The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-04-13
AN ARMY OF CANN|BALS.
Missionaries Say They Destroy
the Congo Villages.
NATIVES ARE KILLED AND EATEN
Whole Sections Depopulated ny Leo
pold's Army-Hando Cut or Ma
tivcs as Soldiers Souvenirs.

DR.. w. NJ. Morrison. Southern
Presbyterian missionary 20 the Congo
Free State. ins speaking to the Pres.
byteiiAn Minister'S Association at
Louisville gave an impressive recital
of the alleged hnrharitics practlced
upon the natives OF the Congo Free
State Ivy these holding the power and
of the obstacles thrown IN the way
of their correction by the authorities.
81 lived with the people for seven
years. know what | am talking
about" said Dr. Morrison. Leopold
has there native cannibal army of
10000 men, ofllcercd by white Bclgians
and armed with repeating rifles.
These men. representing the worst
and most savage type of the natives,
were first caught then carried far
away from their homes and forced In.
to this military service. Then, in
turn. this cannibal soldiery Is used to
compel the natives TO bring in cnor'
nous tribute OF ivory and iatia rub
Der. II is worth noting tnat the hang
of Belgium Is today rcputed 10 be the
largest dealer In ivory and rubber In
the world
AS a result Of this forced labor and
military service great and unspcaknblc
crueltieS are praCtiC,l on the native
people. have seen number Cf times
at least 50000 llecing into the forests
TO escape from the c3nnibll soldiers Of
King Leopold; | have seen these sol
diers securing through the forests
and after catching Il number OF men
whom the Government wanted "a
labcrers, going away with the cap.
tives tied together ny ropes around
their necks. Raids upon villages are
being constantly made. Some OF the
people are killed and eaten, others
are carried away into captivity ami
sold, othcrs are forced into military
service. can buy all the slaves you
want at Lucho at $40 and $i5 apiece.
when these raids are made the
most awful cructics are p,nctlced
Innocent women and childIcn are kill
ed or captured, hands are cut or, to be
taken back to the white Belgian OH
GERS to show that the work hns been
well done. and great sections are be-
ing depopulatCd One Of these raids
was made near one of cur mission
stations. One of our missionaries
went to the Sconc and counted 81
hands cut OH and drying over n fire
to be taken back to the Belgian Of
ficers. Forty-tiye dead bodies were
counted lying near by.
"The Belgian Government mpkc5
the usual stcrootyped denial Of these
charges. | have seen personally the
Governor of the Congo State. He will
not do anything. | have been in the
palace Of the King of Belgium and
have seen the most prominent CT.
ficials of the Congo Government
They will not do anything. The
English Government Is greatly inter
ested in the situation. AZ the request
of Lord Lansdowne | preferred a
statement of such outrages as hat
come under my own observation.
Consul Roger Easement, as English
and acting American representative in
the Congo State, has just made a tour
of investigation, and his report. in
the hands of our Government at Wash
ington, presented a most deplorabl,
situation Of affairs. AS q Government
we do owe something to the 10000,
coo of black people in the Congo State
What are we going to do?"