The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-28
Great Britain Carrie Out It's
Threat of 3 Rombardment.
THE SULTAN PUT TO FLIGHT
Usurping Chieftain Refused to
Haul Down His Flag.
SOUGHT GERMAN PROTECTION
The Fighting Lasted Only Three Hours
and Order Has Already Been
Restored in the South
African Port.

African FOFts
Zanzibar, August 27.-The palace of
the Sultan of Zanzibar was bombarded
this morning and at noon was mass
of blazing ruin. 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
remain under the protection of the
German flag.
As cabled exclusively to the Asso-
ciated Press, Rear Admiral Henry Raw
son, C. b., in command of the British
Consul General, Mr.. A. III. Hardinge,
C. B., after holding a'conference yester-
day communicated by cable to the gov
4ernment of Great Britain an outline
of the situation of affairs here, setting
forth that Said Khalid, 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 posi-
lively refused to surrender.Said Khalid
had with him at that time about 1880
well-armed and well-disciplined men,
including 900 Askaris, who have been
trained under the British officers,
plenty of ammunition and a number
of field guns and other pieces of artil-
lery which were trained on the
British warships. The latter, with the
re-inforcements which arrived yester-
day, were:
The flagship st. George; the third
class cruiser, Philomel; the third-class
cruiser, Racoon; the first-class gun
boats Sparrow and Thrush.
INSTRUCTIONS FROM LONDON.
Later In the day cabled instructions
were received from London and another
conference was held between the Ad-
miral and the Consul General, and
eventually an ultimatum was sent to
Said Khalid ordering him to haul down
his flag and surrender with his force
not later than o'clock this morning.
At the same time the British residents
of Zanzibar were notified to be on
board of Admiral Rawson's ship by s
o'clock
During the past night there were
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
Britain. 1t is understood, however,
that Said Khalid received further re-
nforcements from the slave dealers
who focked to his support, as the
formal hosting of the British flag over
Zanzibar would mean the liberation of
about 250,000 slaves and a death blow
to slavery in this port of East Africa.
By s o'clock, the British subjects,
numbering about 100 persons, and a
number of other foreigners haj EN-
barked on board the warship: the Ital
ians going on board the Italian gun
boat Volturno, and the Germans seek
ing safety at the German consulate
Shortly after o'clock naval officer
was sent to the palace square with a
message for Said Khalid, asking him if
he was prepared to surrender in ac-
cordance with the terms of the ulti-
matum, and again notifying him that
the palace in which he had barricaded
himself would be bombarded promptly
at o'clock, if he failed to haul down
his flag before that time. AS before
Said Khalid said he would die sooner
than surrender. His answer was CON
yeyed to Admiral Rawson and the Brit
lsh Consul General, and the crews Of
the ships which had been prepared
for action the day before were sent to
quarters.
THE FIGHTING COMMENCED.
At o'clock the flagship signalled
the Racoon, Thrush and Sparrow to
commence firing and a moment later
the cruiser mentioned and the two
gunboats referred to opened fire with
their heavier guns and ten minutes
later they had sent storm OF she'll
and shot into the palace, tearing blg
gaps in it, scattering death and confu-
sion among it's defenders while dis
mounting some of the guns ashore and
putting to flight the gunners handling
the pieces. The fire of the warshlps
was admirably directed, tnd smoke was
soon seen to be issuing from several
parts of the palace. During this time
the st. Georgs and the Philomel were
held in reserve, although they occa-
sionally pumped a shell into the enc
mys camp, adding to the dismay of its
dc tenders.
The Racoon, Thrush and Sparrow
kept up the bombardment until $50,
when the palace was tumblng in ruins
and large rents had been made in the
barricades of Said's followers.
The latter, however, answered the
fire Of the warships with great persis-
tency and gallantry and did not stop
firing until. in response to the flag
Ships signal of cease firing" the guns
of the warships stopped show6ring
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 Sui
fans armed steamer GlaSoow oneuad