The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-02-21 00:00:00

GENERAL GORDON'S DEATH
CONFIRMED,

The following are the messages of the Standard's
special correspondent:
HEADQUARTERS, KORTI, Saturday.
_ . _ _ _ _

Colonel Macalmont has started for the front With
despatches. A messenger from Khartoum has made
his way across the desert to Debbeh. From the
reports that this man brings, the Mudir of Dongola
is at last convinced that Khartoum has fallen and
that Gordon is killed. The wounded are all doing
well.

BOAT COLUMN, DULKI ISLAND, Friday.
General Brackenbury, with the main body of his
command, moves forward to-day to the Shukook
Vass. The position was reconnoitred yesterday by
Colonel Butler, who made a wide detour and came
down ppon the upper end of the Pass. Seeing no
enemy there he rode through it, and found that the
natives had entirely deserted it. On his return with
the news, General Brackenbury ordered the Cornwall
Regiment to advance at once and occupy the posi-
tion, which is now in our hands. The Gordon High-
landers have arrived, and are ordered to push on
rapidly. They encountered immense difficulties in
4etting their boats up the Cataract, owing to the Nile
having fallen considerably since the other regiments
passed up the rapids.
SOUAKIM, Sunday.
A new sandbag battery has been thrown up to cover
the extension of the railway which has now been
carried forward into the plain towards Hassein to a
point thirteen hundred yards beyond the camp. This
will protect the working parties from any sudden
Attack by the enemy. The redoubt was only begun
it daybreak, and was finished before nightfall. It has
been garrisoned by a detachment of Marines. Native
vies report that there is great activity in Osman
Digna's camp. A number of his followers are
employed in digging trenches, throwing up breast-
works, excavating rifle pits, and forming shelters
along the sides of the nullahs. Even the women are
being armed and drilled, and every possible prepara-
tion is being made for an obstinate resistance to our
advance. The news of the capture of Khartoum has
been received at Osman Digna's camp, and has
raised the enthusiasm of his followere to the highest
point.

The special correspondent of the Standard tele-
graphed as follows:
HEAD-QUARTERS, KORTI, Sunday.
The Arab who made his way across the desert
from Khartoum to Debbeh has just arrived here. He
says that he was a cavass employed in the town, and
that he saw General Gordon killed.

He gives the following account of the events at
Khartoum. At early morning on the 27th of Jan.,
Farag Pasha treacherously opened the gate in the
southern wall. The bulk of the Mandi's fighting
men were close at hand, and these at once rushed
Lito the town,
General Gordon hearing the confusion in the town
went out, armed with a sword and axe. He was
accompanied by Ibraheim Bey, the chief clerk, and
twenty men. He went towards the house of the
Austrian Consul.

On his way he met a party of the Mandi's men,
who fired a Tolley. General Gordon was shot dead.
The Arabs then rushed on with their spears, and
killed the chief clerk and nine of the men; the rest
escaped,

Die Consul Nicola is alive, and a prisoner; all the
rest of the Europeans were killed, also most of the
notables. The rest of the inhabitants fraternised
with the Mandi's men.

With the exception of the firing upon General
Gordon's party there were no fighting whatever. No
women or children were killed, and all who sur-
rendered and gave up their valuables were allowed to
go away without harm.
The Mandi is reported to have hanged the traitor
Farag. His troops were, when the man left Khar-
toum, still too much occupied by the plunder of the
town to think of moviwg forward against Gubat. In-
deed, a great many of the Mandi's best troops were
killed at Metemmeh.

The people employed in the arsenal, for the most
part Greeks, were killed by the Mandi's men. The
only person beside Consul Nicola spared and kept as
prisoner was the doctor. All the rest were kept pri-
soners for three days, and then allowed to go free.
The Mandi did not enter the town until three days
after its capture, and then only remained there for a
short time.

Farag Pasha was a black slave. He was given his
freedom and advanced by General Gordon who trusted
him implicitly.
The Mandi has with him at Khartoum four
thousand good fighting men, but these have been
much scared by the disaster which befel their com-
rades who went to Metemmeh, and by the reports of
the terrible destruction dealt by the white soldiers
there and at Abu Klett.

A messenger who has arrived from Gubat to-day
reports that General Buller has arrived there, and
has assumed the command. All the wounded have
left Gubat, and should by this time have reached
Gakdul.

A large body of the enemy from Berber marched
to assist those at Meternmeh, but were recalled by
the Emir of Berber upon the latter hearing of the
Boat Column coming up the Nile towards Berber.
Some deserters from Khartoum, who have arrived
at Gubat, assert that the Mandi will shortly advance
against us there, others deny this. Some of the
enemy have been leaving Metemmeh, and we hope to
hear of the capture of that place by General Buller
in a few days.
A Sheikh of the Kabbabish tribe reports that men
who have arrived from Khartoum say that there is
much sickness and disaffection among the Mandi's
troops, and that many are Jeaving him and making
off to their homes, and that many more are only
anxious for peace under English protection.
The Mandi has sent out a Proclamation demand-
ing fresh levies from the tribes, saying that the
English are few, but have much wealth with them,
and that the gates of Paradise are now open to all
true believers.

