The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-06-12 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE MASSACRES IN ABYSSINIA.  Mr. Thomas Powell, of Coldra-hall, Monmouthshire, • magistrate and wealthy colliery proprietor, who went on a ehootltig excursion to Abyssinia some mont•-■ ARO, has been murdered by the natives, together with his wife and child. His servant and two missionaries are also said to have hcen murdered. Mr. Powell left Newport in the latter part of January or the beginning of February to go to Abyssinia on a shooting excursion, taking with him his wife and our of his children, a keeper, a native of Scotland, and a female domestic servant Soon oiler leaving England the maid servant fell ill, and it is said was left at Marseilles to return home as soon as she recovered. Mr Powell and his party proceeded on their excursion, and while at Suer the keeper was taken 111, and he also bad to be left behind. Other servants, among whom was a Swiss, were engaged, and the party reached Abyssinia. Mr. Powell was anxious to proceed to a part of the country known to be extremely dangerous for an Englishman to enter, and although told of this tact, his &termination was made, and the onward Journey was pursued, the result of which has been the murder of all_ On the morning of the 17th of it appears the Swiss went up the country, and while away a number of savages fell upon lie. Powell arid his party who were unarmed, and murdered and mutilated them in the most horrible mariner ; a similar fate awaited the Swiss on his return. Beyond the brief telegram containh.g them i particulars no further details are known.  Messrs. Young, Maple, Teesdale and Nelson' Frederick's-place, Old Jewry, London, have sent the following letter for publicatiiin, which they say is the only authentic account of the alleged massacre which has yet reached England. " 5.10 p.m., Saturday, June 5. From Suez, to H. Bayley, Peninsular and oriental Company, London, uia Malta. Eztract of letter from Meazett, Abyssinia, to -, Suez " Kerim Begins, Abyssinia, May 3. "1 take the pen, heartsore in consequence of very sad news which have reached us in the last three days, and which have thrown us and the villace of Kerim into consternation " I beg you will inform M. Macerer that his brother has been killed, as well as Mr. Powell, his wife, his son, Ilk servant, a Swedish missionary just arrived from Europe, and three AllyBßillitLllß. whom Mr. Powell had taken with him ha pa sing through Kerim, to pursue his elephant hunt. There , only remain seven or eight Abyssinian servants who have been spared, two of whom have reached Kerlin wounded, bringing us this painful intelligence. " It appears from the version given by these men. that Macerer had had a dispute with some people of the Bazaine trine about tour days from this place); that they took advantage of his going to reconnoitre a place where water was und, in company with Mr. Powell's servants arid the Swedish missionary, to effect their murder, without their being able to defend themselves. Being fearful afterwards that Sir. Powell would punish them, they came and slaughtered himself, his wife, his son, and three Abyssini.llis in his tent. They then pillaged all that they could find. having spared some AM sainiaL servants ; they sold two Mules and One ides. " We await from day to day the servants, who are still at Konnamat, for more precise details At this moment, M. • Munzinger, the Consul at Massowah, has no knowledge of this affair: lie will hear of it in three days' time, but he will not be astonished, for, from his acquaintance with the country, he had dissuaded Mr. Powell from hunting there. The 13azaine tribe lain rebellion. The Egyptiana are ravagiog It now to bring it into subjection, as these peon is neither wish to belong to A byliSildS. nor to Egypt: on this account Europeans incur great danger. We think that NI. Muuzinger, having advice of this event in his capacity of Consul. will be obliged to repair to the spot with a good escort. I shall not be behind in followiag him, for it is our interest as European to avenge severely these unfortunate victims, or there would be all end of all security In Abyssinia. " macerer was wrong lii persuading Mr. Powell to the elephant hunt in this country, as he had been advised to go to Ailette, a day's journey from Nlassowah, a quiet country, where there are at this moment numbers of elephants, lions, rhinoceros, We ; only the elephants have small tusks, while in the Barainie country they have enormous. "A.