The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-06-06 00:00:00

ANOTHER VERSION OF THE LAST
MOMENTS OF THEODORE.

The Petrie if the 29th l'1! ay prints what purports
to be an Abyssinian version of the last moments of
Theodore. The report commences by praising the
loyal and generous conduct of England ; " for, whilst
regretting the monarch who was our friend, and who
now reposes in immortality, we must render homatou
to the courage and will of the rota pierors." On leant.
lug that the English had disembarked, Theodore
thought that they would March on his capital by way
of the fertile plains of Dembea, the entrance to which
he was prepared to defend. Ile regarded the occupa-
tion of Senafd as a ruse de guerre to make him abandon
the fonnitlable mesithets he hold, and did not move.
This is why the English accused Theodore of indecision.
He refused to listen to his spies, and when doubt was
no longer posssiltle it was too late. His cavalry
remained at Amanita, and with 22,000 musketeers he
marched on Magdala. He tried to defend the defiles,
but there was no longer time ; the advanced guard
appeared. His generals, too, were discouraged, and,
gorged with gold, abandoned their chief in his ex-
tremity. The number of Abyssinians buried amounted
to 75,7, whilst 2,139 were wounded.

To the rifle and the steel gnu the victory must he in great
measure attributed but—why slmuld we not say so? —the
English soldiers English is underlined) ilisplayed great
bravery and intrepidity during the assault. and Iv 4•1•0 hnrniruirie
owanls the prisoners and wounded. Accustomed to bloody
reprisals, the Abyssinians expected to be massacred. The
severe discipline cd the English army in preventing excesses
and useless cruelty has won for itself the admiration of the
conquered.

Amongst the dead were seven halanteheras, or men who
resinobled Theodore, mud were purposely dressed like him.
and .ese general-in-chief. The Abyssinians thu ught oil the
lEa Is that the English would remain in Use oeiuilry. and they
desired this. The generosity of the conquerors, their brilliant
triumph, and thdr respect for propeity, caused it to i.e
foreseen that under their administration there would be
liberty, fortune, and protection for commerce, industry,
and agriculture. They feared anarchy if the country were
ethos:sled. Theodore did not commit suicide. Having
witnessed the destruction of MS army, and having Warelleil
ileath in vain amid ball and shell, when Ise saw the head
of the enemy's columns crown the breach, he mulerstmd
that his last hour was come; lie saw that resistance was
impossible, and that he was als.ut to be made prisoner.
This reflection made Into roar. If the English captives had
been sfiiltmm his power, their death would have teen certain.
n lit if Nry, or rather madness, he ordered their ex-
tennin.stion, torgetting that they were free in the English
camp. lab seeing his lower fteethig Iris Ithei with the ihmil
of Isis soldiem cohtemphding Ida empire destroyed, Isis
dynasty overturned, hi: scign finished, inn strcions if te..rs
coursed down Ids cheeks the nui,eles if Isis Uwe and eil.•st
Were contracted wills pain, mul Isis limbs Writhed ill Rosin
despair.
His hitter sufferings should atone for many of his crimes.
Two balantilicra, pistol in hand, stood silently waiting bin
ind,r. He gave his will to Eingheddo. Erosqi, his as,
over his breast he prayed then o ith a hollow yob, he re-
peated several times, " Ethiopia! Ethiopia my wife I say
children !" 'the gate, trembling under the blows of he
assailants, WilS UMW: way. Promlly raising his head, Theo-
dore drew Isis sword to pensh like :us European. "In the
Imsons of the Trinity." said lie to the hal:tiddler:ls, " lire !"
They both aimed at his head, but Emitheiblo's coinage
failed, :nal his anu fell inert. Area slime obeyed, and his
Millet broke the skull of Africa's bravest warrior. Tim
balanteheras remained by the body of their master expecting
it: :1111. At this moment the gate was broken in, and the
Ei,glishni,hthiu'ra, drunk with Iloot and e,,ena, eq.4,4 -
ward. Eingheddo shelved them the lifeless hmly of Theodore.
At this sight the soldiers, stupefied, let tall their arnia, and
the two guards were raved.
The will was copied anti distributed to such tiffitwes as lhol
remained faithful.