The herald., 1894-04-08
A FIGHT WITH ARABS
A TERRIBLE AND BLOODY CONFLICT
ON THE RED SEA.

eI of ocean Adventures.
Captain Charles Beresford, 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 OF day, was dispatched to
the eastern coast Of Africa, on the Red
sea, to arrest the 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 sail
across the sea in small vessels, which
were called dhows, would collect the
slaves from the chiefs of warliko 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 | 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 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 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.
/ 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 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 dbows 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 fred upon us, kill
ing one of our men. We returned the
sally with deadly effect, as our arms
were superior and our position better.
Stubborn resistance was offered, but we
made the contrabund craft crew captive,
and removing the rudder LETT her to float
until we could chase the others.
.4ad TdAasfGRd 81 b16dFd as llfPaasa Us SnT Or
30 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 ves-
eel 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 deadly
fusillade, which killed two of our men,
for the Arabs were splendid marksmen.
We came up within few feet Of the
dhow while tho 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 fireda round and were not
in a position to reload their weapons.
At this juncture 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 sort of banister 10 or 10 inches
high. In jumping aboard l missed my
footing. The vessel was tossed as I
sprang forward, and instead of landing
on its edge, as intended, went over
the banister and down amid the cap
tives. The fall made me insensible.
| knew nothing. cannot to this day
tell how long lay unconscious amid the
bound Numidians and surrounded by
bloodthirsty and iexasperated Arabs,
numbering perhaps a dozen. At last /
regained consciousness. When Iopened |
my eyes, one of my men, who was |
brave, strong fellow, was standing over
me slashing the Arabs with 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
fiicted by the terrible onslaught of the
young Britisher. My first thought was
TO use my pistols. AS pulled one from
my belt looked up and saw an Arab
behind the young fellow, who was MAX
ing brave effort to save my life, with
drawn scimiter. He was in the very
act OF killing the boatswain when |
fired between the knees Of the latter and
killed the Arab. Between. Us we made
short work of the others. Itwasa grear
slaughter; but. toibe.snre, it was one OF
/ reservation. We returned to the others,
and binding the Arabs mado ourway to
Perrin. The slaves were sert back to
their people. AS result of my fall
injured my spino and was carried to
England, where lay upon my back, un-
able to move and undergoing the great
eet agony, for two long and weary years.
= Navy OrIaano D;c...,re