Religious Fanaticism in Egypt.
UNDER the above heading a correspondent of the Pall Mall Gazette relates the following incident, which shows the spirit of blind fanaticism by which the followers of Mohammed are actuated:— “On the 11th of May, at 5 o’clock in the afternoon, Prince Mouroussi (a judge of the first court in Alexandria) was on a visit to Count Zizinia, at Ramleh, a little town near Alexandria. The day had been very warm, and both gentlemen were availing themselves of the cool evening by walking on the large terrace in front of the palace and facing the sea. Suddenly the prince thought he saw a man struggling in the water. On longer examination, both gentlemen discovered that a young man was drowning before their eyes. Immediately the count gave orders for help to be given to the unfortunate man, who was visibly losing strength, and servants were also sent to the nearest guards’ stations on the coast.” “In the meantime, Prince Mouroussi undressed and threw himself into the sea, with the hope of saving the drowning man. In spite of the violence of the waves, he was fortunate enough to reach him, but just as he was going to seize him by the hand a wave separated them, and the young fellow was driven further off shore. By this time the coast guards had arrived, and were energetically urged to give assistance. But no. These worthy officials replied that ‘ninety thousand Christians might perish, but that they would not raise a finger to help them.’ They also loaded with the foulest insults the struggling men in the sea, and the lookers-on were powerless to aid them.” “Two Greeks at last cut off a boat belonging to the Schutz bathing establishment and hastened to the rescue of the drowning youth, and succeeded in saving him and bringing him to the shore. But here Mussulman fanatics would not allow the body to be taken from the boat, nor would they allow medical attendants to interfere. The guards surrounded the boat, and by force drove away doctors and all others who strove to burst their ranks to give their aid to the dying man in the boat. These guards went so far as to prevent the prince dressing himself, and took the two Greeks prisoners.” “Toward 8 o’clock the Countess Zizinia sent to inform Count Voidans of the affair. But when he came it was too late. All he could do was to deliver the Greeks from confinement, and Prince Mouroussi was allowed to dress himself. The young Englishman who has thus fallen a victim to Mussulman fanaticism is about twenty-four years of age; his name is Robert Atkins. The family, and all the witnesses of the scene, are loudly asking for justice against these guards.”