Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-09-02
lombard ZANZIBAR.
Usurping Chieftain Refusing to
Surrender, British Ships
Open Fire.

copyright, 1896, by the 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 chieftain,
Said Ahalid, and the commander Of his
forces, Sales, succeeded in escaping to
the German consulate, where they have
sought refuge and remain under the pro-
lection of the German flag.
Shortly before o'clock a naval officer
was sent to the palace square with an
other message for Said Khaid asking
him if he was prepared to surrender IN
accordance with the terms of the ultl-
matum and again notifying him that the
palace in which he had barricaded him
self would be shelled at 9 o'clock prompt
ly if he failed to haul down his flag be-
fore that time. AS before, Said replied
that lie would die sooner than surrender.
His answer was conveyed to Admiral
Rawson and the British consul-general
and the crews of the ships which had
been prepared for action today before.
were sent to quarters.
Warships Open Fire.
At o'clock the flagship signalled the
Raccoon Thrush and Sparrow to COM
mence firing and a moment later the
cruiser mentioned and the two gunboats
referred to opened fire with their heaVl-
est guns and ten minutes later they had
sent a storm of shell and shot into the
palace, tearing big gaps in it, scattering
death and confusion among its defenders
while dismounting some Of the guns
ashore and putting to flight the gunners
handling the pieces. The fire of the war
ships was admirably directed and smoke
was soon seen to be issuing from sew
eral parts Of the palace: During this
time the st. George and Phi1omen were
L. MI nh how
ally pumped a shell into the enemies
camp, adding to the dismay of its de-
tenders.
The Raccoon, Thrush and Sparrow kept
ND the bombardment until $50, when
the palace was tumbling in ruins and
large rents had been made in the barri-
cades of Said's followers. The latter,
| however, answered the fire of the war
ships with great persistency and gal
| lantry and did not stop firing until, in
| response to the f1agship's signal of "cease
| firing" the guns Of the warships stopped
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 warships, but a few well
! aimed shells from the heavy guns of the
Raccoon and a 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.
Palace Catches Fire.
| Soon after the palace caught fire and
| the walls and roof were sent flying 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.
Insurgents Are CorraIIed.
When the insurgents had been COM
| PEELED to lay down their arms and were
securely corralled by the marines and
| try to eXtinguish the flames in the pa
ace and in the old custom house, which
| had also been shelled and set on fire, as
the insurgents had fortified it and had
| to be driven from the building. But
at noon, in spite of the efforts of the
sailors to eXtinguish the flames, the
palace was a lass of blazing ruins, the
old custom house was in ashes and
number of other buildings in the woods
were set afre by the exploding shells in
the ruins. No casualties are reported
among the British ashore, and though
all business naturally is at a standstill
order will be completely restored before
nlghtfall and the foreign residents Will
be able to return to their residences
ashore
Zanzibar, Aug 2S.-The crisis here is
regarded as ended. The new Sultan,
Hamoud Bin Mohammed Bin Said, is
| expected to follow the peaceful lines Of
his predecessor and it is understood that
Great Britain does not intend to make
any change in the existing form of gov
ernment The suggestion that the pres
ence of the suppressed usurper, Said
Khalid. at the German consulate, i'm
plies a political intrigue is not credited
here and it is expected that Khalid will
be handed over to the British officials as
soon as the German consul receives the
necessary instructions from Berlin.