The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1882-08-04 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

BOARD THE LITTLE CONDOR.  ALEXANDRIA. Attr anximely waiting for several weeks, the fleet received the final instructions and notice to bombard on the Ilth, at five o'clock. Every ship prepared ler action the previous evening. On board the little gun-vessel Condor great preparations were made for the coming fight. Heavy chains had already been placed on ship's side protecting the engine-room and magazine. That precaution had been taken weeks before by the captain, Lord Charles Beresforti, in case the guns of the Has-el-tin Fort should suddenly open on us in our anchorage inside the harbour, where she had been lying for nearly two months. But on the evening of the Idth all available canvas was got out and draped round the inboard of the ship's bulwarks to prevent splinters flying, topmast lowered, our Galling in the mainmast canvassed round, and nothing was left for the morrow but sanding the deck, oiling the racers, and placing the hammocks of the men round the wheel, and fencing up the Gatling. Just before sunset-gun Lora C. Beresfora called the crew together and aillressed them from the bridge, telling the men that the first shot was to he fired from the Invincible at five next morning. The Admiral's order to the Condor was Viet she should keep out of fire—transfer signals 834 make herself generally useful but if an opportun tir should occur—and he, their captain, would guarantee that it should occur—that the Condor was to take advantage of it and prove her guns. The crowd of upturned faces of the men listening to the address from their comrnan'er shnne with satisfaction in the light of the departing run at this significant remark, and who could doubt but that tht y were of the old heorts of oak to see the gleam in their eyes when Lord Charles said that he knew they would give a good account of themselves if that paiticillar opportunity he spoke of served? There was very little sleepirg the t night an board the gallant little ship, and an occasional murmur from the forecastle told that the probabilities of the morrow were as warmly discussed by the men as by their officers. Long before sunrise tit% eneineera hal been busy in the engine-room, and we were soon under way, Daylight mode us aware that the Admiral had quietly passed outside the harbour during the night, and had taken up hi: position and hod anchored opposite the x Forts with the Monarch and Pen,l pe. The Teredraire came flex 5, and seemed to threaten the Ras-el-tin foils. The Inflexibat came next in the semi. circle, then the Alexandra. Sultan. end S ipArb opposing the Pharos, Ale. and Old Phere F,.rts Fie. o'clock pos4 six n'-'ok y and o sign tr in the Twine ble. Wn• t could he the matter 7 At the last moment were we to be the laughing-stock of the various nationalities that had gathered together represented by their respective ships or war outside tin. harbour? Were we this 11th of July, ju,t one month from the sad day we lad to resign ourselves to the humiliation of burying our dead at sea that bad been cruelly murdered in the streets of Alexerelrin, I not by an unruly snob, but by Egyptian police—our Ckumnd insulteds and our shins brow beaten by cannon