Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-08-28
rnE SIEGE OF cAsDAHAR,


Among the latest and most interesting
phases OF the English wal In Afghan
is,an Is tho siege Of Canhahar. A few
months ago the English appeared to
have the best OF the situstion and to
have the Aishans pretty well subjuga-
ted; in fact. the troops were being with
drawn. Suddenly. however. the war Is
renewed with greater fsrocity than ever,
the English troops are beaten on the
field. and at Csndahar General Primrose
and his brave little command lind them
selves bottled up within those walls and
in a state Of siege. surrounded BY q
strong force OF the Aighans. Troops are
being FASTENED forward to his relief,
and the siege must be ioreibly raised
very shortly. unless the bssiessrs dis
pose OF the question by capturing the
city. As It now stands the problem Is .
very interesting one, especially to those
inside tho walls. Should the Aighans
succeed in conqusriug the garrison and
capturing the city, the trouble OF the
British invaders may DO found to have
simply commenced. They are not
fighting Zulus. but live enemies ready
and willing to fight them man for man on
equal terms at any time. In order to
give q comprehensive idea OF the situa-
ton. We give the following descriptive
account from the New York World OF
the goth instant:
Candahar IL In form almost Q rectangle.
the northwestern corner projecting some
what. the eastern and western sides being
about 1000 aud the others 1000 yards in
length. making the circumference OF the
city about ~ miles. In the center OF
each face is a gate. that on the north being
called the Temple Gate. that on the south
the Shikarpur Gate. that on the east the
Cabul and that on the west the Herat.
Four streets, or bazasrs. run from these
gates and meet in q central market-place,
the ehar.u, which 10 circular in form and
covered with o dome 100 feet 10 diameter.
The other streets are mere lanes between
very lofty houses. Round the whole city
runs q mud wsll about thirty feet high
and thirty feet thick. with several bastions
and . moat. No n regards u as . seri-
Gus obstacle to q resolute assailant, for In
many places IL has been partially preached.
the houses OF the suburban villages come
close up to IL, and in some places 10 has
been scooped out TO mako recesses for
dwellings, and 80 10 q mere shell. A canal
runs through the city from east TO ives.
Just above and parallel with the Csbul
and Herat gates. The city's population Ia
some $4,000.
The citadel is in the middle OF the
northern wall. having its bacx against the
Temple Gate and facing upon . large
shingle. strewn plaza. from which runs the
Citadel Bazaar down to the central ehar.a.
The walls are Of mud. sixteen feet thick
on an average, and about twenty feet high;
the square they inclose 10 about 500 feet
each way. There are large bastions at
each corner, and two intermediate has.
tons on each side. except on the south
face. which fronts the city. where there 10
In the center Q projecting six.sided bastion
Of great strength. formed Of masonry.
Within the citadel are innumerable small
SQUARES, originally separated by high walls
ard ianked with roses and mulberries, and
having tanks OF masonry in the center; the
~oellars and subterr.uean stables arc in
good repair. but the buildings above were
, in -ruinous stat, when the English nrsi
\, oeeupied the citadel. The tanks are fed
from the canal, and contain about $50. o0O
gallons Of water, which would give three
I thousand men two gallons . day each for
six weeks. A recent authority says the
supply can be cut Of outside the city with
ont difficulty, and that unless the tanks
are constantly ~replenished. the water turns
filthy and there Is much loss from leakage.
or ali the wells In the citadel, but one il
Wholesome, but there 10 q second one Ius,
outside the eastern wall.
y On The lin inst. General Primrose sen.
vord that he had water for forty.ayo DAYS,
and had lo.s Elective Europeans. $3.50
natives and 3s2 sick under his command.
=, These ara probably composed, after allow.
ing for the Losses under General Burrows.
Fusileers; the Thirtieth Bombay Native
I Infantry. with parts OF the firs, and
S'h roO, ,.o h.,,.r;s. % nsiS