THE ALEXANDRIA RIOTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6383, 28 July 1882, Page 3

THE ALEXANDRIA RIOTS.

Hail.) Tfoe expected' crjsig }n Egypt has come in earnest. Alexandria was iri^ state of insurrection for four hours on June ljth. _ There was a popular outbreak, and it was against the Europeans that the fury of the populace was directed. An official report gives 08 Jiuroueans killed and many wounded. It is not known how many Arabs were killed or hurt It has now been ascertained beyond a doubt that the riot began by an Italian Maltese beatin? a donkey-boy in a side street near the great square, about a quarter to 3 in the afternoon The Arabs took the part of the donkey-boy, and a fight ensued, which lasted some time, when the Maltese ran away towards the square. Ihe Arabs followed, rushing into the cafes, attacking Europeans, and beating them dreadfully, wherever they found them. The Maltese and Greeks now began firing with guns, rifles, and revolvers from tho upper windows of the houses round about tho place. Mea.nwh.ilo. an indiscriminate struggle went on in the centre of the square, and many Europeans were killed in coVisequeijce fa Maltese and Greek bullets. A fter'this the fighi .spread. Tho Consuls in vain attempted to stop it. This brought about the attack upon Mv Cpokson, as wm as miuries to consular servants, and wounds to the Italian and Greek Consuls. Meanwhile it appears certain that tho chief in authority refused to permit the troops or the police to M-orfore. It is also said that he refused to ,']'w the ships to land sailors to bring off th« European*. Anyhow, the fighting went on One street was completely sacked; other, partly! WB*WiMj?y the Governor sent troops and cleared tho Htifl'ets, Many luwopeans then took refuge in the Consumes, dpewimg a recurrence of the disorder. An Oye-'witatefl c« fk™.TOW Kives an awful account of the .ieni I KeU He'states that the heads of fhe^EuTo eanV wero in many cases beaten to a pulp, Ze'other 'victims were subjected to imtaUs that canndt Vo described. I',very-

whero tho bodies of the dead were plundered. The shops were also pillaged. Another spectator states that lie saw three Europeans killed in tho square. Thoir heads wore battered against the paving-stones until they were dwid, and tlion tho bodies were stripped of their clothing. This witness avows that ho naw natives in official dress (green) encouraging the Arabs in thoir brutality. Altogether it was a most cruel massacro. Another frightful panic seized tho European residents on Juno 14th. All of a sudden, shouts and screams, and cries that tho Arabs wore massacring the Europeans, woro heard mi all sides ; and in viow of tho tension of fooling lit present prevailing, the result may be imagined. At tho Marina every gate was hastily closed and barricaded, as if to withstand a siego. This was done very smartly by Egyptian troops, who were, luckily, noar at hand. There was some slight cause for tho consternation which prevailed. A petty street quarrel had .broken out between a few Europoans and Arabs, and it might have led to a general not. Fortunately, Egyptian troops were hurried to tho scene, and arrived in time to suppress the disturbance ore it had time to assume formidable dimensions. But for thoir intervention it is not at all unlikely that a fearful sceno of butchery and outrage would havo ensued. 'J ho incident is illustrative of the amenities of life in Alexandria at the present moment. In fact, the situation is becoming, not critical, but simply intolerable. The Europoan residents are like people sitting on the odgo of a volcano, which may break out into activity at any moment. The indecision of tho European Powers, and tho helplessness of the Sultan's Envoy, encourage the rebel leaders in pursuing their insane policy of defiance. They fancy that the Powers aro incapable of doing nioro than snarling at each other or at Ourabi, and that oven the Sultan shrinks from interfering. (Hume News.) ' ' ' The murders of Europeans (on Sunday, Juno Htli) are now estimated at 115. Those of the natives it is impossible to estimate. Ihero is, it is stated, no doubt that the soldiers assisted largely in the scenes of disorder, and that the atrocities go far beyond all previous reports. In an articlo which appeared m M. Uam betta's organ, the Republiquo Francaise, on Tuesday, Juno 13th, it was positively assorted that had not his Government been compelled to resign, an Anglo-French intervention, which would havo anticipated the necessity of a Turkish intervention, would long ere this have taken place. .. The news from Egypt has caused something liko a panic in England during the last few days, and the reasons for alarm have yet to disappear. The mission of Dervish Pasha has aggravated anarchy, and has fomented disturbance. On Saturday last.there was a not at Alexandria, which, though it was described by Sir Charles Dilke in the House of Commons a night or two ago as non-political, was highly formidable, was due to religious fanaticism, and resulted in the deaths of about 50 persons and in the infliction of serious injury upon many more. Amongst those killed were an English naval ollicer and several English seamen while Mr Cookson, the British Consul, as well as the Greek and Italian Gonsuls, were badly wounded. This is exactly what was to have been anticipated. The correspondent of The Times, and many others said from the first that if Dervish Pasha arrived in Egypt without an adequate military force, his presence there would havo the effect of provoking a not, and since then the Mussulman hierarchy havo done all in their power to stimulate tho foclings of the lo^yer-clasß Egyptians.

