Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1860-07-28


with which the East was ringing, when he fell
. by the hand Of fanatic.
On the eleventh Of June, after reviewing
the Greek Legion III the island Of Boudah, he
came to Cairo to preside over the preparations
which Monsieur Protain, one of the engineers
who had followed the army, was making in
his palace.
Both were expected to a breakfast with an
other general officer, which was given to sew
eral of his friends and colleagues.
Il was quite Letc Of rejoicing aud General
kleber was unusually gay, for all hnd sue
cccded since he had been left in command.
The Turks had been beaten as completely at
lieliopOlis as at Mount ThabOr and .Aboukr.
The second revolt at Cairo had been put down,
and everything seemed to predict that for the
future the town would be quiet
At two in the afternoon Klcber took leave
Of his host and friends, and taking Monsieur
Protain with him, returned towards his palace,
where, as we have said, numerous repairs
were being made, under the direction Of the
architect
There was not far more than five minutes
walk from the Generals where they had
breakfasted, to General Kleber's, and to arrive
there it was necessary to pass by a terrace,
sheltered by irntncnse vines, overlooking the
Place FL Bckieh
The General and the architect were walking
slowly, and the hitter stopped, from time to
time, to trace something with u cane he held
in his hand on the sand.
Suddenly man, clad in Eastern costume,
appeared at n short distance from the other
! two, bowed to General Keber, and crossing
his arms over his breast, Sauted after the
fashion of the East. lie then raised his hand
L. 4 IL. Al
demonstrations the Arabs who visited him to
demand justice always acted thus, so he waited
for the young man to explain what he wanted.
Suddenly, with the quickneSs Of lightning, the
stranger drew n curved poignard from his belt,
and buried it up to the hilt in klebcr's left
side.
, The General uttered cry of pain and sur
prise, aS he stepped backward, aud then he
leant against the balustrade, calling aloud to
a soldier who was passing
: Help, guard am aSsa:snatcd."
At the same moment Monsieur Protain who
had only II cane in his hand, sprang on the
murderer, who, after the blow had been dealt,
stood a moment silent and motionleSs but,
finding himself uneXpcctIy assailcd, with the
rapidity Of thought, he stabbed the unfortu-
nate architect half dozen times, who fell
fainting to the ground.
Like wild beast, greedy Of blood, the man
rushed again at klebcr, stabbed him several
times, and then lied into the cover whence he
had come.
The guard hastened, as quickly as possible,
to the Generals assistance, but was Obliged to
go round to reach the terrace.
by this time, also, Monsieur Protain had
come to himself, and seeing the General lean.
ing against the balustrade, pale and covered
with blood, he made an effort to try and reach
him, pointing out to him, now too late, un-
happily, how inprudent it was to 30 about
without an escort.
But Kleber, gently, extending his hand to-
wards him, uttered:
My friend, this is not the moment to give
me advice; am very i'll :"
And he dropped dead.
The same day the soldiers found young
Arab concealed in the gardens belonging to
the French baths; his dress was stained with
blood in several places. At his feet dagger
was stuck in the sand, which was stained all
round by it. This Arab was of very dark
complexion; and fragile in make. When
brought before the military tribunal appointed
to examine him. he gave his name without
hesitation, Solcyman El-Kaleby, a native of
Syria, twenty.four years of age, writer by
profession, established at Alcppo
AS regarded the rest; he totally denied it
all. The General at the head Of the court
martial ordered him to be baStinadocd, accord
ing to the custom of the country.
After receiving it, he declared himself ready
to tell the truth; consequently he was once
more brought before the council of war
There he stated that he had been thirty. one
days at Cairo having come from Gaza OH
dromedary; that his sole purpose in coming
was to asSaSsinate the General, being sent for
tho accomplishment of The deed by the chief
Of the JanisSaries; for when the MuSSclman
troops returned from Egypt, they inquired at
Aleppo for some one who would kill the ten
cral, promising both money and military rank
to whomsocver would do it, and he had ac
ccpted.
In the presence Of the like acknOwledg.
mcntS, sentence, aS may readily be imagined,
was quickly pronounced, especially by court
martial.
Consequently, Soleyman El-kalcby, con-
victed of having aSsaSsinatcd the Gencral-in-
Chief, klcbcr, was condemned to have his
right hand burnt off, to be impaled, and left
there to die; and hang until the birds Of prey
should devour him.
This execution took place on the return of
the crowd which had followed the remains of
Keber to the cemetery, close to the institu-
ton, in presence of the army, in deep afliic-
ton, and a terrified population; for, accus-
toned to the sort of justice in practice with
the Pachas and the Beys, who make whole
city responsible for the crime Of ono man,
they could not suppose that the punishment
now would stop with the criminal.
AS regards Soleyman, ho was the perfect
Arab assassin, believing himselfthc one chosen
by fate for the purpose, and he walked for
ward to his execution without fear or osten-
tation, bu: firm and calm as a martyr.
When he arrived at the place Of execution,
his vest, which covered his breast, was re-
moved, and the hand held over the lighted
) brazier. The punishment had lasted Ave min
utes before the poor wretch uttered COM
plant, when lighted coal jumped from the
fire and fell on the inner part of his arm
For . moment all his resolution abandoned
him, and he struggled, screaming out for the
coal to hp removed