DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0053
30 INSURRECTION AT CORFU.
by the enraged Turk, in the middle of the market-place. The mur-
derer was in his turn, killed by another Greek ; and the affair soon
assumed a serious aspect, a general insurrection being apprehended.
We heard the firing of pistols on all sides; and curiosity leading us
to the top of the house, we narrowly escaped being wounded, some
balls passing close to us, one of which entered the wall a very
short distance from us. Several Turks having taken refuge in a
coffee-house, barricaded the door, which was broken open by the
populace; and the Greek who first entered, with a pistol in each
hand, killed two Turks, but was immediately cut to pieces. The
populace then attempted to set fire to the house; but the Turks
rushing out upon their opponents, after killing some Greeks, and
losing some of their own men, retreated across the Esplanade to the
fortress. Seventeen Tm'ks, and not half that number of Greeks,
lost their lives in this affair. There were not above two hundred of
the former in the town, who were protected by the Russians, and
conducted to the fortress. It was with the greatest difficulty that
the Turkish Seraskier prevented his sailors landing, and revenging
their countrymen ; had that happened, a most bloody conflict would
in all probability have ensued ; for the news of the disturbance was
in a few hours carried through the island, and to the opposite coast
of Epiros; and in the afternoon, many thousands of well-armed and
determined Greeks were collected round the walls of the city, pant-
ing with the desire of dyeing their swords in Moslem blood ; and
as some said, of pillaging the town.
The Russians apprehending a continuation of these disturbances,
landed five hundred men, who took possession of the fort which is
near the Esplanade, and commands the city, dismissing the weak
Septinsular garrison, supposing them unable to resist any sudden
assault of the Turks. The senate passed a general pardon ; the in-
habitants were prohibited bearing arms; and our consul, Mr.
Foresti, by his influence and personal courage, was very instru-
mental in restoring tranquillity. The next day we paid a visit to
the Turks in the castle, and were received with much civility by the
by the enraged Turk, in the middle of the market-place. The mur-
derer was in his turn, killed by another Greek ; and the affair soon
assumed a serious aspect, a general insurrection being apprehended.
We heard the firing of pistols on all sides; and curiosity leading us
to the top of the house, we narrowly escaped being wounded, some
balls passing close to us, one of which entered the wall a very
short distance from us. Several Turks having taken refuge in a
coffee-house, barricaded the door, which was broken open by the
populace; and the Greek who first entered, with a pistol in each
hand, killed two Turks, but was immediately cut to pieces. The
populace then attempted to set fire to the house; but the Turks
rushing out upon their opponents, after killing some Greeks, and
losing some of their own men, retreated across the Esplanade to the
fortress. Seventeen Tm'ks, and not half that number of Greeks,
lost their lives in this affair. There were not above two hundred of
the former in the town, who were protected by the Russians, and
conducted to the fortress. It was with the greatest difficulty that
the Turkish Seraskier prevented his sailors landing, and revenging
their countrymen ; had that happened, a most bloody conflict would
in all probability have ensued ; for the news of the disturbance was
in a few hours carried through the island, and to the opposite coast
of Epiros; and in the afternoon, many thousands of well-armed and
determined Greeks were collected round the walls of the city, pant-
ing with the desire of dyeing their swords in Moslem blood ; and
as some said, of pillaging the town.
The Russians apprehending a continuation of these disturbances,
landed five hundred men, who took possession of the fort which is
near the Esplanade, and commands the city, dismissing the weak
Septinsular garrison, supposing them unable to resist any sudden
assault of the Turks. The senate passed a general pardon ; the in-
habitants were prohibited bearing arms; and our consul, Mr.
Foresti, by his influence and personal courage, was very instru-
mental in restoring tranquillity. The next day we paid a visit to
the Turks in the castle, and were received with much civility by the