The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-03

While Oyampoo believed himself
the biggest thing on earth, he didn't
make the mistake of believing that
the British were thoroughly afraid of
him. On the contrary, he expected
them to fight and there was a glad
song in his heart as he saw their ships
in imagination sailing up the muddy
old Calabar to give him battle. With
in a distance of seven miles he erected
nine forts and five or six earthWorks.
He counted up and found that he
hadn't cannon enough and he sent q
fleet of war canoes down to the Cuff
to see what could be scooped in. AS
luck would have it, a merchantmen
laden with military supplies for Cape
Coast Castle had put in there in dis
tresS, and her capture was an easy
job. There were twelve cannon among
her supplies and these went up the
river to be mounted, while her 1000
muskets went to arm 1000 more OF
the kings fighting men. After this
capture he issued another prOclama-
ton. He ordered that the British rec
within sixty days or take the conse-
quences, and he let it be fully under
stood that those consequences would
be mighty unpleasant.
According to Oyampoo, things were
coming his way and he was leading the
procession. but there was little cloud
forming on the horizon which was be-
yond his ken. The British had their
AAdllQ5 LUlA EASEWHEAG Oh the coast
then, but they finally got around to take
the kings case under Amusement. All
needed particulars were learned from
traders and deserters, and when an ex-
petition finally set out it knew what
it was up against.
Oyampoo had posed as a strategist
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 deep
al H1r1 inc an a-Ta -ss7 H.
batteries in front of the town were pro-
tected only by dirnsy earthWorks and
could be taken in reverse. The depth Of
the river was well known, and the ex-
act location Of each fort was mapped
out. Four men-of-War, accompanied by
two transports carrying 1000 infantry
made up the expedition, and when it
had gathered at the mouth of the river
Oyampoo sent word down that he would
demOliSh It on sight AS a matter of
form he was asked to surrender, and
he returned word that he would have
the ears of the commander of the ex-
petition and pin them to the doors of
his palace.
It was thought best to make an OBJ
ject lesson of Oyampoo, and to make a.
fair stand-up fight of it. The expedi-
ton, therefore advanced up the river,
with wind and tide. one morning about
g o'clock. and word was sent to the
king Of its coming. SalvOs were fired
and hurrahs given, and by and by the
head of the line appeared. Two of the
fighting Ships took one channel and two
the other, and in this way all the forts
were taken in reverse. The transports
did the same, and the rife fire poured
into the embrasures and the rear of the
forts was enough alone to drive the
natives from the guns.
OF the Is mounted cannon, net more
than three were fired more than once.
The big shells from the fighting ships
knocked the earthwOrks to pieces and
dlsmounted the guns. and the rife fire
moved the defenders down by the score.
The men-of-war sailed up to the city
without halt. and with only three
men killed, and, anchoring in front of
the capital, they knocked it into smith
Greens within half an hour What huts
were not knocked to pieces were re-
! duced to ashes in the confag grafton.
The natives did not run away like
cowaEds. On the contrary, they fought
IN 2 way TO compel admiration and yet
without q show. When flesh and blood