The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-28
A FIGHT WITH ARABS
A TERRIBLE AND BLOODY CONFLICT
ON THE RED SEA.

A Chapter of Experiences From the At
temps to Suppress the African Slave
Trade-1t Reads Like IA Leaf From a Nov
al OF Ocean Adventures.
Captain Charles Beresford, former
British officer, now in command of the
Mexican man-of-war Zaragossa, related
the following story to IL reporter:
About five years ago. it matters not
tho month or day, l WAS dispatched to
tho eastern coast of Africa on the Red
sea, to arrest tho slave trade which at
that timo was reported to be growing
to an alarming extent along the Abys-
sinian coast. Tho trade was carried on
between the Arabs and tho natives of
that country. Tho Arabs would sail
ACROSS tho sea in small vessels, which
were called dhows, would collect the
slaves from the chiefs of warlke tribes
and would return with them to Mocha,
which in times of pilgrimage was tho
greatest market for slaves OH the orien-
tai coast
Upon arriving in the waters infested
with the Arabs established myself at
the island of Perrin, near the outlet of
the sea of the pharaohs. My vessel was
a small steamer, and the number of the
crew was nine. In tho island Of Perrin
there was a harbor where tho 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 l
could catch them. In that manner we
succeeded III surprising great many
and taking prisoners. 1t soon became
difficult, however, to effect their cap
ture, as they began to operate with "a
code of signals and to go in large num-
bers.
l circulated tho report among the
Arabs that had departed from the is
land and had returned to England.
That WIS 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,
wo covered the small craft up, SO that
the Arab could not see it while we were
under sail. Arriving nearly opposite
water, but it was done under the cover
of the night. Tho following day saw
the sails of three dhows going in the iii
rection of the slave trading city. Ny
report had brought the Arabs AWAY
from the coast, with their tlhowS load, Q
with human freight We made straight
for the three boats, but they scattered
before we were near enough To conmu-
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
sallyowith deadly effect, as our arms
were superior and our position better.
Stubborn resistance was offered, but we
made tho contraband craft crew captive
and removing the ruddcr left her to float
until we could chase the others.
The second dhow was we'll loaded and
had perhaps 20 aboard as well us % or
80 captivcs to he sold into bondage The
slaves were bound III the bottom of the
vessel. We were resisted, but did not
lose any of our men. We wcro obliged
to kill number of tho Arabs. AS
placed three men in charge of this vcs-
sci was left with four men to make the
attack on the largest dhow, which APP
pearcd to be well loaded with Arabs aud
slaves, the Arabs appearing to be well
armed. We steamed alongside of the
dhow and demanded their surrender,
but the demand was met with Il deadly
fusillade, which killed two of our men,
for the Arabs were splendid marksmen.
We came up within IL few feet of the
dhow Will the conflict was raging.
The sea was rough. Tho vessels were
tossed against each other and Wcrc bad
ly shaken up. The fire soon ceased, for
the Arabs, who had muzzle loading
guns, had all fired Il round and we're not
i'll a position to reload their weapons.
at this Juncturo | jumped aboard the
dhow. Along tho edge of the vessel was
walkway s inches wide.
This was separated from the opening
i'll the hull where the slaves were bound
by q sort of banistcr 10 or IL inches
high. In jumping aboard missed my
footing. The vessel was tossed rs
sprang forward, and instead Of landing
on its edge, as | intended, went over
the banister and down amid the cap
tives. Tho fail made me insensible.
[ knew nothing. cannot to this day
tell how long lay unconscious amid the
bound Numidans 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 IA
brave, strong fellow, was standing over
me slashing the Arabs with cutlass to
the right sald left. a half dozen of the
Arabs were lying about me, some dead