Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-03

Long before this letter is pub
Mr1Ra lished the cable dispatches will
SxkA1S have announced the death of
Behanzin, the famous king of Dahomey
whose army of Amazons sent cold thrills
of terror down the backs of the best sol
diers OF France until about twelve years
ago. He fought battle after battle with
the French and caused them no end of
trouble. His wars with them cost millions
and at one time the Chamber of Deputies
at Paris made a single appropriation of
100000 TO carry them on. He made treaty
after treaty with France only to break
them, and it was long before they were
able to subdue him and take possession
OF his kingdom This was along in 1895,
and since then they have held tho king
In captivity and prevented his having any
connection with his country and people.
They first carried him off to the West
Indies and imprisoned him in Martinique,
little island belonging to France Later
he was given a villa there and allowed to
drive about with his favorite wife and one
of his sons, and it was just about one year
ago that he was brought from Martinique
TO this place The cause of his transfer
was largely due to his i'll health and his
fear of the volcano Mont Pelee. When
the eruption occurred Behanzin became
terribly excited, and every earth tremor
thereafter sent him into fits of fear that
the volcanic disturbances might extend TO
his home. His nerves became so shattered
that the French feared he would die, and
II was ordered that he be transferred to
Algeria and kept under surveillance here
vt Blidah, about thirty miles from Algiers.
.
BehanzIn's Prison In Algeria.
Blidah is a military station with bar
racks inside and a great fort on The foot
hills of the Atlas mountains nearby. 1t
has the chief army stud of the Algerian
cavalry and it's surroundings are such that
1t would have been useless for the king
to have tried to escape. He was given
villa outside the city walls, but he was
always surrounded by spies and police.
The king very well knew that it was use
less for him to think of making his way
of to the sea, and also that the 1000
miles OF desert between him and Dahomey
were patrolled by French soldiers on
camels While in Martinique he mad made
all sorts of promises of good behavior II
he were allowed to go back to his own
country. He continued to make such
promises here, and it is believed that
the chief cause of his death was his home
sickness for the land of the Amazon.
.
King BehRnEin's Last Interview.
have the honor of having had the las
newspaper interview with this notorious
monarch. The interview was not full Of
meat, for the king was too sick to tall
much, and as to the honor, ] doubt mucl
II that term applies to the meeting will
one who had probably offered up human
sacrifices, who had killed many Christians
and who had likely often sharpened hi,
ivory teeth upon the human flesh Of tn
Caucasian race. At any rate, l saw an,
talked with the king in his prison villt
without the walls. The audience took plac
several weeks since. My way to the vilj
was over road fenced in by high walls
above which the green branches Of oiiv
and orange trees waved. We passed gar
dens filled with roses, vineyards loade,
with fat blue grapes, and by enough III
trees, I verify believe, TO have clad tn
5000 Ewes of Behanzin's Amazon army.
Finally we came TO a gate labeled IL
Paisible"-"The Peaccable" 1t was In
deed a facetious name for the dwellln
place OF this. the bloOdthirstiest of king,
Nevertheless. Il was there that Bchanzi
was living with his four wives and hi
numerous children. The villa Is = Iarg
two-story structure, surrounded by a We
randa twelve feet wide, with the room
opening out upon it. The house stands I
an orange grove OF several acres, and a
went up the walk passed the two pc
donkeys OF the kings little ebony princes
which were feeding under the trees.
AS neared the house l was met by IN
kings aid-de-camp, OF the man who cam
nearest to being his high court chamber
lain. He was dressed In white duck and 4
spoke French fiuently. He is a negro {
Martinique. who has been with Behanzi
for some years. He took my card an
asked me TO stay outside while he Iearne
whether his majesty would receive u
Within few moments. he returned ar
led US upstairs TO the veranda. Here "
waited while the high oonrt chamberlain
erawled In through one OF the window
and passed out several cane-seated ehaii
20 US. asking us 20 rest upon them unit
his majesty was ready. This We did
Word with the Crown Prince.
AS we tarried the crown prince. Ouslin
came around the corner and We ohatt
with him. He u a young fellow OF abo
IS as black as your boot and with n
negro features. He IS intelligent. has be
educated In the schools Of Martinique a