Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-01-13

Outs 4lAbCl Onlc luliu cuDlb CNCtluOQ1
went horne, and it SGs supposed that
the obelisk would have to be raised
higher, an operation which would re-
quire several days. As late as Friday
afternooni it was thought that this OPP
Grafton would be necessary. Conse-
quently Consul General Farman and
your correspondent took the express
train back to their homes in Cairo. At
a station two hours from Cairo a tele-
gram was received from Commander
Gorringe, saying that he could lower
the obelisk next morning. The return
train brought us back to Alexandria.
On the evening of the 9th Commander
Gorringe had found that by removing
q claw of one of the crabs and by de-
taching a small piece about the size Of
an egg from the base of the obelisk the
needle could be swung without any
difficulty. 1t was simply the jamming
OF this claw between a protecting piece
of the base and the pedestal which had
caused all the trouble on Thursday,
and now these obstacles were speedily
removed.
A TUssLE WITH THE oBELIsK.
AT 8 o'clock Saturday morning the
visitors were again assembled to see
the Yankees have another tussle
with the obelish," as the BitisherS ex-
pressed it. Everybody was present
except the governor Of Alexandria.
who probably thought that as he had
waited a long time on Thursday for
the obelisk, the obelisk might now
wait for him. His Excellency arrived
at 1890, and just as he was ushered to
his seat the base of the needle was
pushed by means of hydraulic jacks.
A slight pull on the rope attached to
the top of the needle, and the huge
mass Of granite turned slowly upon its
axis. AS soon as the obelisk reached
an angle of forty-fve degrees, its top
end fell swiftly upon the pile OF tim
Der built to catch it. 1t rebounded
from the pile about five feet. A sec
ond rebound of few inches, and it
crme to rest in a horizontal position,
amid the hearty cheers Of all present,
and Commander Gorringe and Lieut..
Schroeder were most warmly con-
graduated upon their success. The
obelisk at this stage was supported by
the pile of timber under the top end
and by its trunnions, which, as before
explained, are placed at a point a little
below the center of gravity of the
obelisk. AT the present writing the
Needle rests upon the two piles of
timber-one under each end-and the
machinery is being removed. The next
important step will be the removal Of
the pedestal, which will be effected BY
simply rolling it over into a hole dug
for it, so as not to prevent the joining
of the two sections of the float or case,
The launching of the Needle on this
float can not take place before q
month. For, besides the work of con.
structing the float, rocks must be re.
moved for a considerable distance
from the shore, so as to give a sufi
cient depth of water for a successful
launch.
CONDUCT OF THE ALEXANDRINEs.
Previous to the success of Comman.
der Gorringe and his partyin lowering
the Obelisk, the conduct Of the Alex.
andrines had not been conducive tC
render their stay in Alexandria an
agreeable one. Scarcely a day passed
but Commander Gorringe was inform
ed that he was engaged In an act O
vandalism and that he had no right
to be there. A stream of irritating
remarks and squibs from the loca.
press were let loose upon the com
mander and his four countrymen
The Young Egypt, which published
some exceedingly violent articles about
the removal of the Obelisk. and whose
editor opened a subscription for the
tombstone" to be placed where thu
obelisk once stood, has been suppress
ed by order of the Khedive; but unit
last Saturdaythe feeling in Alexandra
has been very bitter. The continue
manifestation of this bitter feeling in.
duced the Russian admiral, Aslanbe
gof, to offer the services of his officer!
and men at the ceremony of lowering
the needle.
INTERNATIONAL COURTEsIEs.
The admiral told Consdl Genera
Farman and Commander Gorringe thar
unless he received a point blank re.
fusal he should insist upon his officer,
and men being present. "0f course
said the admiral, you can get plent,
of men to keep the ground and do al
the mercenary work by hiring them il
the city but we are all aware of the
state of feeling here, and l mos
earnestly entreat you not to let sucl
an opportunity pass without according
to the Russian navy the privilege o
m~anlfesting the kindest wishes TOWARD
the United States" The result wa
that the grounds were kept by a guarC
Of honor from the flagship Minnie
and all the Russian officers wer,
present.
The Alexandrines are a volatile
people, and since they were surprised
into a hearty cheer at seeing tn,
obelisk turned over so skilliully the,
are in much better spirits. They
have now heard so much about tn,
Obelisk that they are getting tired o
it. At a mask ball the other day
mask appeared as the Cleopatra
needle, with a huge American postag,
stamp on one Of its faces. This fac
sufficiently explains the the presen
situation here.
The Desouk, the steamer whicl
commander Gorringe has purchased t,
transport the Needle, is 1,160 ton
register and carries about 1000 tons
She was Built in England and bough
by the Egyptian Government while OF
the stocks. She is not fast, but i