The New York herald., 1879-09-08
Gallant but Hopeless Fight at
the British Embassy.
HELPLESSNESS OF YAKOOB KHAN.
The Usual Talk of Rus
sian Intrigues.
DISCONTENT IN INDIA.
!Dy CABLE TO THE HERALD.

The worst fears regarding the fate of the
British Envoy at Cabul have been realized.
Positive information has been received that
Major Cavagnari and his suite have been
massacred. For this act on the part of
the troops of Yakoob Khan, however
unable he may have been to control
them, England will exact a terrible reck-
oning. In the intense interest felt last
night at all the clubs, the supreme anxiety
of the patriot was mingled with the curio-
sity of the politician. AS the details come
in from the Indian government to the For
eign Office the prospect grows hourly
more serious. The latest authoritative
announcement is to the effect that
the attack on the residence of the British
Agent at Cabul was opened by three regi-
ments of the Afghan army which we're
joined later by nine others. Lord Lytton
telegraphed Saturday night that he was in
receipt of two letters from Yakoob Khan,
with dates to September 4, which left little
doubt but that the worst possible fate
had befallen the British Embassy at the
Ameer's capital.
sToNINa THE TROOPS.
Yakoob Khan writes that the irregular
troops began by stoning small party
Of British officers on the streets It
seemed only an ordinary attack by
mob at first. but the report
that all the British at Cabul were
to be killed spread through the barracks
and the city with great rapidity, and be-
fore all the members of Major Cavagnaris
suite and his body guard could be col
lected from the various parts of the city
an immense crowd had assembled around
the Embassy building and the troops,
leaving the camps and the barracks, ap-
peared in large bodies upon the scene.
THE ATTACK ON THE Embassy
Meanwhile the building had been stoned,
and several shots had been fred from the
crowd, but without perceptible effect A
heavy volley of musketry was then fred
into the crowd from the Embassy building,
followed by several successive volleys.
The destruction of the British Resi-
dency and the lives of its inmates were
demanded on oil sides. death to the
British r. was heard in every mouth. Mean
while fully eight thousand troops, regulars
and irregulars, had thoroughly surrounded
the building and cut off all possible means
Of retreat.
DEATH OF cAvAaNARI.
The force defending the Embassy num-
bered seventy-nine. They fought with the
greatest bravery. 1t is said that
the Ameer's son was fatally in
jured. large number of the mutt
neers were killed. After the buildings of
the Embassy were fred the survivors
sailed out and defended themselves des-
perately, but all were killed, including
Major Cavagnari. Intense excitement pre-
walls throughout India.
YAKooD APPEALS TO THE BRITISH.
The Ameer despatched courier with
his last letter to Lord Lytton, in which
he states that the loss of life on
both sides was considerable, and con-
cludes with the following doleful state
ment, which the excited condition
of the Indian Office enables us to read in
the original Afghan idiom :--"I, with five
attendants, have been besieged oil day yes
terday. Up to now 1 have no certain news
Of the envoy, whether he was killed in his
quarters or captured" Unfortunately we
know the fate Of the gallant party.
NINE rRooPEns ESCAPE.
According to authentic intelligence re-
coivod at Simla ut ak o'clock last evening
Sunday from Ali Kheyl. some of the
natives have come in and reported
that they have seen the dead bodies
of the British officers at Cabul. 1t is
rumored that nine troopers belonging to
the escort have escaped. These doubtless
belonged to that part of the British follow
ers who did not enter the building and who
fed as soon as possible from the Afghan
capital.
SHOULD HAVE BEEN roREsKEN.
The Standards correspondent at Bombay
INSERTS that symptoms of discomfort have
baau notiood M Cahul for sofna TINA