Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-07-29
Trouble with the ObeIrsk.

Trouble With the Obelfsk.
Commander Gorringe, in charge OF
the vessel which brought Cleopatra s
needle from Alexandria, Egypt, TO New
York, had considerable trouble in get
ting away with the khedive's present
ssI would rather" he said, when pressed
for a description of the fight he was
compelled TO make at Alexandria before
and after the removal of the monolith
from its long occupied site, 60 drop a
curtain over that entire affair / hate
| to think that there are in this world so
many picayune and disagreeable people
as those who opposed my work in Alex
andria. / desire, howev err" he added,
"to give to the American consular agent
at AIexandria-C Constantine M. Salvage,
Greek merchant of that city-the
credit and praise that is due to him for
his share in the enterprise. But for his
influence among the merchants of Al
exandria, which was constantly ex-
erted in my behalf. l fear we would
have had much more serious trouble
than befell u.s."
"What was the nature or form of the
| opposition to your removal OF the obe-
| liskP" asked the reporter.
"Oh, it took dozen different forms,
replied the lieutenant. "The Egyp-
| tians themselves were, L think, well
| pleased with the gift of the khedive to
the great country of the United States,
for which country they have unquali-
| fed and unbounded respect and admir- a.
ton, but the population of Alexandria
consists in a very limited degree OF Egyp-
tians. 1t is made up of Greeks and Eng
| lishmen. Italians and Frenchmen, and
| Syrian Jews. The latter were most Bit
Ter in their objection to the removal of
| the needle"
s'For what reason p''asked the reporter.
"Ah," replied Commander Gorringe,
"that is just what would like to know.
For no reason apparently beyond The
reason entertained by the famous dog
who made a resting-place in the manger.
really do not know why it was, but
there was certainly at first very gem
eral opposition on the part of the for
eigners at Alexandria (who, by the way,
pay no taxes, being under consular
jurisdiction) to any disturbance of the
obelisk. All of sudden they were
seized with the deepest and liveliest in
terest in the ancient monument, which
for years had stood neglected in the out
skirts of the city near the Ramleh depot.
obelisk should not be removed. | was
told by friend that sort Of society
had been formed for the purpose of op-
posing the removal by force. imagine,
| however, that there was never yery
much backbone to that society. At all
events, told my informant that in my
humble opinion it would be poor policy
and exceedingly dangerous for those
young gentlemen of Alexandria to at
tempt force, and they, on reflection,
seemed to arrive at the same conclu-
sion."
We're there any threats of personal
violence against yourself?" asked the
reporter.
Commander Gorringe shrugged his
shoulders and ans wered with doubtful
sort of s'no" He admitted, how
ever, that while walking in the
bourse one morning he was loudly
hissed.
"What did you doP" asked the re-
porter.
81 deliberately retraced my steps,
was the reply, and the Kissing
stopped"
A forcible detention of the obelisk
having been decided to be at too
great risk, the foreign population of
Alexandria next attempted to clog his
work with legal barriers. AL sorts oil
injunctions and stop papers were issued
| by the mixed courts of the city. One
man made affidavit-or whatever is the
Egyptian equivalent of that process
that the removal of the obelisk would
seriously endanger the stability of his
house. 1t being shown that the gentle
mans house was not nearer than 2l2
| yards from the base of the monument,
| his complaint was thrown out of court
The next step taken to impede the pro-
| gress of the removal came in the form
of sort of combination which seemed
| to have been formed for tie sole and
express purpose of cheating the Ameri.
can commander. 1t was with the ut
| most difficulty that he could make the
! slightest purchase without being cheated
and defrauded. "I really do not know,
said Commander Gorringe, why / am
rehearsing all this that is past and gone
I assure you would much sooner for.
get all about it,
:" But the opposition to your work
did not continue to the last, did itP'
asked the reporter.
In some quarters-yes, was the re-
ply, but not as common thing"
When you first removed the stone
from the perpendicular, was there any
demonstration of disapprovalpn
"There was an immense crowd as.
sembled, but the intense and universe
curiosity with which the process wa;
| regarded seemed to preclude all othel
feelings. You remember we made The
first attempt to lower the obeIisk on De
Gem Der 8, two days before it actually
was lowered. Well, on that & asiol
the Russian admiral sent guard Il sol
diers to see that the work was not inter
fered with Hence, you see, he feared
trouble if nobody else did,"
A Lads Suicide.