The Alexandria Riots.

Otago Witness, Issue 1602, 5 August 1882, Page 23

The Alexandria Riots.

(European Mail.)

The expected crisis in Egypt has come in earnest. Alexandria was in a state of insurrection for four hours on June 11th. _ There was a popular outbreak, and it was against the Europeans that the fury of the populace was directed. An official report gives 68 Europeans 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 beating a donkey-boy in a side street near the greatj square, about a quarter to 3 in the afternoon. The Arab's took the part'of the donkey-boy, and a fight ensued, which lasted some time, when the Maltese ran away towards the square. The Arabs followed, rushing into the caf e"s, attacking Europeans, and beating them dreadfully, wherever they found them. The. Maltese and Greeks now began firing with guns, rifles, and revolvers from- the upper windows of the houses round about the place. Meanwhile an indiscriminate struggle went on in the centre of the square, and many Europeans were killed in consequence by Maltese and Greek bullets. After this the fight spread. The Consuls in vain attempted to stop it. This brought about the attack upon Mr Cookson, as well as injuries to consular servants, and wounds to the Italian and' Greek Consuls. Meanwhile it appears certain that the chief in authority refused to permit the troops or the police to interfere. It is also said that he refused to allow the ships to land sailors to bring off the Europeans. Anyhow, the fighting went on. One street was completely sacked ; others partly. Eventually the Governor sent troops and cleared the streets. Many Europeans then took refuge in the' Consulates, dreading a recurrence of the disorder. ' An eye-witness of the massacre gives an awful account of the scenes witnessed. Hb states that the heads of the Europeans wero va many cases beaten to a pulp, while other victims were subjected to outrages that cannot be described. Everywhere,the bodies of the dead were plundered. The shops were also pillaged. Another spectator states that he saw three Europeans killed in the square. Their heads were battered against the paving-stones until they were dead, and then the bodies were stripped of their clothing. This witness avows that he saw natives in official dress (green) encouraging the Arabs in their brutality. Altogether it was a most cruel massacre.

Another frightful panic seized the European residents on June 14th. All of a sudden, shouts and screams, and cries that the Arabs were massacring the Europeans, were heard on all sides ; and in view 6i the tension of feeling at present prevailing, the result may be imagined. At the Marina every 'gate was hastily closed and barricaded, as if to withstand a siege. This was done very smartly by Egyptian troops, who were, luckily, near at hand. There was some slight cause for the consternation which prevailed. A petty street quarrel had broken out between a few Europeans and Arabs, and it might have led to a general riot. Fortunately, Egyptian troops were hurried to the scene, and arrived in time to suppress the disturbance ere it had time to assume formidable dimensions. But for their intervention it is not at all unlikely tbat a fearful scene of butchery and outrage would have ensued. The 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 European residents are like people sitting on the edge of a volcano, which may break out into activity at any moment The indecision of the European Powers, and the helplessness of the Sultan's Envoy, encourage the rebel leaders in pursuing their insane policy of defiance. They fancy that the Powers are incapable of domg more than snarling at each other or at Ourabi, and that even the Sultan shrinks from interfering.

(Home News.) The murders of Europeans (on Sunday, June 11th) are now estimated at 115. Those of the natives it is impossible to estimate. 1 here 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 article which appeared in M (- Gambetta's organ, the Republique Francaise, on Tuesday, June 13th, it was positively asserted that had not his Government been compelled to resign, an Anglo-French intervention, which would have anticipated the necessity of a Turkish intervention, would long ere this have taken place, The news from Egypt has caused something like 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 riot 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 officer 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 have the effect of provoking a not, and since then the Mussulman hierarchy have done all in their power to stimulate the feelings of the lower-class Egyptians.

(From American Papers.)

Alexandria, June 13th.— When the French stationed a vessel opposite their Consulate to receive refugees, she was immediately surrounded by Egyptian steam launches, which remained there, 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 in 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. Relations with foreign Powers to be carried on between them and the Minister of Foreign Affairs only. Alexandria, June 26th.— The Khedive has written to Ragheb Pasha, President of the Council, recapitulating the recent 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 there 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 Ragheb Pasha to discover the names of the promoters of the riot and their accomplices, with a view to their severe punishment. 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 the resumption of business, on which the prosperity of the country depends. Alexandria, June 26th.— The Sultan has conferred the Order of Medjidie of the first class 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 de Lesseps contradicting the report tbat the Suez Canal is in danger. London, June 26th.— A correspondent at Alexandria considers the present position of the Khedive as very dangerous. The Khedive will be arrested at the first sign of foreign occupation. Ourabi Pasha has stated that 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. Numbers of Arabs are starving. Crowds went 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.