The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1894-04-13
A FIGHT WITH ARABS
A TERRIBLE AND BLOODY CONFLICT
ON THE RED SEA.

~ ~ LtODi tiG Ai-
tempt to Suppress the African Slave
Trade-It Reads ike a Leaf From a Nov
ell of Ocean Adventures
Captain Charles Beresford, a former
British officer, now in command of the
Mexican man-of-war Zaragossa, related
the following story to a reporter:
About five years ago. it matters not
the month or day, l was dispatched to
the eastern coast of Africa, on the Red
sea, to arrest TIE slave trade which at
that time was reported to be growing
to an alarming extent along the Abys-
sinian coast. The trade was carried on
between the Arabs and the natives Of
that country. The Arabs would san
across the sea in small vessels, which
were called dhows, would collect the
slaves from the chiefs of warlike tribes
and would return with them to Mocha,
which in times Of pilgrimage was the
greatest market for slaves on the orien-
tai coast.
Upon arriving in the waters infested
with the Arabs l established myself at
Che island of Perrin, near the outlet OF
the sea of the pharaohs. My vessel wa
a small steamer, and the number of the
crew was nine. In the island of Perrin
there was a harbor where the boat
could be concealed. 1t was my custom
to go out in small boats, as the Arabs
in their dhows could see the steamer
afar off and would make away before /
could catch them. In that manner we
succeeded in surprising a great many
and taking prisoners. 1t 500 became
difficult, however, to effect their cap
ture, as they began to operate with a
code of signals and to 60 in large num-
bers.
l circulated the report among the
Arabs that / had departed from the is
land and had returned to England.
That was done upon the arrival IN the
harbor of a large ship going from Bonn
bay to Liverpool. l requested the cap
tain Of the ship, and the permission was
granted, to allow me to hoist my cutter
on board his vessel. Succeeding in that,
we covered the small craft up, SO that
the Arab could not see it while we were
under sail. Arriving nearly opposite
Mocha, my vessel was lowered into the
water, but it was done under the cover
of the night. The following day saw
the sails of three dhows going in the. di-
rection of the slave trading city. My
report had brought the Arabs away
from the coast, with their dhows loaded
with human freight. We made straight
for the three boats, but they scattered
before we were near enough to commu-
nicate with them. Pursuing one, we
soon ran it down. AS we approached
the vessel the Arabs fired upon us, kill
ing one of our men. We returned the
sally with deadly effect, as u arms
were superior and our position better.
Stubborn resistance was offered, but we
made the contraband craft crew captive
and removing the rudder left her to float
until we could chase the others.
The second dhow was well loaded and
had perhaps 90 aboard as well as .25 or
80 captives to be sold into bondage. The
slaves were bound in the bottom of the
vessel. We were resisted, but did not
lose any of our men. We were obliged
to kill a number of the Arabs. AS |
placed three men in charge of this YES
sci / was left with four men to make the
attack on the largest dhow, which ap-
peared to be well loaded with Arabs and
slaves, the Arabs appearing to be we'll
armed. We steamed alongside of the
dhow and demanded their surrender,
but the demand was met with a deadly
fusillade, which killed two of our men,
for the Arabs were splendid marksmen.
We came up within a few feet of the
dhow while the conflict was raging.
The sea was rough. The vessels were
tossed against each other and were bad
ly shaken up. The fire soon ceased, for
the Arabs, who had muzzle loading
guns, had all fired a round and were not
in a position to reload their weapons.
At this ju%ncture 1 jumped aboard the
dhow. Along the edge of the vessel was
a walkway IS inches wide.
This was separated from the opening
in the hull where the slaves were bound
by a sort of banister 10 or 12 inches
high. In jumping aboard l missed my
footing. The vessel was tossed as /
sprang forward, and instead of landing
on its edge, as I intended, l went over
the banister and down amid the cap
tives. The fall made me insensible.
/ knew nothing. I cannot to this day
tell how long l lay unconscious amid the
bound Numidians and surrounded by
bloodthirsty and ~exasperated Arabs,
numbering perhaps a dozen. At last
regained consciousness. When opened
my eyes, one Of my men, who was a
brave, strong fellow, was standing ver
me slashing the Arabs with a cutlass to
the right and left. A half dozen of the
Arabs were lying about me, some dead
and others dying from the wounds in
f1icted by the terrible onslaught of the
young Britisher. My first thought was
to use my pistols. AS | pulled one from
my belt l looked up and saw an Arab
behind the young fellow, who was max
ing a brave effort to save my life, with
a drawn scimiter. He was in the very