THE REIGN OF TERROR IN EGYPT

Temuka Leader, Issue 1004, 14 September 1882, Page 1

THE REIGN OF TERROR IN EGYPT

A Bank manngcrgives the' following description of the pill iguig in Egypt : —"lt appears/' says he, "<nifat the exodus of the inhabitants began before a shot was fired. During the preceding night, the native population had poured steaming' with terror into the interior. The excitement increased when the ships opened fire, and all'day long people were fleeing with frightened faces'. At an early hour the soldiers paraded the to<«rn to make sure that no communications were passing with the fleet. Officers mounted the terraces and houses and cut the telephone wires. A few shells were observed to fall in the town, but many passed over it." Towards evening there was, a sudden revulsion of feeling. The crowd paused in its flight; people shook each other warmly by the hand, embraced and congratulated'each other, and Arab women made their [ cculiar guttural cry of joy, The fire had ceased, and a rumor had "gone round that the forts ha! sunk two:ironclads and disabled live more. This delusion was soon scattered next day when still greater numbers fled, and by the afternoon the fight had breomo' general. At threes o'clock tha soldiers gave the signal tor pillaging. '.'Pitccs of calico wero cut into pieces and handed round, while albums, watches, and fancy goods were carried off, and frequently torn to pieces after having been in the hands of nen who did not understand their use. The officers frequently carried two or move guns, so as to leave free, the hands of soldiers who were carrying off booty. A colonel, mounted on horseback, had a pair of new shoes under his arm, another threw down and broke into a thousand pieces a clock which he found too heavy to carry. The 'property destroyed was ot greater value than that which was actually carried away. As soon as a shop was empty the paper and all the debris that couid be hastily collected were thrown into it, and then small explosive pellets were added, and in a moment the whole was in a biazp. At 5 o'clock the the Egyptian heroes, loaded with booty instead of laurels, retreated in the gr?atest disorder. 13y 6 o'ekek all the European quarter was in flames, and the town presented 1 the appearance of one huge furnace. Here and there vre could see men of sinister appearance and some disbanJccl soldiers coming like sdent shadows into . shops, and going out loaded with plunder, having fed the fire with inflammable materials with which they. were provided. In order to defend the Bank,which the fire enclosed in a circle momentarily becoming smaller, I was bounl to ma' e the rounds of the adjoining streets all night, and fire on all incendiaries and marauders. In this way the immediate neighborhood was preserved clear till morning. On Thursday, finding that no soldiers were coming to relieve us or save the town, we determined to go to them. We set out together, to the number of some 70. We put numerous women and children in the middle of our troop, surrounded them with Greeks and Montenegrins, iand then all started for the Custom House. On our way there 35 peoplo in the same condition as ourselres joined us. The 105 marched without encountering opposition through and over masses of burning ruins We ourselves broke open the doors of the city. We seized some abandoned boats, which were fortunately handy, and pulled ourselves to Admiral Seymour, who received us with kindness on board the Helicon." Another Bank was also successfully defended by a small garrison cf civilians, The officers of some of the Egyptian troops twice tried to gain admission, declaring that they had orders to massacre all the Europeans, but would spare the inmates it they would give up their money. This Bank contained £16,000 in cash. The little garrison refused to surrender, strengthened the barricade, and poured out a biting fire.