(From Auiorifnn Papers.) Alexandria, Juno 13th.—When the French stationed a vessel opposite their Consnlate to receive refugees, she was immediately surrounded by Egyptian steam launohos, which remained thare, and a collision may occur at any moment. Alexandria, June 15th.— The mail steamer yesterday took 300 deck passengers, who paid first-class fares, and three other steamers took 1000 passengers. Boatmen asked 50 francs to carry persons on board the steamers, the usual fare being one franc. London, June 22nd.—The Daily News says dispatches were sent to Admiral Seymour at Alexandria, instructing him to lay aside all hesitation in landing sailors and marines m the event of necessity. The following is said to be the programme of the new Egyptian Minister:—General amnesty except to the participants in the recent riots. Kelations with foreign Powers to be carried on between them and the Minister of loreign Affairs only. ' ~ , Alexandria, Juno 26th.—The Khedive has written to 'llaghcß Pasha, President of the Council, recapitulating the reoent events in Egypt which the Khedive describes as deplorable. He points out that, notwithstanding his assurances, foreigners continue to abandon .Egypt; that commercial affairs are at a standstill ; that specie is being hastily withdrawn ; that thero is a complete absence of credit, and that enormous loss is thus caused to the country. He declares that a strict and searching inquiry must be held, and he commands Ragheb Pasha to earnestly consider the best means of finding out the causes that led to the catastrophe in Alexandria, which, he says, might have been avoided by timely measures. He urges ftagheb Pasha to discover the names qf the promoters of the riot and their accomplices, with a view to their severe punishinQnt, The Khedive says that it is absolutely necessary that measures be taken for the re-estab-lishment of friendly relations between the natives and the Europeans, for the maintenance of order, and for tho resumption of business, on which the prosperity of the country Alexandria, June 26th.—The Sultan has conferred the Order of Medjidie of the first clasß upon Ourabi Pasha, and has also presented the Khedive with a souvenir in diamonds, and conferred upon Solyma Pasha a distinction of high rank. Ragheb Pasha has telegraphed to Count do Lesseps contradicting the report that the Suez Canal is-in danger, London, June 2Cth.—A correspondent at Alexandria considers tho present position of tho Khedive as very dangerous. The Khedive will be arrested at the first sign of foreign occupation. Ourabi Pasha has stated that as soon as soon as a foreign enemy has actually landed troops in Egypt it will be his duty to fight until every drop of his blood is shed. Numbei'B of Arabs are starving. Crowds vverit to the house of Ourabi on Saturday and asked "for bread. . Alexandria, June 27th. — Ourabi Pasha states that if the Porte abandons him he will publish correspondence proving that every step he has taken since the 7th of September last was instigated by the Porte.