Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-26
British Warships Assembling at zan-
lbar.
KHALID INTRENCHED IN TEE PALACE
SWears That He Will Not Leave 1t
Alive.
INS 1STS HE IS LTAN

ZANZIBAR, August 26-The night passed
quietly. Said Khalid. who has seized the
SultandIe, is in possession of the palace
square. the guns of which are trained on
the British warships Philomel, Thrush and
Sparrow. which have landed sailors to pro-
tect the British consulate, where all the
ladies are lodged The warships are moored
opposite the palace square, and their COM
manders are awaiting orders from the Brit
ish government.
AS already cabled. Khalid took posses
sion Of the palace Immediately after the
announcement of the death of Sultan
Hamed Din Thwain Bin Said and pro-
claimed himself sultan. He barricaded
himself III the palace, with 100 armed As
karis, following the example of his father,
who took the same steps, but was over
awed by British force. which established
the late sultan instead of himself.
The British first-class cruiser ST. George,
twelve guns, flagship of the Cape of Good
Hope and west coast of Africa station, with
Rear Admiral Harry W. Rawson on board
has arrived here and landed 80 additional
men to protect property and maintain Or
der.
Later the British third-class cruiser Rae
coon. SIX guns. also cast anchor in these
waters, thus making the British force
capable of thoroughly protecting property,
as well as able to take the offensive imme-
dlately, II necessary.
1t is expected that order will not be re-
stored until the palace and its fortified
yard Is bombarded and cleared by the Brit
fsh. as nobody believes that the latter will
recognize Said khalid as sultan.
Very little is known outside of the palace
concerning what tranSpired there during
the night. but it is known that Said Khalid
mas been strongly reinforced. He has now
under his command 2,50O well-armed and
weil-discplined men, including 800 Askaris.
who have been trained under British Off
GERS He also has plenty of ammunition
and a number of field guns and other
pieces of artillery
report is current that Said Bin Hamu1
a near relative of the deceased sultan has
been enthroned in the palace by Said
khahd, who. ii would seem, must have
concluded that the opposition to his re-
manning sultan is too strong for him to
oppose.
on the other hand. the British consul has
mad a long parley with Said khalid dur
ing which the latter was urged to sur
render and avoid bloodshed, being assured
that his claims would be considered in the
falrest manner possible. Said, however,
informed the consul that he would never
prepared to sell his life dearly He in
sisted that he was Sultan of Zanzibar, and
that he would maintain his right to that
title by force of arms.
Seeing that all argument was useless the
British consul withdrew. and subsequently
had long conference with Admiral Raw
son. at the end of which a cable message,
explaining the situation up TO date was
forwarded to the British government
1t Is believed that no further steps will
be taken until definite Instructions have
been received from London
Inc late sultan, II appears, died very
suddenly and without anything being
known of his illness prior to the announce
ment of his death. This has led to a re-
port being circulated that the sultan was
murdered. but IL is impossible to verify
the ruInOE.