The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-14
Corresponding. New York Herald !

| ful results, one cannot help but think that a
higher power controlled the beings in aud around
Magdala The prisoners have safely passed a
most critical period, and they may well bow their
heads in thankiulness that they are alive and free
lheodorus the last day Of his life, was almost de.
| voured with rage at his own folly in permitting
ihe prisoners TO csc pc when his own death was
as he thought, determined upon. His cOuaselors
| and generals upbraided him for his folly and
| chicken-heart. Why not make the Fernghee
food for the jackal as well the people of your
| own racer" said the vindictive Ros Aytoo, his
friend and privy counselor. "You have fed and
kept them for four years in the best houses with
servants to attend them. Your own people vou
have slain with the greatest satisfaction. Why
net the people whom the English Negus has come
10 claim! He will slay you like dog, and your
body he viii cast to the dogs. Take fitting re-
yenge while there Is time"
Happily for the foreign captives in Theodorus's
power the king turned deaf ear to his remon-
suanees, with the evident expectation that the
safety and well-being of the captiVes would ult
mstely prove his own salvation. In this he was
doomed to disappointment, for the English
Negus" considered his work but half accom-
pllshed with TheOdorus still in power and Mag
dala as proud and defiant as ever in her apparent
iDsccessibillty. The demand for their surrender
with assurances OF honorable treatment for him.
self, was what Iheodorus could not brook, and be
did not even reply to II, though he still harborei
thoughts of reconciliation; and, ssnguine of his
proves, he hoped to rebuild his hitherto waning
fortunes. Building up hopes, on Rassam's pro-
iessioDs Of friendship, TO be pardoned past
Cfitnces he sent one thousand bullOck5 and five
hundred sheep to the English camp, with a letter,
Ia Which be stated that the day being Good Friday
all good Christians should eat, but that be took
great pleasure IN providing them with meat.
These cattle were firmly refused by Sir Robert
Napler, who stated that he could not accept any.
Ting from the kings hands until his demands had
been complied with.
The rumor that Theodorus had fed to Gojam
caused the English commander in-chief to hasten
rnor md fha xuaa Eaf hafnr
ing Msgdala had fallen into his hands. Theodorus
had died by his own hands and his army dis
armed and disbanded, with no casualties on the
English side. The cruelty and tyranny of Thee.
dOrus was never more apparent to US than when
we gsZed on the three huadred dead prisoners
piled one upon another at the bottom OF the cliff
with the hundreds of captive chieftains of EthiO.
pia, whom we found Ia chains awaiting their fate
with that calm resignation which four years of
captivity had taught them. We all realized then
the narrow escape OF the captiVes whom we had
come TO release, and 1t was with something akin to
wonder that we gazed upon them, assuring our.
selves thus that they really existed in tue flesh.
The dead king was buried 10 the chapel, Mag.
Gala was sacked and tie inhabitants driven away
ard in a few hours, with the exception of an
English garrison, not single soul was on this
dreaded Amba
Two days after orders were given that the fort
ress should be destroyed and burned, and to the
royal engineers, under the direction Of Capt.
Guodfellow, the task was assigned. Before they
commenced on the work of destruction your cor
respondent rode up to take fnal look at the
chamber Of horrors, the palaces, the harems, the
treasure houses, the church and other scenes of
interest within. At 3 o'clock P. N. on the 18th
inst. the Ihotusbun gate, commanding the south
err approach, was blown mp, aud as the engineers
retreated northwsrd each house was set on fire.
A strong easterly wind set in, which aided the
efforts ut destruction, and soon all Mlgdas was
in flames. Three thousand houses were burning.
shells we're bursting, magazines, loaded guns aud
pistols exploded and prOjectiles few in every
direction. II was perfect sea of fire set in the
heavens, the flames rolled Ia crimson waves far
over the cliffs, burning rafters like fiery swords
we're swept over the heights into the awful abyss
below, setting fire to the brushwOod on the slopes,
wi every green thing, even far down into the
valley.
There was trail of FIRE seen Fastening towards
Suuigini, each straw tent adding feel and extend
us us Angle GSSalley The sheep that browsed
the hills, the dogs that fingered on the threshold
OF their masters dwellings. the chickens about
going to roost, were all consumed by the fiery
waves that swept over the heights. The stencil
from the hOlocausts was frightiul. Over dive hun.
bred human bodies must have been consumed by
the surging mass Of fire which destroyed MRgdala
and the neighbOring villages. Even the church
wherein TheodOrus was buried, which Gen. Napier
had hoped to save, was also destroyed By the de-
vOuriDg element. The Gales and the people of
Shoa fastened to the edge of the plateau TO wit
ness the swift destruction thGt had oVertaken the
Amba and its garrison, that had 30 long defed
and held them at bay.
The next day two rival queens came in to offer
their congratulations at the success of the Eng-
lish and 10 speak their JOY at the death of the
Great Negus." These were but the prelimina.
res to the real object of their visits. In my last
telegram stated that Wagshun Gobazzs would
be crowned king of Abyssnis. The messenger
had been sent to him rendering the royal crown
to him, which was politely bat firmly refused.
While Dayoz Mucherba continued his operations
of watching the game between TheodOrus and
Napier, Gobazze instead OF proceeding on a
peaceful pilgrimage TO Gondar, was continuing
his victories from Debra Tabor 70 Gondar and
Lake Isans. He had fought three pitched battles,
had killed bis brother, TerrO Gobazze, and had
declared himself master Of all the provinces from
Dunahil. on the coast, to the Nile. Nov, one of
the prisoners released by US was a cousin OF Co
bszze, named Wagshum Deferi, who, next to
Theodorus, was the most gifted TO assume regal
dignity. he is mid and humane in disposition
and has great military tact and genius. BE is the
rghtful prince of LaTta, and though Gobazze is a
ufurper Deferi is determined to uphold him in his
dignity.
When Gobszze heard from the messenger sent
by Napier that TbeOdOrus was dead his ~ was
excessive, and he presented him with one hundred
dollars.
To the offer of a crown and possession Of the
amba OF Magdala he returned answer that he had
yet managed to eude Tbeodorus and escape
captivity, and now that the king was dead he did
not wish to be made prisoner by his own will,
for if be once took possession of Nsgdala he
could never leave il, as it would be surrounded by
the Galss, and without Theodorus's cannon Mag
dala would be IN encumbrance TO him.
Having received bis answer the messenger de.
parted from GobaZZe's camp, and arrived the same
day that the two queens presented their claims for
the smba. One of these claimants was Walkait,
queen regent of the AsubO Calais, who reigDed
only during the minority Of her niece the other
was Queen Mustebat, sovereign Of the WOo
CALAIS. Mustebat's claims were good, pre-
sented as they were by charming woman,
clad in all the regal magnifcence OF a sOyer
eign, supported by most loyal subjects. Walkait
retired TO her own country 70 nurse her Jealousy
Of her rival, surrounded by hundreds of her best
soldiers dressed in all the fantastic notions Of bar
barous minds, while Mustebat; all smiles and gen.
uine triumph, was most royalty entertained by
the victorious English general. A silk tent, for
morly the property OF his majesty. King Iheodo-
rus, was pitched, wherein she and her young son
were lodged. Napief's cooks were busy preparing
dsinties and recherche meals 10 which she was
total stranger, but which called forth her warm
$50 4Hv,ar - an frtr