Admiral Holdsworth Rawson, Commander-in-Chief of the Niger Coast Protectorate Station received news of Consul General Phillips and his men’s death two days ago 10 January 1897.
News of the men’s death reached London yesterday 11th January 1897. Seven days after the massacre.
Admiral Holdsworth Rawson has ordered the Widgeon and Alecto to Benin River, and the Phoebe to Brass, to pacify the area as effect of the news on the Brass chiefs, who previously had given considerable trouble, was expected to unsettle them.
References:
1) Bacon, R. H. Benin City of Blood, 1897, p18
2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2HHWsr3A2M Accessed: 9 January 2017