As General Alison garrisoned Alexandria and sent out patrols into the surrounding countryside, the fires continued in the city. Alexandria’s Egyptian Prefect of Police approached the British, requesting a British fire engine and some engineers to repair the waterworks.
“We’ll send all the help we can,” Lord Charles Beresford promised. “We’re here to help the people of Alexandria, not to oppress them.”
With the reinforcements and the help of the US Marines, the British finally ended the looting and established outposts at the city boundaries, doused the fires and cleared the rubble from the streets. However, even with some aspects of normality returning to the city, Alison and Seymour did not believe the Khedive was safe. After protracted negotiations, the Khedive agreed to abandon his pa
