The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-04-06
BARBARITIES
IN FREE STATE
Belgium Maintains a Native
CahnibaI Army.
STORY OF AN EYEWITNESS
UNSPEAKABLE CRUELTIES ARE
PRAcTICED.

louisville, Ky, April 5.-Dr. William
Morrison, a Southern Presbyterian min
lister to the Congo Free state, in speak,
ing to the Presbyterian Ministers asso-
citation here gave an impressive recital
of the alleged barbarities praetioed
upon the natives Of the Congo state by
those holding the power and of the
obstacles thrown in the way Of their
correction by the authorities:
u lived with the people for seven
years" said Dr. Morrison Leopold
has there a native cannibal army of
2c'oOO men, differed by white Belgians
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 ana forced into this milf
tary service.
Tribute Of Ivory.
There, in turn, this cannibal SOL
diery is used 10 compel the natives to
bring IN enormous tribute of ivory and
India rubber. it is worth noting that
|. the king of Belgium is today reputed
10 be the largest dealer in ivory and
rubber in the world.
IS a result OF this forced labor and
military service great and unspeak-
able cruelties are practiced on the ma
i've people. / have seen a number of
times at least so 1000 fleeing into the
forests to escape from the cannibal SOL
diers Of King Leopold; I have seen
these soldiers securing through the for
ests and after catching a number OF
men whom the government wanted as
laborers going away with the captives
tied together by ropes around their
necks. Raids upon villages are con-
Etantly being made, some of the people
are killed and eaten, others are hur-
ried away into captivity and sold; 9TH
ers are forced into labor and military
service. l can buy all the slaves you
want at Luebo at from $40 to SIS
apiece.
Horrible Cruelties.
when these raids are made the most
awful cruelties are practiced. Innocent
women and children are killed or cap
tured, hands are cut or TO be taken
back 10 the white Belgian officers to
show that the work has been well done
and great sections are being depopu-
/ lated. one of these raids was made
near one Of our mission stations-One
of our missionaries went to the scene
and counted eighty-one hands cut off
and drying over fire, TO be taken back
70 the Belgian officers; forty-five dead
bodies were counted lying nearby.
The Belgian government makes the
usual stereotyped denial OF all these
charges. / have seen personally the
governor of the Congo State. He won't
do anything. 1 have been in the palace
of the king Of Belgium and have seen
the most prominent officials of the
Congo government. They won't do any
thing. The English government is
greatly interested in the situation At
the request OF Lord LansdOwne 7 pre-
ferred a statement Of such outrages as
had come under my own observation.
Consul Roger Caiment, who as Eng
lish and acting American representa-
tive In the Congo State has just made
a tour of investigation and his report
is in the hands Of our government at
Washington, presented a most depor-
able situation of affairs.
As a government We do owe sOme-
thing TO the 20.0OO,000 black people in
the Congo State. What are we going
70 do9H