The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-08-27
SHELLED BY
THE BRITISH.
Palace of Sultan Of Zanzibar
Is BOmbarded.
Reduced to Blazing Ruins BY
British War Ships.
RAIN SHOT AND SHELL
Ships and Forces of Sultan Make
Feeble Resistance.
The Sultan Flees and British
Hold the Town.

Copyrighted. 1896, by Associated Press.)
Zanzibar, Aug. 27-The palace of the
Sultan of Zanzibar was bombarded
this morning, and at noon was mass
of blazing ruins. The usurping chief
tain. said Khalid and the commander
of his forces, Said Sales, succeeded in
escaping to the German consulate.
where they have sought refuge and re-
main under the protection of the Ger
man flag.
Rear Admiral Henry Rawson, G. B.,
in command of the British Cape of
Good Hope and West Coast of Africa
station, and the British consul general
Mr.. A H. Harding, c. b, after hold
ing a conference yesterday, cOmmuni-
Gated by cable to the government Of
Great Britain an outline of the situa-
tion of affairs here, setting forth that
Said KhaIid, who seized the palace and
proclaimed himself sultan on the
death, apparently by poison, of Sultan
Hamed Bin Thwain Bin Said, had been
strongly reinforced and positively re-
fused to surrender.
Said Khalid had with him at that
time about $500 we'll 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, with reinfOrcments which
arrived yesterday We're: The flagship,
St. George; the third class cruiser,
PhilOmen; the third class cruiser, Rae
coon; the third class gunbOats, Spar
row, and Thrush. Later in the day
cabled instructions We're received from
London and another conference was
held between the admiral and consul
general and eventually an uItimatum
was sent to Said Kha.lid ordering him
to haul down his flag and surrender
with his forces not later than o'clock
this morning. At the same time the
British residents of Zanzibar were no.
titled to be on board Admiral Rawson's
ships by o'clock.
During the past night there were a
number of disturbances among the ma
tives in the outskirts of the town. but
they were promptly suppressed by the
$50 British marines and sailors, who
had been landed to protect property
and guard the consulate of Great Brit
ain. It is understood, however. that
Said Khalid received further reinforce
ments from the slave dealers, who
hOcked to his support, as the formal
hOisting of the British flag over Zanzi-
bar would mean the liberation of about
250,000 slaves and death blow to slav.
cry in this part of east Africa.
By o'clock the British subjects,
numbering about 100 people and a num-
ber of other foreigners had embarked
on board the Warships, the Italians GO
ing on board the italian gunboat. Vol
turno, and Germans seeking safety at
the German consulate.
Shortly befOr 9 o'clock a naval Off
Ger was sent to the palace square with
another message for Said KhaIid ask
Ing him if he was prepared to surren-
der in accordance with the terms of the
uItlmatum and again notifying him
that the palace in which he had been
barricaded would be shelled at 9
O'Clock promptly if he failed to haul
down his flag before that time. As be-
fore, Said KhaHd replied that he would
die sooner than surrender. His an
swer was conveyed to Admiral Paw
son and the British consul general and
the crews Of the ships, which had been
prepared for action the day before.
We're sent to quarters
At O'Clock the flag ship signalled
the Raceoon. Thrush and Sparrow to
commence firing and a moment later
the cruiser mentioned and fbe 10 60,
poats referred to, opened fire with their
heaviest guns, and ten miDrts later
sAsJ llebu sent a storm OF she'll and shot
INTO the palace, tearing big gaps in it
scattering death and confusion amOne
Its defenders, while dismountiner some
OF the guns ashore and putting to 7igbt
the gunners handling the pieces. The
nre OF the war ships was aduirs bIy
dlrecIed and smoke was soon seen r.
De issuing from several parts of fbe
palace During this time the St
george and the PhilOmen were held in
reserve, although they occasiona 11T
pumped a shell into the enemies ca mn
adding to the dismay of its defenders
Inc RaccOOn, Thrush and SDarrOy1
kept up the bombardment until q.5O
when the palace was tumbling in ruins
and large rents had been made in the
Darrlcade of Said's followers. The LAT.
ter however, answered the fire of the
war ships with great persistencv anf
saIIahtry and did not stop firing unit
IA response to the fagship's signal OF
Ease nf1ng, the guns of the wal
LIPS stopped showering shot and shell
ashore The losses of the enemy arr
not known, but must have been 5eaT-IS "
especially among the defenders of The
palace proper.
Dur1ng the bombardment the e771
5ah armed steamer Glasgow oDenaf
uIS on the British war ships but > fev
MSL aimed ShOts from the heavy e77r,
OF the Raccoon and a. shot or two fro-r
me TOUR men guns of the Snare "
Erdshed through and through her si
lenceQ her nre in short order aD5 ,,74i
mately sank her at her rooori-C Ni u
Soon after the palace caught f{ra o,,t
Ine WaIls and roof were sent aviDS
mere and there by the shells of tba We
snlps- said khalid and Said Sales ~,
latter being the commander IF tf,e -.
ISIS sultan army, escaped with =,