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#0. 436, Jui/r 31,18&8.] THE LEADER, 735
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THE MASSACRE AT JEDDAH. The Moniteur pub...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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The Capture Oe The Peiiio Forts. A Suppl...
mile in length , upon which eighty-seven guns in position ¦ were visible , and the whole shore had been piled to oppose a landing . As the channel is only about two hundred yards wide , and runs within four hundred yards of the shore , these defences presented a formidable appearance . Two strong mud batteries , mounting respectively thirty-three and sixteen , guns , had been , also constructed about one thousand yards up the river , in a position to command our advance . In the rear , several entrenched camps were visible , defended by flanking bastions , and it -was known that large bodies of troops had arrived from Pekin . All the forts and the camp ¦ were covered with the various coloured flags under which the troops of the eight banners , ' as the Tartar soldiers are styled , range themselves .
"At eight . A . M . yesterday ( 20 th May ) , the notification to the Imperial Commissioner Tan , and the summons to deliver up the forts within two hours , were delivered by Captain Hall , my flag captain , and Capitaine Reynaud , flag captain of the French admiral , and accompanied by my gallant colleague , and attended by our respective secretaries and flag lieutenants , -we embarked in the Slaney , to direct the movements ^ th e squadron . ^ " No answer having been returned to the summons by ten o ' clock , the signal agreed upon was made , and the gunboats advanced in the prescribed order , led by the Cormorant . The Chinese opened fire immediately , and the signal to engage was made a few minutes afterwards from the Slaney . By the time all the vessels had
anchored in their respective stations , the effects of our ¦ well-directed fire had become very apparent . The first fort -was entirely dismantled and abandoned , and the second partially so , whilst those on the north side had been completely subdued by the Cormorant and two French gunboats . At the short range within which we engaged , every Bhot told , and many of the massive embrasures of mud were levelled by shells . At the end of an hour and a quarter the enemy ' s fire ceased . The landing parties were then pushed on shore , the one for the north , forts , under t"he orders of Captain Sir F . Nicholson , and Captain LeVeque , and that for the south forts under Captains Hall and Keynaud , flag captains , the Royal Marines on each side being commanded by Major Robert Boyle and First Lieutenant McCullum .
" Owing to the destructive fire from the gunboats , but little opposition was made to pur landing , and the Chinese troops were observed moving off in masses , whilst our people were in the boats . The flags of the Allied Powers soon replaced those of the Chinese . On the south side two hundred large gingalls were found in position near the landing-place on an embankment . " Having obtained possession , the dismantling of the ¦ works commenced , and the field-pieces landed for the protection of the forces against the possible attacks of the Chinese . Shortly after the landing , bur gallant allies sustained a melancholy and heavy loss of men , killed and wounded , by the accidental explosion of a
magazine . " When all the vessels had taken up their position , a bold attempt was made to send down upon them a long array of junks , filled with straw in flames , and drawn across the river , but they fortunately grounded , and though the people , guiding them down the river with ropes , made great efforts to get them off , a few shells from the Bustard drove them away , and the -vessels burnt out without doing any damage . " Much skill and labour had been expended in the construction of these forts . The guns were much better cast , and not so unwieldly as those in the Canton River , and were better equipped in every respect . They had good canister shot , aud the hollow 8-inch shot appeared imitations from our own . There were several English guns in the batteries .
t Directions were now sent to Captain Sir F . Nicholson and Capitaino LcVGquc to advance and capture the two forts up the river , which had kept up a smart fire . This movement was successfully executed , under the supporting fire from the Bustard , Staunch , and Opos-8 nm . Several entrenched camps were also destroyed . The Chinese stood -well to their guns , notwithstanding shot , shell , and rockets were flying thickly around them . Moat of tho gunboats were hulled , somo several times , whilst boats , spars , and rigging wore cut by round shot , grape , and gingall balls .
__ ' Tho necessary arrangements at tho ontranco of tho river having been completed , a further advance was made to tho village of Takoo , whero we found a barrier of junks filled with combustible matter , moored by chains right across the river , whilst seven similar obstructions to our progress were observed within a milo highor up . Captain Hull , with my flog lieutenant and a party of men , landed , and took possession of eighteen field pieces in front of an abandoned encampment at Takoo . " Whilst on shore , tho residence of tho High Commissioner Tan was visited , and found deserted , though a significant proof of his recent presence was found in a beheaded Clunama n near his gate . It w « s ascertained here that «> o mam body of tho Chinese troops had retired with I an to a position about eight milua up tlio river . Tho oorner at Takoo offering good security to our vessels uoiow , it -was made our udvanced position for tho night , in charge of Sir F . Nicholson « nd Capituino Thoyon . "
#0. 436, Jui/R 31,18&8.] The Leader, 735
# 0 . 436 , Jui / r 31 , 18 & 8 . ] THE LEADER , 735
The Massacre At Jeddah. The Moniteur Pub...
