THEODORE'S LAST MOMENTS.

West Coast Times, Issue 912, 25 August 1868, Page 4

THEODORE'S LAST MOMENTS.

The " Patric" of May 29 prints what purports to be ail Abyssinian version of the last moments of Theodore. Tho report commences by praising tlio loyal and generous conduct of England ; " for, whilst regretting the monarch who was our friend, and who now reposes in imniorlality, wo must render homage to the courage and skill of the conquerors." On learning that the English had disembarked, Theodore thought that they would march on the capital by waj r of the fertile plains of Dcnibea, the entrance to which he was prepared, to defend. He regarded the occupation of Senafe as a ruse de guerre to make him abandon the formidable po itions he held, and did not move. This is why tho English accused Theodore of indecision. He refused to listen to his spies, and when doubt was no longer possible it was too late. His cavalry remained at Amarrha, and with 22,000 musketeers lie marched on Magdala. He tried to defend the defiles, but there wa3 no longer time ; the advanced guard appeared. His generals", too, were discouraged, and, gorged with gold, abandoned their chief in his extremity. Tho number of Aybssinians buried amounted to 757, whilst 2139 were wounded. To the rifle and the sleel gun the victory must be in a great measure attributed ; but — why should we not say so? — the English soldiers (English is underlined) displayed great bravery and intrepidity during the assault, and were humane towards the prisoners aud wounded. Accustomed to bloody reprisals, the Abssinians expected to be nassacred. The severe discipline of tho English army in preventing excesses and useless cruelty has won for it the admiration of the conquered. Amongst the dead were seven balantchesras, or men who resembled Theodore, and were purposely dressed like him, and one general-in-chief. The Abyssinians thought on the loth that the English would remain in the country, and they desired this. The generosity of the conquerors, their brilliant triumph, and their respect for property, caused it to be foreseen that under their administration there would be liberty, fortune, and protection for commerce, industry, and agriculture. They feared anarchy if the country were evacuated. Theodore did not commit suicide. Having witnessed the destruction of his army, and having searched death in vain amid ball and shell, when he saw the head of the enemy's columns crown the breach he understood that his last hour had come ; he saw that resistance was impossible, and that he was about to be made prisoner. This reflection made him roar (rugir). If the English captives had been still in his j>ower, their death would have been certain. In a fit of fury, or rather madness, he ordered their extermination, forgetting that they were free in. the English camp. On seeing his power fleeting from him with the blood of his soldiers, contemplating his empire destroyed, his dynasty overturned, his reign finished, two streams of tears coursed down his cheeks ; tho muscles of his face and chest were contracted with pjin, and his limbs withered in mute despair. His bitter sufferings should atone for many of his crimes. Two balantcheras, pistol in hand, stood silently waiting his order. 'Ho gave his will to Kmgheddo. Crossing his arms over his breast, he prayed; then with a hollow "voice he repeated several times. ' Ethiopia ! Ethiopia ! my wife ! my children !' The gate, trembling under the blows of the assailants, was giving way. Proudly raising his head, Theodore drew his sword to perish like a European. "In the bosom of tho Trinity," said he to the balantehcras, "fire." They both aimed at his head, but Emgheddo's courage failed, and his arm fell inert. Area alone obeyed, and his bullet broke the skull of Africa's bravest warrior. Tho balantcheras remained by the body of their master, expecting death. At this moment the gate was broken in, and tho English soldiers, drunk with blood and carnage, rushed forward, Einttheddo shewed them the lifeless body of Theodore. At this sight the soldiers, stupefied, let; fall their arms, and the two guards were saved." The will was copied and distributed to such officers as had remained faithful : — Tiieodoee's Will. — In the name of the Trinity, Theodore, last King of Ethiopia. — To conquer Theodore, God said to the nation which holds under its sceptre more than half tho universe. 'Go and unite your armies and fleets ; I shall bo with you ; we will fight together, and will crush him.' It has been so. Should England keep the empire of my Abysinian warriors, war to the oppressors. If they retire, I desire that my son Mechecha may succeed me ; and I, Emperor, say to him — Be the friend of those to whom God hath given the victory, for they know how to protect their friends ; be the friend of those warriors, for they are invincible. The other .... jaelrnls are afraid of the English lion. Mechecha, be as great as thy father, and fear the Trinity." This narrative is signed by Count E. dv Bisson, a traveller in Abyssinia, and who was always on friendly terms with its late ruler, and not in favor of the English expedition.

Trip oj? tiie Amelia with Petroleum Fuel —On 16th May, the steamer Amelia, which had been fitted up with Footc' Patent Apparatus, made a trial trip to Mare Island and back for the purpose of testing the efficiency of the invention, using Californian petroleum ?s fuel. The retort which had proved defective on previous experiment had been replaced by another one, which, however, proved partially defective also before leaving the wharf. Quito a number of the most eminent practical engineers and scientific men of this city were on board to witness the operations of the invention, which, if as practicable as represented, will prove of such great value to the steam marine of this coast. The Amelia left Broadway wharf at eighteen minutes past ten o'clock, and currying an average of thivtyfivc pounds steam, made the run to Mare Island dock against a strong ebb tide in two hours and fifty minutes.' Returning, she left Mare Island at 1.5 p.m., and against the young flood tide, arrived, at Broadway wharf at 8.15 p.m., ov, in two hours from dock to dock, a distance of twenty-eigl:l miles. On leaving her wharf on (he trip, sho was followed by the steamer Paul Pry, bound ior Benecia and Suisun city. The latter is said to be the fastest boat of 'her si/o in California waters, and her engineers had stated they intended to give the Amelia a brush, and so try coal against petroleum. The boats seemed quite evenly matched in speed, the Paul Prr being only about a quarter of a mile ahead when the steaniors parted company near Mare Island. From parties on board, we learn that a most favorable opinion vras entertained of the practicability of the invention, and that 1 heonly question to be settled is the economy

of petroleum as compared with the cheapest steam coal. We are informed that the Amelia will be run on her regular route to JNapa, using petroleum for a period of from two to four weeks, so that a fair comparison cau be made of its use as against coal. — "Panama Star and Herald." "Gotng, going, just a-going!" cried an auctioneer. " Where arc you goiug ?" asked a passer-by. " Well," replied the knight of the hammer, " I'm going up to the' Zoological Gardens to te]l the^ managers one of their baboons is loose."