, 1888-01-22
A %MOHAMMEDAN MOB.
ADVENTURES OF AMERICAN SAILORS
AT ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT.

the Bombardment by tho Vessels of
the English Fleet.
While lying at anchor off Alexandria dur
ing the few days previous to the lombard
ment of that city by the vessels of the En-
glish fleet under command Of Admiral Sey-
mour, several of our party who had never
seen the sights about the place decided to go
ashore, hire a carriage, and do the town as
thoroughly as the summers heat and an af-
ternoon would permit.
As we drove up from tho landing there
seemed to be q much larger crowd than
usual in the streets and much moro excite
ment thnn we expected. An employe of one
Of the stores at which we had been accus-
toned to deal, in fact the house to which we
were consigned, seeing our party, came run
ming toward our carriage to tell us that some
thing of an unusually serious character was
about TO happen, and that there was already
fighting in a neighboring street; that large
numbers of soldiers had recently come in
from tho country; that the best, and, in
fact, the only wise thing for us to do was to
return to our vessel. AS there was always
some sort of a street row going on we
thanked him for his kindness, told him that
thus far American had been comparatively
free from complications, and that as we had
come ashore to see the things of interest we
thought that we would keep on, particularly
rs our road lay outside of the city, where
we would be beyond the troubles that
caused such great excitement.
After looking at Pompey's Pillar and one
or two other places of more or less interest,
all of which are well described in the COM
plete guide to Alexandria and its surround
ings, we drove out to the Khedive's garden,
whero VIC intended to pass the remaining por-
ton of our stay ashore. We found quite q
number of officers, both American and Eng
fish, out at the garden, all in uniform, which
latterly they had been obliged to wear when
ever they came ashore, to guard against the
insults daily offered to foreigners, and here
for tho first time we had a comparatively
clear account of tho troubles which termi-
mated in the horrible butchery already going
on in the city. Later in the day several men
in the party at the Khedive's gardens that
beautiful summer afternoon, fell victims of
the mob. We decided that the best thing
now to be done was to jump into our car
riages, and, by taking the shortest route, en-
deavor to reach the landing, where we hoped
to find our boats.
Our carriage was fortunately not able to
leave until the party Of English officers had
started, and as we drew near the town it
was quito evident that We were in for some
thing very serious, and tho aspect was any
thing but pleasing aS the other carriages
passed into tho crowd of yelling and gesticu-
lating demons, through which they vainly
strovc to force their way, only to have their
occupants dragged from their seats and
butchered in cold blood. The few who cs-
capped found refuge in u guard house close
by, whcro they remained until after night
fail. As we drew up VIC were told by n man,
evidently interested in our well being, to
alight ut onco and follow him.. This time
Attenuation, n,y,,, - -,-r- - ,rl ,.,,,nf,r out
of our carriage, We ran after our new found
friend up a side street, and, after making a
turn or two, found ourselves at the side en-
trance Of tho building in which was the store
Of our business friend already alluded to,
the doors and windows OF which were al
ready carefully barricadcd. A few pound
ings on tho door resulted in u head being
cautiously put out Of n window up stairs,
and after it's owner was assured that the
party below was of a friendly disposition it
YVES withdrawn. In n few moments the bar
ricadeS wero removed and the door opened
Just far enough for us to squeeze through in
single file. After tho party had passed in the
house the door was again carefully secured,
and not q moment too soon, as O crowd of
yelling, hOOtinG, turbarIed Egyptians came
along carrying knives, firearms clubs and
weapons Of all sorts, who, had they caught
sight of us, would have made extremely short
work Of it, rs Death to the foreigners!''
xiii thcml kill themg' were the cries again
and again repeated.
As tho excitement became wilder and the
crowd moro unmanaGcable, our unpleasant
situation was all the more serious, for should
it become known that we We're in tho neigh
borhood our lives would not be worth the
toss of a penny. Great was our relief to see
u regiment of troops march into the square,
and to know that even il they could not ac-
complish much toward breaking up the mob,
they probably would prevent our house be-
ing broken into, as one of the members of
tho firm was related to an officer of the regi-
ment. Our only plan now was to wait until
q comparatively quiet time; then, watching
our opportunity, send our guides out to com
municate our predicament to this officer, and
ask his assistance. The guide at first de
clared he would not go, as should he be dis
covered leaving q barricaded house suspicion
would at once be fastened upon him as being
connected with a place in which there was
something that the mob was not allowed to
get hold of, and that his life would pay the
forfeit. 1t was not until threats and suppl
cations had been supplemented by brides that
he consented to DO lowered to the ground
from one of the back windows into the yard,
from which he was to pass through a door
way in the wall, through q vacant house In
the adjoining lot, and SO on by another street
to the square.
1t was long after dark when we heard him
rcturn. He told us that tho officer and three
trustworthy men would be on hand as soon
as they could be procured and tho street
sufficiently cleared for them to pass. Wo
wero directed to change our clothing for
such native garments us We could find, SO that
our passing through the streetssFould create
no additional disturbance, and we wero to
pass from the house by tho rear entrance to
another street than that on which our house
was situated, where we would find the car
riages waiting. 1t was after II O'Clock before
we heard the signal agreed upon to inform
us hat it was time to start, when, donning
our mufti, we were soon in the carriages,
and under escort of our guard passed without
trouble or adventure to the custom house.
Here we were in another trouble, as most
stringent orders had been given not TO allow
any boats to approach the landing, and it
began to look as II we should nave to remain
In our unpleasant situation tho remainder of
the night; but seeing our boat pulling toward
the landing, and assuring the customs officials
that wo were not English, at tho same tim
adding q liberal bestowal of that 'open