Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-09-03
SHELLED A PALACE.
British ouNBoATs eoMsARn
ZANZIBAR
Usnrpiug euItan Said KshIid and HE
Followers Driven Ont By storm OF
ldissiles end Fire-His Gunbost Sank
-Fugitives Hemmed I'm.


Ulttmatum Hacked d. HOrces
The palace of the Sultan of Zanzibar
was bombarded by tho British Thursday
morning and mt noon was mass OF bax-
ing ruins. The usurping chieftain, Said
Kahlid, and the commander of his forces,
Said Sales, succeeded In escaping to the
German consulate, where they have
sought refuge and remain under the pro-
lection of the German flag.
Said Khalid seized the palace and pro-
claimed himself sultan on the death Of
Sultan Hamcd Bin Thsaid Bin Said, and
had been strongly re-enforced and posi-
lively refused to surrender Said khalid
had with him at that time about $500 well
armed and well disciplined men, including
900 Askaris, who have been trained under
British officers. plenty of ammunition and
number of field guns and other pieces
of artillery which were trained on. the
British warships. The latter were: The
flagship ST. George, the third-class cruiser
Philomen, the third-class cruiser Rae
coon and the Grst-class gunboats Sparrow
and Thrush.
Wednesday cabled instructions from
London announced an ultimatum TO Said
Khalid. r.He was ordered to haul down
his flag and surrender with his force no
later than o o'clock Thursday morning.
1t is understood that Said Khalid re-
ceived re-enforcements from the slave
dealers who focked to his support, as the
formal hosting of the British tag over
Zanzibar would mean the liberation OF
about 100000 slaves and a deathb!ow to
slavery in that part of East Africa.
Shortly before o o'clock nava! officer
was sent to the palace with another mes
e. Cat IN, hQ
was prepared to surrender. Said replied
that he would die sooner than surrender.
Warships Begin to Fire.
At 0 O'Clock the Thrush and Sparrow
and two gunboats opened fire with their
heaviest guns and ten minutes later they
had sent storm of shell and shot into
the palace, tearing big gaps in it. scatter
ing death and confusion among its de-
tenders, while dismounting some of the
guns ashore and putting to fight the gun
ners handling the pieces. The fire Of the
warships was admirably directed and
smoke was soon seen to be issuing from
several parts of the palace
Said's followers answered the fire of the
warships with great persistency and gal
lantry and did not stop firing until, in re-
Spouse to the flagship's signal of cease
showering shot and shell ashore. The
losses of the enemy are not known. but
must have been heavy, especially among
the defenders Of the palace proper.
During the bombardment the Sultan's
armed steamer Glasgow opened fire on
the British warshps, but few well-aimed
shells from the heavy guns of the Raccoon
and shot or two from the four-inch guns
Of the Sparrow crashed through and
through her, silenced her fire in short
order and ultimately sank her at her
mornings. Soon after the palace caught
fire and the walls and roof were sent fly
ing here and there by the shells of the
warships. Said Khalid and Said Sales,
the latter being the commander of the
usurping Sultan's army, escaped with
number Of their leading followers through
the back part of the palace and hurriedly
made their way to the German consulate,
where they asked for protection, which
was accorded them.
Admiral Rawson, in order TO prevent
the escape of Said Khalid and his follow
ers to the mainland of Africa. where their
presence would undoubtedly have caused
trouble with the slave leaders and their
adherents, sent detachments of marines,
bluejackets and local Zanzibaris 10 occupy
all the roads and avenues Of escape, thus
hemming in the enemy pretty effectually.
although many escaped to the mainland
and islands in dows.
A dispatch received at London from
Admiral Rawson, dated Zanzibar, 2:45
p. m. Thursday, says. II issued an ulti-
matum at o'clock this morning calling
upon the usurper to haul down his flag
and surrender to me, and directing his
followers to pile their arms and leave the
palace before D o'clock, or otherwise IL
would be bombarded. Instead of comply
ing. he commenced increasing his fortif-
cations, and his corvette trained her guns
| on my squadron. i opened fire ut . on the
palace and on the corvette, which prompt
ly replied. l ceased firing Mt 0:4O, when
the corvette was sunk, all the guns were
silenced and the usurpers yielded to the
German consul. Hamoud has been ap-
pointed sultan. The enemy's loss was
heavy. Only a petty officer of the gun
boat Thrush was wounded"
Before the bombardment all foreign,
residents had sought safety either on the
British boats or at their respective lega.
fsnxs