Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-01-03
An Incident Of Gen. McCleIlan's Nile
Trip.
From Scribner for January.

AS an instance of the dread inspired
by the authorities, l will mention a cir.
cumstanoe that occurred to us Be
tween Gebel ell Tayr and Minieh, W.
were sailing rapidly, with q strong north
wind that made the river very rough
when Achmet called me to the deck
The river in front was covered with
native vessels, and some four or five
hundred yards ahead was group float
ing down the river, standing on ane
cllnglng to something just below the
surface. AS some native boats were
close to these people, and heading
toward them, We did not doubt that they
would relieve them, when, to our sur
prise and horror, they passed on with.
out an effort to aid them, and the poo1
wretches foated past, shrieking and
imploring help. OF course, we at once
let go the sheet, and sent our sandal
after the drowning men. Our sandal
and that Of the "Zarifa" succeeded in
rescuing all, after they had
f1oated down about a mile
further, and we soon had them
on board. There were thirteen, OF
various colors and conditions, among
them woman. They had been three
hours in the water, and were nearly
dead with cold and fright. From al
that we could learn, more than that
number had persisted before we saw
them. Some of them were merchants
en- route to Cairo to make purchases
and, in their alarm, had thrown away
considerable sums of money. Our sail
ors were very prompt in saving them,
and when we had them on board, were
as kind as possible in giving then food
drying their clothes, etc. Scores of
native boats must have passed close by
them without an attempt at rescue,
Soon after they were safely on our
boat, Achmet told me That the crew
were anxious that [ should shield them
from any harm for their good action,
Naturally was astonished, when it at
length appeared that the cause of an.
prehension was the same that had pre-
vented the native boats from render
ing assistance. 1t was the fear that
had any persisted, al who took part in
the deliverance would be thrown into
prison as Witnesses; and once get a
man into prison, no matter for what
cause, his chances Of egress are faint
indeed. The fear of the authorities is
so great, that these naturally
kind hearted men will see a fellow
creature die rather than incur the risk
of saving him. 1t appeared that the
woman had been to Minieh to visit her
son, q mere lad, who was in prison.
Her story was, that the sheik of her
village had given him some other order
which he had forgotten to execute,
whereupon, as the readiest method of
improving his memory for the future,
the sheik choked him until he fell
senseless. Therefore, his numerous
brothers and sisters, thinking him
dead, howled as only orientals can; so,
by way of teaching the family not to
make a fuss about trifes, the sheik
sent the boy to prison for two months.
When the governor Of Minieh called in
the evening, and expressed his thanks
for the rescue of the people, I asked
the favor of the boys release, pro-
vided the mothers story were true.
Next day he was released, and I was
informed that his sentence of two
months imprisonment had been for
feigning death!