The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-22
CONGO FREE STATE HORRORS.
BOOK THAT REVEALS THEN HAS
BEEN WITHDRAWN.
King Leopold Protests TO England Against
Its urcuiation-Its Authors We're In
lIis Service Tell Of the Torture
and Massacre OF the Natives.


Special Cable Despaieh TO TEE SUN.
LONDON. March 21.--The sensation OF the
book publishing season was the appearance
this month OF "The Curse Of Central Africa,
which Is the latest contribution to the sick
ening history Of the Congo Free State, OF
which Leopold, King OF the Belgisns. In the
autocratic sovereign.
Before the book appeared. II II stated In
the introduction, the administration OF the
Congo Free State applied to England for
legal injunction to prevent It's publication.
Tho prellminaries to libel act were Also
taken in behalf Of three oflcials whose names
In certain proof sheets had been sent to the
Free State Company. These names were
subsequently omitted In the book which
appeared this month.
Almost Immediately Q rumor came from
Brussels that King Leopold had protested
against the book TO the English authorities.
Whatever may be the fact, an attempt made
yesterday to purchase II resulted In the
discovery that the book had been with
drawn from sale. This, however, may Be
only temporary.
The authors Of the book are Capt. Guy
Burrows. who resigned his commission In
the Congo Free State Company. to whom
Henry M. Stanley had recommended him.
and Edgar Canisine, who also spent several
years in the company's service. The au-
thors declare that they have absolute proof
Of everything In the book, and also OF much
that 10 not printed because the book was
intended for general circulation.
What IL In the book. however, IL suf-
fciently horrible and revolving. 1t appear
that the natives have only been delivered
from Arab slave drivers to become the
slaves, Of the Free State Company. The
stories Of cruelties praotised by It's officials
equal and surpass the ghastliest tales from
Armenia and Bulgaria.
The main trade Of the Congo h In rubber
The Villages arc obliged TO send In certain
amount, which Il 20 great that It takes up
the whole time of the people. The VII
layers wear round their necks Q zinc badge
of servitpds with their name and number.
II they bring In at the fortnightly muster
q quantity which the agent deems insult
fcicnt they are handed over to the soldiers.
thrown on the ground and logged with
hippopotamus hide whip, receiving from
80 to 100 lashes. The natives are re-
duoed to this practioal slavery by the
sending out Of . military force. which sur
rounds Q village and shoots the men and
such women a. try to escape. The rest arc
taken prisoners and sent to distant planta-
tions where they are practically slaves.
II they escape, death In the Jungle awaits
them.
When expeditions 60 out to reduce fresh
tribes the soldiers shoot Ill the men, women
and children they possibly can. and burn
the villages which are abandoned on their
approach. Ono practice on these occasions
was for the soldiers to cut Oh the left hand
Of all the men, women and children killed
and bring them to the Commissary, who
counts them TO SO that the soldiers had
not wasted any cartridges.
A photograph. which y reproduced In
the book, shows Major L0thairs and other
soens Of two chiefs, who With 400 people,
Lothaire's protection, being suspended
from Q horizontal pole by cords from their
necks, waists and ankles In the most pain
full attitudes. After having been thus
suspended these two natives were scalped
Then their shin bones were sawed through
by the negro sergeant Of the Belgian doctor.
After this their ears. moses and lips were
out Oh for 'the amusement OF the white
onlooksrs.' This torture lasted for an
hour, after which the men were thrown
into the bush.
Stories Of similar tortures Of men. women
and children are scattered through the
book. With accounts Of the general system
OF administration Of this vast district Of
so7 900 square miles. which give evidence
OF the existence Of an appalling state OF
a6airs. Tho whole conduct Of Affairs h .
violation Of the solemn pledges given TO
the European nations whom the Congo
| Er~> Qfsf vaa created