THE MASSACRE AT JEDDAH . The Moniteur publishes the subjoined highly interesting account of the recent massacre at Jeddah , from the pen of M . Ernerat , the dragoman and Chancellor of the French Consulate , whose gallant behaviour has earned him the cross of the Legion of Honour : — " Alexandria , July 9 . " ¦ Monsieur le . Ministre , —On the evening of the 15 th of June , the town of Jeddah was the theatre of terrible scenes of slaughter ; twenty-three victims were murdered by an infuriated populace , and among them , I am grieved to say , are the Consuls of France and of England , and Madame Eveillard . Having escaped , by the mercy of Providence , the blows of the assassins , I lose no time in giving your Excellency the details of this sanguinary drama .
" For some time past , the revival of fanaticism was visible at Jeddah , but no one suspected that so fearful a deed was contemplated against the Christians who have inhabited that city for many years . Nevertheless , the plan was secretly hatched . A pretext was found to put it into execution . " One Abdallah Joher had to give an account to the British Consulate of the employment of the property of two Indian orphans of whom he was guardian . He asked to be placed under Turkish protection , and to change the flag of a vessel of which he was the owner . Namik Pacha consented , and ordered the Turkish flag to be hoisted , and that of England to be hauled down . This was done amid the exultation of the fanatics .
" The English Consular agent was absent at the time . On his return , having protested in vain to Namik Pacha , he invoked , according to custom , a Consular tribunal , which decided that the Turkish flag should be hauled down . Consequently , on the 15 th of June , a detachment of marines from the Cyclops , which was in the roads , seized upon the Indian vessel , hauled down the Ottoman colours , and hoisted the English flag . The news of this event created great excitement in Jeddah . It was declared to bean insult against the dignity of Islamism . But this was only a pretext ; the real object of the agitators was to . take advantage Of the circumstance to murder the Christians , -whose presence , in their eyes , defiled the sacred soil of the Hedjaz , and to seize upon their property .-
"About six o ' clock in the evening , when the population were aware that the boat ' s crew had returned on board the frigate , and that no help could be given the Christian residents , a mob of fanatics attacked the English Consulate . On their approach , the Cawass took to their heels . Mr . Page , surprised in his bed , and unable to defend himself , was wounded seriously , and was then pitched from his balcony and cut to pieces at the foot of the flagstaff ; his dragoman and clerk shared his fate . The house was . pillaged . A considerable sum of money must have been found in Mir . Page ' s strong-box , as he was a merchant as -well as Vice-Consul .
" Cnes of Death to the Christians 1 ' now arose on all sides , and the mob , thirsting for more blood , hastened towards the French Consulate . At about half-past six M . Eveillard and myself were just returning from our usual evening stroll . We had scarcely entered the drawing-room , -where the Consul ' s wife and daughter were sitting , when the Consulate was surrounded . The Cawass closed the door , and kept Outside to repel the attack . The Cawass Ahmet alone offered resistance , was wounded in his head , and thrown back into the street , where he remained for some time insensible .
•• As soon as the Consulate was attacked , I went down stairs to defend the entrance by the staircase . Supported only by my servant , an Algerian , Hadji Mehemet , formerly a soldier in the native Rifles , whose devotion on this occasion was most praiseworthy , I was aware that it would be impossible to make a long resistance ; but . my object was to gain time , in hope that a detachment of troops might be sent , to our aid . My only weapon was a cano with a hammer to it , and Hadji Mehemet had a club . With tho courage of despair , wo attacked the assailants , who faced us in bodies of never less than thirty or forty . Aftor knocking down tho foremost , we were obliged to dodge beliiud tho stairs to avoid tho shots fired at us . A hand-to-hand struggle ensued , and three times tho assassins reached the first story and were driven back . At this moment , cries of The Kaimakan is coining' were raised , and tho mob for a moment remained quiet in the court below .
