The Sun.
London, England, 1870-03-25 00:00:00

A LIVELY FANATIC.

A letter from Tunis describes some exciting proceedings
which took place there a few days ago. A Moor of 22, a
water-carrier, while under the influence of religious ex-
citement, began to beat with a stick all the Christians
and Jews who came in his way. Suddenly he dropped
the stick and drew a sword, running with it through
the most frequented parts of the town in the
European quarter, shouting " In the name of God, war
to the infidels 1" Fortunately, it being about three
o'clock, most of the Europeans were in their houses
at dinners but, nevertheless, the fanatic succeeded
in wounding a great number of men, women, and
children. As the British Consulate lay in the path
he took, it was soon filled with the wounded. Having
passed through the principal streets without receiving more
than a slight wound in the leg, he took refuge in the chief
mosque, where the local authorities, on religious grounds,
reframed from arresting him. One of the dragomans em-
ployed in the British Consulate, however, who had pursued
the assassin, entered the sanctuary, arrested him, and gave
him over to the local police. The principal square in the
European quarter soon became crowded with thousands
of Christians, Moors, and Jews. The Christians demanded
the instant execution of the water-carrier, and great fears
were entertained of a collision occurring between them and
the Mahommedans. Fortunately, tranquillity was
restored by the arrival of an extra force of
police and troops sent by the Bey at the re-
quest of the foreign Consuls. The Bey declined
to appear personally in the town to quiet the agitation, but
promised that every satisfaction should be given for the out-
rage. The man was shot at six o'clock the same evening.
In other letters the number of persons wounded is vari-
ously given from thirty-five to seventy. Mahomedans
thought friendly to the Christians were also attacked,
and one Moor has since died from a thrust he received
from the sword in the back. The dragoman of the
United States Consul-General was cut down at the
door of the consulate together with the Mahomedan
servant of the Italian Consul, who happened to be there.
The Italians threatened to set fire to the European
Consulates if the assassin was not immediately executed
on the gate of the European quarter, but such a step was
considered to offer an unnecessary indignity to the Maho-
medan religion, and the execution was inflicted in the
Moorish quarter. The body was exposed in the public
square and identified by the British and Italian Vice-
Consuls and a certain number of Europeans. The sum-
mary punishment inflicted on the murderer has produced
a very good effect, and no fears arc now entertained of any
outbreak.

The Pall Mall Gazette understands that up to the
present time a sufficient number of flag officers have been
compulsorily retired, or have signified their intention to
accept the terms which have been offered to thea: to
ensure promotion to all captains from the top of the ii at
down to, and inclusive of, Captain the Hon. J. W. d.
Spencer,

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