New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-03

rival of the Bishop Of the Fire and the per
Torrance OF the great yearly miracIe-the de-
scent Of the Holy Fire within the tomb Of
Christ AS they awaited their excitement
waNed greater and greater. fed by impatience.
With great eagerness they pressed their way
through the throng as near as possible to the
tomb the great site of action They jOstled
and pushed one another about in q hopeless man
ner. The confusion was constantly increasing
Turkish soldiers were stationed all over the
church to maintain peace-this at the request OF
the various Christian sects represented Within
and they had a hard task before them. But
their patience was not Of the enduring kind. nor
was their handling OF these masses OF the
geutlcet- They consider them merely SO many
fanatics 90 be kept in order. for they have moth
ing but scorn and contempt for what they
considered the gross deception OF this whole
ceremony. They feel no respect for Christians
who hate every sect but their own. and are
ever ready to fight another. and even to
draw swords within this. their most sacred edi-
flee. They simply push them roughly out of
the way. slapping them into order. and even
beating them with the butts OF their guns.
In this curious throng were mingled Copts |
Armenians. Syrians and Greeks. each bringing |
his own individual element of confusion into |
the midst of the impetuous and frenzied multi |
tude. and each speaking and shouting In his |
own jarGon; each Jealous Of all other sects and 4
DESTROYS of outdoing the others, II possible; each
filled with the same anxiety to approach the |
walls of the tomb of Christ as closely as pos |
sble, regardless OF his neighborS' feelings and |
rights. Tawny Arabs with bare limbs and /
chests. some with long, streaming hair, others |
with closely shaver heads. were in the frantic |
dance. tossing their wildly above them.
their shouts rising above the monotonous sound |
of the drum and the ever changing cymbals. II |
difficult for the soldiers 20 preserve any |
kind of order in the midst Of this wild religious
frenzy, or to keep the passage lines clear while /
the throng was perpetuaIly Jostling TO right and /
left Yet their duty was to preserve an open /
line, three feet WIDE through which the deyotees
could unhindered
For this purpose they stood IN close lines with
guns in hand as long the strange performance
lasted Five or six groups Of pilgrims succeeded
each other In this eccentric race, for race II
seemed rather than act of devotion. Each Il
group We'd with the others IN the number of |
circuits around the tomb II could accomplish
They sometimes in phalanx OF four or five
abreast. and at others IN single file group DASH
Ing against group they met in the returning
race, and as they came together they overthrev
one another In their haste. stepping carelessiy
over the fallen ones. and dragging others along
the floor after them they hurriedIy passed on
Wildly they leaped onto each others backs and
were In turn borne upon the broad shoulders Of
swift runners. Rushing round with tremendous
rapidity. needless OF trampling over kneelins
forms. they suddenly grasped hold Of a priest
and carried him erect triumphantly around the
sepulchre- In grasping hold Of each other and
leading new members into the wild dance by the
ends of their flowing robes. pieces Of these be-
came wrenched of and were flung aside among
the caps and fezes which were continually fall
Ing off, till gradually The pavement became