not occurred, as the
whole of the Niger coast protectorate was
suffering from the cruelties and the ex-
actions OF the King of Benin. Slavery is
rampant in that country and human sacri-
fees and cannibalistic heathen rites are
matters of daily occurrence.
It is seen that if the country is to be
made OF any value whatsoever it will be
strong hand. The country Is said to be
very rich, and it would not be very sur
prising to find that one result of the expe-
dition would be the annexation of The
whole territory to the British possessions
in West Africa.
The expedition was divided into two
sections 10 facilitate travelling. AS they
progressed into the country they were
greeted IN friendly manner by the res
dents OF several villages, which led to the
hope that no opposition would be met
with anywhere along the route. When
the commander of the expedition had
reached point twenty miles from the
Benin River couriers from the King ar
rived bearing peaceful measures, which
added to the feeling of security which
pervaded the party.
Here it was determined to send num-
Der of the carriers ahead as bearers of
presents to the King. They followed the
route laid out by the pioneers and met
with no hostility from any of the natives
who were seen.
These carriers were four hours ahead of
the main BODY of the expedition, when
without warning of any kind they were
attacked by large number of warriors,
who had already dispatc ed the pioneer
Kroomen. Every one of the carriers and
those with them were massacred.
The second company, entirely unaware
of the fate of their predecessors, was
marching along, when suddenly they
came upon the piled-up bodies of their
massacred companions. There were no
signs of an enemy about, the Benin war
riors having hid themselves In the thick
jungle TO await the coming of the second
party. As the latter were stopped by the
sight of the bodies and began to examine
them, murderous volley was poured
into them by the natives i'll am bush.
Acting Consul-General Philips and Mr..
Powis we're instantly killed. Major Cop
Ian Crawford was wounded and died
shortly after. The natives again fired
into the party and then fell upon them
and either shot, stabbed or dubbed them
to death.
Mr.. Campbell, one OF the consular