There is very little response to the Proclama-
tion, as the tribes obj ect to conscription, and are
heartily sick of the war, and most anxious for peace
and quiet again.
Chief Paymaster Olivey has arrived here. General
Dormer is expected to-morrow or next day.
MONDAY.
General Sir Evelyn Wood left to-day for Gubat.
Lord Wolseley has held a review of the troops ill
camp here. The Mudir of Dongola was present.

FIGHTING NEAR ABU ICLEAi
A CONVOY ATTACKED.

The special correspondent of the Morning Post
telegraphed, Korti, Feb. 17, messengers have arrived
here with despatches from Gubat dated the 12th
inst. General Sir Itedvers Buller reached Gubat on
that day.
A convoy with all the sick and wounded who
could safely be transported started from Gubat on
the morning of the 13th under Major Talbot, and
met a large number of the ememy ten miles out who
were on their way to reinforce the main body of Arabs
holding Metemmeh. A lively skirmish ensued, which
resulted in a few casualties on our side, none of
them, however, of a very serious nature.
During the encounter the Light Camel Corps on its
way from Abu Klea to Gubat came in sight, where-
upon the enemy beat a hasty retreat.
Sir Herbert Stewart is among the wounded who
are being conducted by the convoy, and is doing well.
The convoy is due at Gakdul to-morrow.
It is reported that some dervishes and the Has-
saniyeh tribe are threatening to attack Abu Haifa.
The following has been received by the Secretary
of State for War from General Lord Wolseley, dated
Korti, February 17, 1885 (11.55 p.m.) :
"All remaining sick and wounded, seventy-five of
all ranks, left Gubat early morning of 13th inst., and
reached Abu Klea safely.
"When some eight or nine miles distant from
Gubat halted for breakfast, and when about to resume
march had a long skirmish with a convoy of men,
guns, and ammunition, on the way from Khartoum
to Metemmeh. -

"The skirmish lasted about one hour and a half,
when the enemy retreated.
"The Light Camel Regiment, on its way from Abu
Klea :to Gubat, arrived towards the close of the
skirmish.
"Colonel Talbot commanded our convoy, and
:peaks in high terms of men's conduct, and especially
reports upon excellent work done by Surgeon-Major
Conolly.
"All sick and wounded doing well, and have not
suffered from journey.
"lie gives a fair account of Sir H. Stewart's condi-
tion. His wound is doing well, but he is suffering
somewhat from fever. - -

"Convoy should be at Gakdul to-morrow.
"List of casualties will follow,

:‘ Killed—One private.
"Wounded dangerously—One non-commissioned
officer.

"Wounded—Four men."

REVIEWS BY THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE.
On Saturday the Duke of Cambridge inspected the
troops at Aldershot under orders to depart for the
Soudan. They form the first contingent of the rein-
forcements to be sent, and great interest was taken in
the event, as was evinced by the large number of
people who assembled on the various parade grounds.
The Commander-in-Chief first made a minute inspec-
tion of the 20th Hussars, passing along the ranks,
which were in open order, the splendid band of the
regiment playing meanwhile. He then, accompanied
by the staff, took up his position at the saluting point,
whilst the regiment passedin various formations down
to single file, and it was admitted by every judge that
a smarter and better mounted body of cavalry had not
been seen for a very long period. At the conclusion of
the ruancenvres the Duke of Cambridge addressed
Colonel Mangles and the men under his command.
He said ho had come down to see them on the eve of
their proceeding to the far East, and he was glad to
say that he had found them very efficient, both as to
men and horses, although the latter had been in some
cases a little fresh that morning. He, however, made
every allowance for any irregularity, that might have
occurrecl, ap2.3 was happy to siciLtbat from wllt,t he had



see 3 6f these two squadrons they were as efficient as
4 could have hoped to see them. lie telt satisfied
*hen they got to the front that, altheatgh they were a
young regiment, and had many intanerienced men
among them, they would be found capable of perform-
ing good work, and that they would do it. Their
gallant comrades in the 10th and 19th Hussars had
done good service where they were now going, and he
was sure they would do the same, and bring credit to
their regiment, satisfaction to their superiors, and the
appreciation of their fellow countrymen. They had
a rough time before them—he might say a very
rough time—but never mind, there was nothing
like roughing it when they were young. He
would urge them, therefore, not to be disconcerted at
bard work, and would press them, above all things, to
take care of their horses, for that was the first duty
of every cavalry soldier. He wished them good morn-
ing and success to the regiment. His Royal Highness
then proceeded to the parade ground of the South
Camp, where he inspected the Telegraph, Commis-
sariat, Transport, Army Medical Staff, and Military
Mounted Police, who marched past, whilst the 73rd
Royal Highlanders' band played. At the conclusion
of this parade the Duke of Cambridge addressed the
men, who were formed into close colr.mn. He told
told them they had hard work before them. They,
however, worked well on parade, and he hoped to see
them back safe after completing the difficult task they
had before them. The Duke of Cambridge then pro-
ceeded to the North Camp, where he inspected the
3rd Rifle Brigade, also under orders for the East, and
to whom he addressed a few words of encouragement,
His Royal Highness was afterwards entertained by the
officers, and subsequently returned to London.