The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1882-08-01 00:00:00

A STORY OF THE BOMBARDMENT.

ON DOLL!) THE LITTLE CONDOR.

Azzgannius.. After anzioioly waiting for several
weeka, the deal received the final instructions and notice
to bombard on the 1111, at five o'clock. Every ship
prepared for action the previous evening. On board the
little gun-vessel Condor greet preparations were made for
the coming fight. Heavy chains had already been Pieced
on ship's side protecting the engine-mom and magazine.
That precaution had been taken weeks before by the
captain, Lord Charles likresford. in thee the guns of the
Rs-el-tin Fort should soddenly open on us in our
anchorage inside the harbour. where she had been lying
for neerlytwo months. But on the evening of the 10th
all available canvas wee got out and draped round the
inboard of the ship's bulwark, to prevent splietsre
topmast lowered, our Gatlin' in the mainmast canthised
round. and 'muting lemma for the morrow but sanding the
dech, oiling the racer* and placing the hammocks of
the man round the wheel, mid fencing up the Getting.
Jost before sunset-gun Lord C. Beresford called the crew
together and addressed them from the bridge, Win, the
men that the first shot was to be fired from the Invincible
at flys next morning. The Admiral's order to the Condor
was that she 'booth keep out of fire—transfer signals and
mike permit generally %mini but if an opportunity
should occur—sad he, their captain, would guarantee that
it thookt occur—that the Condor was to take advantage of
it and prove her guns. The crowd of ut turned faces of
the men listening to the address from their commander
shone with eatialection in the light of the departing sun
at this eignificant remark, and who could doubt hut that
they were of the old hearth of oak to see the gleam in
their ere. when Lord Charles said that he kilow the,
would give • good account of themselves if that part cu
opportunity he spoke of served 7 There was vary little
gaping that night an board the gallant little ship, and an
occasional Murmur from the forecaetle told that the pro-
babilities of the morrow were as warmly diseased by the
men m by their atom Long before senries the
whims had been busy In the' entierrocea, aad we weee

rim. bud.' may. Daylight made us awe that the
Admiral bud quietly pamed outside Me harbour during
toe eight, and had taken up hie position and had anchored
oPPoeite the M z Font with the Monaca and Penelope.
The Ttirefratte canre next, sod seemed to threaten the
Reedel-tin fats. The Inflexible came n..xt in the semi.
circle, Ikea thd Alexandra, Sultan and Superb opposing
the Pharos Ads, and Old Poore Forts. Fire o'clock passed,
sex oklook went by. and so sign train tae Invincible. What
Gould be the matter! At Me last moment were wa to be
the laughisystook of the various nationalities that had
tethered togMlier rsipremoted by their rospeotlee shops
01 Wu outside Me harbour' Were we this llth of July,
just one month from the sad day we had to realign our-
eaves to the humiliation of burying our dead at sea that
bud been cruelly murdered in in. street. of Alexandria,
not by an unruly mob, but by Egyptian police—Our
ormuul haulm& and our ships brow beaten by cannon
mounted on new fortifications thrown up in the face of •
Conference we had acceded to—alter all the provocetion
we had received to settle the matter panticaily I it
f:Flßlt'oierthlUaTo
uglonrs dwi.h.tanati theirmimingiy .: cu niii.rmey,:atka7mWD :ctd to u
d could theirbear
the delay I At last from the Alexandra on our bolt was
men • pug of smoke, and a shell burst over the Ada
Fort. No answer we. returned. The anxious quaint in
was, " Are they going to fight!" Toe signal was now
run up tor tho Moot to Gunn:tense a general engagement,
acid • &sienna' [Jar burst Korth moan all sides 'foe
Intlexible's chilly, with their torrible wailing as they
nub.' mmuuto the air, were distinctly audible from the
not of the thunder. A line of fire from the hex Forum
told us the enemy were well returning the tire, and
praseetq toe Pita as Batteries and Fort Ada t oh up the
ball. Toe Temeratre, on our roan, was making awns
excellent promo, with her herbal., on the Me. I iii.; bat
presecky we toun I that she was iii loom trouble, end
drif tins on to the Botha. amt. We were mioediamly
ordered to assist her, and found on uniting close tuber
that stie had parted urn chains. At .r coosiderable loss
of time we pulled her round, and being released our
captain resolved to run dowo and attack Fort Marabout,
.o draw oil her lire from lie three ships opposing the
Met Forte, need whose Maumee were gradually being
found out by the Marabout rifled guns. As we neared
Fort Marabout not • man on deck but knew that it ea.
• perilous step for so small • vessel to dare to att ink the
mcdod largest tart in Alexandria, but the burst of
enthusiasm from the men When the order was given to
load with common shell at 2.01.0 yards readily 500 cod
hoer great was thin confidence in their leader. For some
time we wore treated with silent contempt by the Mar-
about Fort, but presently our shell began to buts; within
her batteries and she turned one of her big guns upon us.
Ti. emit no immediately gave orders to run in Moon, and
we came within OM yard., when shd opened fire upon
Li. from a battery o: smooth bores. Her snots wee. with
aimed and showered round and about us. One of her shots
would hays sunk us if we wen fairly hit. Stoll we
brought all our form to bear on the big guns of toe fort,
sad let the smooth bores do what they pleamd. At this
time we succeeded in silencing one of toe enemy's gum
for • what., and we were sigaMled from tee Admiral I
—" Well done, Condor. " Shortly alter the Bacon gun-
boat was sent to our moist mom, out almot uninediately
came Me order " come tiring." and we were ordered to
run in shore towards the Max tort to &mist the other
gunboats covering the binding party to spike the guns.
As we passed the Admiral'. ship, the Invincible, the rig-
ging and bulwarks were crowkal with men waving thou
cape .ad shouting, " Wall done. Gondar. Tame cheer.
for Lord Charles" The landing party, headed by Lieut.
Bradford, Major Tulloch, Lieut. Lasubton, and twelve
volunteers, suceeded ice lauding and blowing up rifled
guns and spiking smooth lorel without any oiapwitiou by
the enemy who emoted to bays been driven comp etely
to seek refuge LU flight. An UltneCesairil), stuntman cover-
ing patty blazed away at some supposed mailers occupy-
ing houses near the bolt; precipitated retirement of
volunteer part, who naturally imagined a large force was
advancing to cut them a ; maw in kaltellMnit small
boat, which landed party from steam pinnace; took some
time in righting, and might have tamed great diaset.r if
party had marry been attacked; but whole of man
returned safely to Invincible amid great cheers fur their
plucky adventure. The Mang of ironclad* now began to
slacken and concentrated itsAl to the belt of the position,
round the Plume and Fort Ada. The harem of toe
Itetrelnin Paiace halcaught thn early in the day, and was
w burning bratty. Aoout dye o'clock the float Mow off
from the forts and tiring mimed. Alexandria lay wreathed
neonate, and as Me suedes of night plevalled, the glue
at me burning harem wee the only sign that Mistreat GA
of Wm had sailed in Ktypune Waters.