THE MATABELE TROUBLE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2083, 25 January 1894, Page 17

THE MATABELE TROUBLE.

(Per Press Association.)

Capetown, January IG. Tho party under Captain Wilson had reached King Lobengula's waggon when the Matabeleß returned and assailed them. The natives had the advantage in numbers, and surrounded the detaohment. The fight lasted for six hours, when, the cartridges giving out, firing ceased. The Matabelea found many of the party who were mortally wounded writing farewell messages to their Mend 3. Several of the wounded drew their revolvers, and made a final but unsuccessful effort. The natives piled the bodies of the English in a heap.

The Cape Times publishes the conditions for the settlement of Matabeleland. They include grants of land for natives. Mr Cecil Rhodes insists on Freetrade in that country, with a view of assisting the 1 products of Cape Colony.

January 17. Later details show that Captains Wilson and Barrow and a majority of the detachment could have escaped, bub they refused to desert those whose horses had been killed. Lobengula wished to yield to the British, but the Induanas prevented him doing so, and it is said that he is now afraid to give himself up in the face of the disaster which befell Captain Wilson's party.

January 19. News from Bulawayo states lhat Captain Lendy, of the Royal Artillery, has died at lati. Lobengula ordered the execution of tho Induana responsible for the slaughter of Wilson's detachment.

January 20. Captain Francis, of the Rauffs Bangers, has informed the press representatives that he instructed his men to take no prisoners, and that he saw wounded Matabele shot down by the Bechuana police ; also that he himself shot two prisoners, and his men four prisoners.

It is probable that the company will apply to the Boers for the extradition of Captain Francis on a charge of murder. The statement is generally denied by the company's officials except as regards the shooting by Captain Francis himself.

Lobengula, with a few follower?, is entrenched in the Tsetse-fly country, near the Zambesi.

January 21. The Transvaal Government have demanded an explanation of the charges made against Captain Francis.

London, January 20. A cablegram published in the daily "papers says that Lobengnla is collecting bis forces in the vicinity of Buluwayo*. The King now, it is said, admits that he himself was responsible for the disaster to Captain Wilson's party, and that the induana reported to have been condemned in connection with it died from natural causes..