Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-08
GEN. GORDON A PRISONER
A STARTLING BUT TTNCON-
FIRMED RUMOR AFLOAT

A STARTLING BUT UNCON-
FIRMED RUMOR AFLOAT.
El Mahdi Announces that He win sub
Jugate the WOrld-Gordon's Mission
one of PacificatiOn-The Rumors of
His Capture Discredited in England
1880 Men Lost In the Tokar ROut.
LONDON, Feb. IA dispatch from
Alexandria asserts that the rebels have
captured Gen. Gordon.
GoRDoN's CAPTURE NOT CERTAIN.
LONDON, Feb. Z, 8 P. M.-No news has
been received at the War Office regarding
the rumOred capture of Gen Gordon The
report was first posted in the window of
the Dditg Ne10S office, but has since been
removed.
GoRDON's MISSION ONE OF PEACE.
LONDON, Feb. Z, 9P. MA letter from
zen. Gordon has been made public in
Whlcn he says: "It is no secret that Eng
land mas abandoned all intention of guar
anteelng continuance of Egyptian SUI
premacy over Soudan. 1t has decided
that the task is altogether too. .Onerous,
ana would be attended with no corre-
spending advantages. 1t will, therefore,
allow the people now in rebellion TO re-
accepts this decision as wise and lust.
''for," he says, sunless England shall
secure Soudan in the possession of a good
government 1t ought not to conquer the
country itself nor allow others to do so.1
zen. Gordoh's mission, therefore is to trv
and arrange with the people in quiet
way regarding their future affairs.
THE DISASTER AT TOKAR.
Inc transport Poonah, now in Ports
mouth, has been ordered to put itself in
readiness to sail forthwith. 1t will take
0OO marines to Suakim. Official advices
from Cairo announce that the total num-
Der of killed near Tokar was 1850. This
includes ninety-six officers, sixteen of
Whom were staff officers. Baker Pasha
telegraphs that he has at present
under his command $500 men,
tnlrd OF whom are unarmed. 1t is Off
claIly denied that the tribes beyond KO-
rOska are in revolt. The government has
ordered the commander of the Mediterra-
mean squadron to Malta to dispatch as
many marines as possible to Suakim, 1t
is expected that he will be able to spare
LOO. A dispatch from Cairo says that
Gen. Gordon cannot reach Berber before
tomorrow. 1t is, therefore, quite impOs-
sIble for any authentic news of his move
ments to reach Cairo before tomorrow.
Inc story of his capture is discredited.
A steamer from khartOum reached Berber
to-day. IL suffered no mOlestatiOn during
the trip.
ANXIETY FOR A CORRESPONDENT.
Great anxiety is felt for the safety of
James Okelly, member of Parliament,
the new correspondent of the DAILY NelCS
IN Egypt. Nothing has been heard from
him since December Is.
'UNITED IRELAND" CONGRATULATEs Ell
DUBLIN, Feb. T. United Ireland this
morning, under the heading "Speed the
Mandl," congratulates the false prophet
on MS recent victory, and hopes that
neither Sinkat nor Khartoum will be re-
HeVed. 1t trusts that Gen. Gordon will
meet with the same fate as Baker Pasha,
and asserts that it will rejoice to hear of
FL MahdTs victorious arrival at Cairo.
THE FRENCH PRESS ON THE SITUATION.
PARIS, Feb. THE Partisan news
papers are Indulging in much sarcasm at
the failure OF England's policy in Egypt.
The journal DeS DebGts considers British
occupation imperative, and urges England
to act promptly in order to prevent the
East from relapsing into barbarism.
La Repu6HQue FrdRcdiSe ironically pre-
sumes that England is strong enough to
act alone, otherwise she would never have
assumed the responsibility of excluding
Europe, and especially France, from par
uclpatlng in the settlement of Egyptian
affairs.
Ell MAHDI TO CONQUER THE WORLD.
NEW YORK, Feb. IA Suakim special
says that EI Mahdi recently wrote to
Osman Digna, the leader of the rebels
in that vicinity that he intended to invade
Turkey and kill the Sultan, to conquer
India and eventually to subjugate the
whole world. Grave fears are entertained
that the Mussulmans of Suakim will
treachereusly rise and massacre the Eu-
ropean residents.
TREACHERY AT SUAKINI
CAIRO, Feb. IA Prefect of Police will
be appointed at Suakim with full powers
over the natives, as many of them are
regularly informing Osman Digna. the
rebel chief, of what is being done ut Sua-
kim. 1t is expected here tnat Gen. Sir
Evlyn Woods army will go to Suakim.
Travellers coming down the Nile report
that the news of Gen. Gordon's mission
was universally welcomed along the
river.
SUAKIM TO BE ATTACKED.
1t is estimated that 800 rebels were
killed in the late fight. The Khedive has
sent message of sympathy to Baker
Pasha. Baker Pasha telegraphs that his
men will be able to hold out for only a
short time behind the trenches. Spies re-
port that the rebels intend to attack
Suakim. The Governor of DOngoIa tele-
graphs that DOngOla and Berber are quiet.
NO NEWS FROM GORDON.
LONDON, Feb. 8, A. MA Cairo dis
patch says: ''Great Indignation is felt
both by Europeans and natives at the
apathy Of the British Government in view
of the recent massacre. There is no news
OF General Gordon, and the general Opin-
ion here is that only a miracle can save
him when the news of Baker Pasha's de-
feat spreads throughout SOudan."
THE REVOLT EXTENDING.
SUAKIM, Feb. IA steamer from Mas
soWah reports that the revolt is extend
ing from Kassala toward the Red Sea.
Everything is quiet in Abyssinia, but the
natives of the territory on the frontier are
declaring for the rebels, with
whom so-caIled friendly tribes are
cooperating. The English sailors
placed in charge of the central
works are on the best of terms with
Baker Pasha's troops. Thirteen thousand
rifles have been discovered IN the poses-
sion OF the Egyptian Governor, who ought
to have delivered them to Baker Pasha or
the latters arrival. The Bazaar here is
crowded with mutinOus rabble of SOL
dlers, and If the enemy attack the town
the blacks, who are more mutinous than
the Egyptians, will probably join the pop
ulace in an uprising against the foreign
ers. The enemy now possesses 1000 Rem
lngtOn rifles, five Krupp guns, two Cat
lngs, two rocket tubes, and an abun-