Page 380 - Gulf Precis (VI)_Neat

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Beforo daylight on the 18th January the storming parly moved from onmp accompanied
by the main body which halted at tho battery. A soldier advanced and clambered up tho
Iroacli; observing that the guards had left their posts, and the few who remained' were asleep
at tho bottom of the wall round a fire, he returned to tbo Seraskier and reported what ho had
seen.
Tho storming party was then ordered to movo forward. Tho ArtlUory coveriog their
advance by throwing shot nnd shell into the town as fast as possible. It was now daylight.
The soldiers had nearly gained the breach withontopposition, when tbo alarm spread that tho
troops were in the town; the Arabs and inhabitants awaiting from their sleep rushed to the
brcaoh, severe fighting took place nnd many soldiers were killed. The Arabs at last retreated,
and fired from the neighbouring houses The soldiers having gained the breach pushed along
the wall inside and opened tho gate, a messenger was quickly despatched by Tahir Beg to tho
Seraskier, informing him of his scccc's, who immediately moved forward tho main body and
entered tho Nujif gate. The troops were quickly formed along the wall, and two divisions
marohed ofFright aud loft insido tho walls to got possession o£ the gates, and a third division
was ordered to movo through the centre of the town, being fired at occasionally from the tops
of tho houses as they passed nlong, and many Foldiers dropping off into the different streets in
search of plunder. Tho Seraskier mounted tho wall near tho Nujif gate, and took up his
position in a bastion, when the troops had moved forward ho began to say bis prayers It
was now past sunrise. On tho first news of tho troops having 'entered the town Seid
Ibrahim aciompanitd by two hundred Yemmus and Arabs fled by the Iloor gate of which he
had the key, Seid Wahab Mnerza Sauleh, and Mabomed Ali Khan remained, ih« two latter
were made prisoners. Seid Wahad escaped during the Dight. The Yeramus hud sent away
their families some days before. The inhabitants alarmed at tho arrival of the troops fled in
all directions mixing themselves with the Arabs and Yeramus, rush was made towards tho
Khaimaga gate, the orowd on arriving there found it shut, and tho soldiers advanoing on
thorn, the Arabs fired, the soldiers instantly returned the fire, men, women and children wore
knocked down and crushed to death, some shot; the dense mob then moved towards the Hoor
gate, the soldiers following them up and skirmishing with tho Arabs, on their arrival at this
gate which is very narrow, being oaly niuo feet wide, they found half of the gate jammed,
the orush here was awful. The two divisions ra-t and n sovere fight took placu between tbo
soldiers and the Arab women and children suffering dreadfully. The crowed at last broke,
some ruthed back into the town to seek shelter in the mosques others flung themselves over
the walls and were dashed »o pieces, whilst others sought shelter in the houses of His Royal
Highness the Zibi-Sullan, and chief Priest Hajoe Said Kansern, the latter shewed me a court
in his house where sixty poisons (men, women and children) were crushed or suffocated to
death flying from the fury of the soldiers. The cavalry outside the gardens cut up many
trying to escape.
The division advancing through the town followed up a party of Arabs who took refuge
in the mosque of Abbas, on arriving at the gate they found it shut, and were recoived by a
volley from a neighbouring honso belonging to Alee Wurdoe Khan, this checked the soldiors,
they rallied and forced tho gate; tho Arabs or Yeramus inside fired at them, s unc shots also
were fired from the minarets and tlireo soldiers killed (tho Turks say fifteen). Tho troops now
became exasperated, and poured in volleys amongst tho dense crowd, a tremendous rush took
place to get away from their fire, men, women and children wero knocked down, some killed
by the bullets, others beiug f rumpled on or crushed to death. The soldiers finding the crowd
retreating, dashed in amongst them cutting away in every direction, sparing neither age nor
sex. The women in vain implored for mercy, they were thrown down and many wero robbed,
some soldiers penetrated the harm of the temple, where they say some Yeramus had secreted
• Thota m*n moit probably were wounded and themselves, eight* men were slaughtcsed dining
crawled in there to die. to the silver railing which surrounds the Saints,
Tomb, and two persons are 6aid to have been murdered on the grave of the Saint, the cloth
which,covers it was saturated with blood.
The court and harem of this Mosque were crowded with men, women and children, many
of whom bad retired there some days previous, with their little property, it having been
pointed out to them as a placo of security by the Chief Priest in obedience to tho Pasha’s
request. On the first alarm, many of tbe chief inhabitants who had opposed the troops to
the lost and some Arabs, flung down their arms, and sought refugo in this place. The court
and building were crowded to suffocation. Tho troops had become quite mad, all discipline
wasatanend. The officers finding the men would not obey their orders had returned to the
Seraskier. The gate of the temple which enters the Bazaar, I was informed, was blocked up
with the bodies of nil ages and 6exes, but mostly children, who had boon trodden to death ; the
soldiers did not hesitate to kill when the slightest opposition was mado, they plundered the
women of their ornaments, many of the dead bodies were burning aud bod covers had been
flung over them to consume them the faster.
About one hour or oue hour and a half to noon, the Seraskier arrived at tho temple of
Iloossein. A messenger had been sent to him with the news that tho soldiers were commit­
ting the greatest horrors, more than two hours had elapsed since the troops had ootored tho
town, he descended from tho bastion, mounted his horse, and accompanied by bis officers roac
up to the gate, and was just in time to savo it from shariug tho same fate as the temple o