The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-03-05
THE FIRING BEGINS.

After an advance of three miles
had been accomplished the earth
works of the rebels come in sight.
Guns were mounted and standards
were flying 10 the sultry air. The
rebel fire had now almost ceased,
except on the extreme right and left
where it still continued to be direc-
ted..at the scouts. The British step
ped forth as~if on a holiday parade
the bagpipes playing and highlan-
ders footing cheerily. They advan-
ced until they were within 500 yards
of the rebels position, where an old
sugar mill was standing surrounded
by a number Of native huts, and
where also stood fort with two
guns, Here a halt was ordered
and the scouts rejoined the caval-
ry.
Neither force seemed disposed to
open fire. At last attention" Was
called, whereupon the rebels, seeing
the British move, began the battle
with a shell from Krupp gun cap
tured from the Egyptians. The she'll
passed wide ever the square. The
next two shots were aimed with
greater accuracy and the shells burst
close to the British, weunding sew
eral. At this point a piece of shell
wounded Baker Pasha in the face
and 20 men were hit.
SLAUGHTERED BY THE BRITISH.
Then the British opened fire with
guns and Martini rifles, causing the
rebel fire rapidly to slacken and al
most to cease. At this the bugles
sounded a fresh advance. The
troops rose, wheeled round in the
centre of the square and approached
the rebel works. The rebels were in
no military or6er, but were scattered
here and there, 80 as to take advant-
age of the abundant cover which the
ground afforded. They clung to
their position with desperate tenaci-
ty. There were 1000 rebels directly
in front. while many hundreds hung
around the two sides of the square
As the British moved forward
firing as they advanced, the rebels
armed with spears and huge cross
hilted swords, rose within 200 yards
of the advancing lines and rushed
against the British at breakneck
speed, needless and fearless of death.
The rebels fell right and left, though
some rf the brave fellows reached
within five PAGES of the square. None
of them bolted they only fell back
sullenly when they were forced.
Having cleared the ground in
front with their Martini rifles the
British attacked the fort. Colonel
Burnaby was the first to mount the
parapet, firing double-barreled
shotgun into the enemy. Around
the works the rebels fought with fu-
risus energy and frightful melee of
bayonets and spears took place. At
last the British gained possession of
the fort. They captured two krupp
guns and at once turned them
against the enemy, but the Arabs
still contested every inch. They
would not submit to be driven Off
they could only be killed.
The British next directed their
attention to the old sugar mill,
brick building containing an iron
boiler. This they stormed and sue
ceeded in disl3dging two hundred
rebels, who leaped forth and charged
from every opening.
PURSUING THE REBELS.
At one o'clock, after an hour of
inte Sc fighting, the rebels gave
way and bolted outright The Cat
ling guns and Martini rifles had
caused great havoc there. The Brit
ish pursued them as they fell back
and advanced as far as the fresh
water wells of Teb, where the rebels
made their last stand. Sheikhs, who
advanced empty handed to show