The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1878-09-14 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

KILLED BY CAFFRES.  The Kimberley correspondent of the Natal Mercury gives a further account of the killing of Mr. F. Thompson by ()slices on the 18th of July :  "We were thrown into a painful state of consternation by the news brought in that Gasibone's people had made an attack upon Mr. Thompson's store at Cornforth-hill, near Barkly, and, in addition to plundering the store, had carried off as prisoner Mr. Thompson, sen., an old and much-esteemed resident of Griqualand West. A hope was for some days entertained that as Mr. Thompson had invariably befriended the natives his life would be spared, during which time detachments of volunteers continued to be hastily sent on to Barkly to scour the country in search of the rebels, and to place that town in a position of defence; but to the grief and indignation of all the inhabitants here, the body of the unfortunate prisoner was found in a state which showed that he had been horribly and cruelly murdered. The report was current that he had been stripped of his clothes, tied to a tree, and slowly burnt to death. Other res.,orts were that he had been tortured in other ways.' The following paragraph from a writer in the Diamond News may be taken as reliable information upon the matter :—" To-day I witnessed one of the saddest scenes I have ever been present at, the interment of the remains of the late Mr. Francis Thompson. There were evidences that the deceased had been tortured to death in the cruellest possible manner, and a ramrod found near the body points too clearly to the nature of the torture. Whether the body was afterwards mutilated or not, it is impossible to say, although it seems probable, as no flesh was left on the bones, and identification was difficult. In the presence of Judge Barry, the Civil Commissioner of Barkly, the Barkly Rangers, and the Griqualand West Light Infantry, the remains were solemnly interred in the Barkly Cemetery." Mr. Thompson's nephew writes,—" I was with my uncle when his place was attacked. I heard my cousin Frank say, 'Here are the Caffres.' We got our guns. The natives fired right into the store. My uncle returned the fire. The natives told me afterwards that Gasibone's (the chief's) son was shot by my uncle. We got through the window into another room, and when the thatch roof was fired Frank said, 'Let us run for it.' We all rushed for the river. As Frank left the store he was shot in the side, but he could run well and got away. I saw Caffres running after my uncle, but just then seven men got hold of me. They took off my coat and waistcoat, but afterwards gave me back the coat as it was very cold. I recognised several Batalpins who used to come to the store. The natives were as many as 50 or 60 in all, and were armed and mounted. I said I had nothing, and they took me over the hill and said, 'Go we don't want to kill you; we want your plunder.' I went on to Potomassie West and told what had happened, My uncle was always on good terms with the natives, and the only reason they attacked us was to get powder, lead, and stock." It is stated that Mankoroane, the paramount chief of the Batalpin Caffres, is ordered to pay an indemnity to Mr. Thompson's family.