Untitled

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 178, 30 July 1868, Page 2

The Grey River Argus reports that good accounts have been received from the rush up the Ahaura River. Two new creeks have been opened, in both of which payable gold has been struck. Taylor and party, spoken of in our correspondent's last report as trying a terrace below the prospectors, have taken out 4 oz. from a paddock 4 ft. by 4 ft. A letter from a reliable source, to Mr Pinkerton, of the Star Hotel, Ahaura township, says:-— ' Taken altogether, the prospects are firstrate. There are about 80 men now on the ground, and more arriving.'

The Special Correspondent of the Standard gives the following frightful episode in the Abyssinian campaign : — A horrible business took place in Magdala on the very day before our arrival. Theodore had all the captives out, and before their eyes had put to death 340 prisoners, many of whom he had kept in chains for years. Among them were men, women, and little children. They were brought out, chained and thrown down on the ground, their heads fastened down to their feet. Among this defenceless and pitiable group the brutal tyrant went with his sword and slashed right and left until he had killed a score or so. Then, getting tired, he called out six of his musketeers, who continued to fire among the wretched crowd until all were despatched. Their bodies were then thrown over a precipice. The captives describe the usual mode of execution, by cutting off the hands anft feet, as being a refinement of cruelty. A slight gash is made round the member, and it is then wrenched off by main force, the arteries being so much twisted that very little loss of blood takes place. The wretched beings are then left to die, and some of them linger for many days and then , expire of thirst more than of their wounds, it being death to administer either food or water to them.