THE CAPTURE OF BENIN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2252, 29 April 1897, Page 31

THE CAPTURE OF BENIN.

HORRIBLE DISCOVERIES.

As was briefly announced by cable, Benin has fallen into the hands of Admiral Rawson's expedition. The following graphic account of the capture of the stronghold is taken from an English paper . received by last mail : — On February 18 ihe forca advanced for the final daah. Colonel HamUtoa ordered the composition aa follows. A half company of the forco uuder Captain Ringer led the column, then came a Maxim under C*ptainßarro was, next another halt" company of the force under Captain Carter, and Colouel Hamilton, who wai in command, with Lieutenaufc Phibba as his aide-de-cmmp, and Lieutenant Btcon, in charge of the intelligence depr.rfcmpnfc ; next catne tho rooknt tuba under Gunner Johnson, of H.M.S. Philomel ; then the A company of the Second Naval division under Lieutenant Griffiths, of the St. George Hoadqu&rter staff ; next the marine battalion, and then & company of the force under Captain Gallway. The next place was taken by the carriers under an escort of marine?., while the rear guard *r«.s composed of the A company of the First Naval division and the marines mth the Maxim under the charge of Captain Campbell. While the column was falling in the enemy opened a persistent fire at abort range on the carap. The column had to fight tbe whole w*y, the natives firing briskly, and proving themselves clever huihmen. lu<?eecl, they very seldom exposed themselves and only the crack of the rifles and the wb;zz ot the bullets 'indicated the direction in which they were lurkiDg. Torpedo Instructor Aosell, ! of tho St. George, was shot dead at an early stage of the fight ; while the interpreter, the i guide and five Kansas, and several carriers were ! wounded. After advancing five miles the force encountered a formidable stockade mounted with cannon, and so situated that ii\ the hands of a resolute euemy it might have been almosb impregnable. The troop?, however, dashed forward, and as the enemy fell back it was easily captured and dismantled with gun cotton. A mile further on a species of clearing was reached, and here the seven-pounders under Captain Searle were brongbt into play. Shells and rocketß were eeat in the direction of the town, and then, after a brief space, to enable the rearguard, who had marched splendidly, to close up, an advance was agaiu made. The fores plunged into the thick bush with the anticipation of a desperate eacounter, when suddenly after traversing for » few minutes a narrow path ib emerged into a broad avenue of trees, leading to the town, flanked on each side by dense masses of almost impregnable undergrowth. Ifc was a critical moment, as the place positively teemed with the enemy, who offered a determined resistance. They were mostly armed with breechloaders, and perched on trees, more especially amid the tSenEe foliage, and they poured in a hot fusilade which was really well directed. The A company of the second division left the force on the right flank and led the attack down the avenue, supported by the marines. The spectacle was supremely exciting, the enemy baing in strong force and keeping up a , rattling fire with their big guns. With great 1 cheer id g the blue jackets and the Hausas went

down the avenue at the double, executing a magnificent charge aud driving back the enemy, who, taking cover of the houce3 and the busb, kept up a ceaseless fire from loop-holes and behind trees. The foroe, however, speedily gained possession of the King's compound, whereupon Admiral Rawson ordered "Cease firing." In the fight four whites, including Dr Fjfe, were killed, and 16 whites wounded, Captain Byrne (Royal Marine Light Infantry) baiDg severely wounded. Gunner Johnston was wounded, and also three men of the Niger Cjast Protectorate force, one messenger, three carriers, and one guide, all of whom are blacks. AU the troops, both white and black, bshared splendidly.

When the force entered the city horrible scenes were witnessed, and men hurried through the place without almost at first dating to stop. The city reßked with the blood of human sacrifices, and the ghastly spectacle appalled even men accustomed to the horrors of the battlefield. AU around l«.y mutilated bodies gushed and cut to pieces iv a simply blood-curdling manner, which quite unnerved many of the beholden. Nineteen heads were found uuder one tree alone, while skulls everjwhere strewed the soil. Three men were crucified and their bodies hung aloffc, as the troops entered the town. Pits were filled with the daad and even dying. Iv one such hole 11 dead bodies were found, while a krooboy, belonging to Mr J. Gordon, of Sapele, was rescued alive from the boip of corpses among which he had been thrown. He had oome on with the ill-fated expedition. Two Accra sl&ves were also recovered alive, and were able to give details of the murder of Consul-general Phillips and his party. The stores and kit of the murdered officers were found in the King's palace. The King and his bodyguard escaped into the bush.