The daily Alaskan., 1905-08-16
THUMPING A KING

| of King OyNmpoo. The hIitlsu hNu had possession Of that coast for thirty years, but more in name than iE fact Their authority was supreme wherever settlements had been made or ports opened. but up the numerous rivers and back from the coast the native chiefs held full sway.
 OyampOo was man about forty years old and chief of the Adamawa tribe. He began making war on other tribes as soon as he had been elected chief. and at forty he was cock Of the walk for 500 miles around. In twelve years he had licked nine tribes and brought them under his rule
 Traders had visited him and sold hlm firearms and taught him how to use them. and dcscrtcrs from whale ships and men-of-war had found refuge with him and taught his troops the white mans drill and built forts Co defend his capital on the water side, Cannon and ammunition were wanted for those forts, and so one day when a French survey brig came up the river she was seized and diSarmed and her crew made to shift the guns and instruct the natives in their use
 Oyampoo wasn't cruel, but he was ambitious. He had just got his forts in working order when the British gov ernment sent gunboat up the river Co knock them about his ears and humble his bride. It wasn't a success. He sank the craft In half an hour, and such of her crew as survived were held prisoners for months.
 He expected the British to fight, and therc was glad song in his heart as he saw their ships in imagination sailing up the muddy old Calabar to give him battle. Within a distance ot seven miles he erected ninc forts and five or six earthworks. He counted up and found that he hadn't cannon enough. and he sent a fleet of war canoes down to the gulf 10 see what could be scoopcd in. As luck would have it. merchantmen laden with military supplies for Cape Coast Castle had put in there In distress, and her capture was an easy job, There were twelve cannon among her supplies and these went up the river Co be mounted, while he- 2OOO muskets went Co arm 1000 more Of the kings fighting men.
 According to Oyampoo, things were coming his way and he was leading the procession, but there was a little cloud forming on the horizon which was be- vond his ken. The British had their hands full elsewhere on the coast just then, but they finally got around Co take the kings case under adviScmcnt All needed particulars were learned from traders and dcSerters, and when an expedition finally set out it knew what it was up against
 Oyampoo had posed as a Strntegist and he had had the advice of other posers, and yet they made a fatal miS. take. All the forts had been built on narrow islands in the river, with a deep channel flowing on each side, and inc batteries In front of the town wcrc protected only by tiimSy carthworkS and could be taken in reverse. The depth of the river was well known, and the exact location of each fort was mapped out. Four men-of-war, accom-. panied by two transports carrying 2.OoO infantry, made up the expedition and when it had gathered at the mouth of the river Oyampoo sent word down | that he would demollSh it on sight. AS a matter of form he was asked to sur. render. and he returned word that he would have the ears of the commander of the expedition,
 It was thought best to make an ob feet lesson of Oyam3oo and to make a fair stand up fight of it. The eX petition, therefore, advanced up tho river with wind and tide one morn ing about s o'clock, and word was sent to the king of its coming. Salvo, were fired and hurrahs given, and by and by the head of the line appeared Two of the fighting ships took on' channel and two the other, and in this way all the forts were taken in re verse. The transports did the same and the rife fire poured into the cm' brasures, and the roar of the forts wa' enough alone to drive the natives iron the guns.
 Of the fifteen mounted cannon no more than three were fired more thal once. The big shells from the fighting ships knocked the earthworks to piecet and dismounted the guns, and the rift fire moved the defenders down by th, score. The men-of-war sailed up {, the city without halt and with onh three men killed, and, anchoring il front of the capital, they knocked 1 into smithereens within half an hour What huts were not knocked to piece were reduced to ashes in the conna grafton.
 The natives did not run away lik towards. On the contrary, they tough In way to compel admiration and ye without a show. When flesh and blooJ could stand 1t no longer they brok and fed, and the victors landed an, finished the chapter. It was three day before OyampoO could be Induce, to come forward and take a lttl