u I did not think that any one of tho assailants had reached the second story . 1 went up to make sure . I found Madame Eveillard lying dead on the floor , the Consul wounded , and his young an < l courageous daughter wounded in tho cheek by a sabre-cut received while defending her father . Tho second story had been reached by tho balcony of a neighbouring house , and having cut clown tho Consul , his wife , and daughter , the assassins ret rented . " On leaving tho snloon , I heard Hadji Mehemet crying out , 'The flng is attacked ; let us defend it ! ' I ran up tho ladder , but wns hurled down . Hadji Mohemot then ran up it , and succeeded in throwing down two of tho assailants . " Wo could not ascertain whether they were killed or not . " This unequal struggle had now lasted nearly a quarter of an hour , nud - \ ve expected to succumb every
moment . A man armed with a dagger came forward and asked me if the Kaimakan had arrived ; I thought he was a Cawass in authority , when I heard Mdl | e Eveillard cry out , ' Take care ! that man is going to stab you ! ' . I rushed upon him to disarm him , but I received at the same moment a gash across ray left iiaod from a sabre , a blow which broke the thumb of my left hand , and a dagger-stab through my right arm . I should inevitably have fallen -without the assistance of Mdlle . Eveillard , who displayed the most extraordinary courage and presence of mind . I finally succeeded in disarming my assailant , and killed him .
" Seeing that the Kaimakan did not come , the assassins , whom we had thrice repulsed , made another bold attempt to get up . the stairs , urged on by the yells of some fifty women who accompanied them . I stood on the lowest step , armed with my dagger . I ran through and killed the first man that advanced , and 1 stabbed two or three others . At this moment , the Kaimakan arrived , followed by two Cawass , and informed me that Colonel Hassan , who commanded the artillery , had refused to come to our aid , under the pretext that lie had no orders , and could only receive them from the Governor-General .
" The Kaimakan and myself had only the two Cawass and my servant to support us ; it was becoming impossible to hold out much longer . I therefore requested that official to endeavour to calm the mob ; but it enly made them the more violent . ' We want to have the Consul and his Chancellor , ' they shouted ; hand them , over to us that we may put them to death ; if you don ' t , we will kill you ! ' The Kaimakan began to falter , and was only prevented from complying by my threats . Tie mob continued to swell ; the attacks of the assailants became more fierce ; the Kaimakan . was knocked down by a blow from a . club . While I was picking him up , I received a sabre cut and a blow from a club on the head , which stunned me , and I fell . The assassins then rushed into the saloon , and put M . Eveillard , already wounded , to death . .
" My faithful Algerine had never left my side , watching his moment either to carry off my body , if I was tilled , or to take me to some place of safety , if enly wounded . At the moment I received the last two wounds the servants of the Kaimakan were carrying off their master . Hadji llehemet raised me up , concealed my face under the Kaimakan ' s robes , and we were taken to the house of the Colonel , who had refused us his aicl , I was immediately sent to Ihe military hospital , whare I did not recover my senses till after I had been there above a quarter of an hour , and where I received every attention .
"At " the moment M . Eveillard was being murdered and his house pillaged , the wife of a military official called Mehemet Effendi , to whom some days previously Madame and Mademoiselle Eveillard had shown great kindness , sent one of her slaves to save them . Mademoiselle Eveillard was carried off by the slave to the house of his mistress , and thence to the Kaimakan ' s harem , where she received every attention . I must alao return my thanks for the care taken of myself at the Artillery Hospital . " On the 16 th , sentence of death was pronounced by the Cadi against M . Emerat for having lulled two Mahometans in the fray , and for days crowds assembled in front of the Artillery Hospital , asking whether he had found refuge there ; but they were told that he had been taken on board the English frigate .
" We remained thus five days in suspense when , on the night of the 19 th ,. the Pacha arrived from Mecca with a detachment of Chasseurs , and Namik Pacha took up his quarters at a barrack outside the town . On the next morning , the Governor-General sent his son-in-law to make inquiries after me , and asked mo to visit him . I complied . Narnik Pacha promised me to do everything in his power to inflict upon the assassins the chastisement which they deserved , and told me he was ready to give me such satisfaction as I might require . I replied that all that remained for me to do was to proceed and render a statement of the facts to the Government of the Emperor . On leaving Jeddah , I wrote in that sense to Nnmik Pacha . " Before I arrived at the Governor-General ' s , Captain Pullen had written to him to demand that the Christiana
who had escaped tho massacre should be given up to him . Namik Pacha requested an interview . Captftiu Pullen proceeded to the palace , where I -was alao present . After the interview , Mademoiselle Eveillard , hex servant , and myself , embarked on board the boate of the frigate , and the Christians who had escaped the massacre on bo ard a native boat , under the command of the captain of the port . " Captain Pullen wrote the same day to the
Governor-General , demanding that tho boats of the Cyclops should bo allowed to come to tho landing-et-aira with armod crews ; that tho flags of France and England should be saluted by tho artillery of the forts ; that tho flags should then bo curried through the streets undor an armed escort from tho frigate ; and that a procession should then go to tho comotcry to roiid tho burial service and pay military honours to tlio viotims . Tlio ceremony took place tho following day . " A long account of tho massacre , based on the lot-
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 31, 1858, page 735, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/ldr_31071858/page/7/
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