Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-08-31
lombard ZANZIBAR.
Usurping Chieftain Refusing tt
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 Khalid 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 8 clock a naval officer
was sent to the palace square with an
| other message for Said Khalid, asking
him if he was prepared to surrender III
accordance with the terms of the ulti-
matum and again notifying him that the
palace in which he had barricaded him
self would be shelled at 8 o'clock prompt
" if he failed to haul down his flag be-
fore that time AS before, Said replied
that he 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 8 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
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 It's 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 aad smoke
was soon seen to be issuing from sew
eral parts of the palace. During this
time the st. George and Philomen We're
held in reserve, although they occasion-
ally pumped 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 tumbllng IN runs ana
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 iagship's signal of cease
firing the guns OF the warshlps 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 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 a 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 Corra11ed.
When the insurgents had been COM
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 9 Lass Of blazing. ruins, the
old custom house was in ashes and a
were set afre by the exploding shells in
among the British ashore, and though
order will be completely restored before
nightfall and the foreign residents will
be able to return to their residences