Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-04
GORDON a PRISONER.
| Compelled to EVacuate Khartoum He is
Captured while Retreatlng.
| PARIS, Nov, "a dispatch from Cairo

Captured while RetreatIng.
PARIS, Nov. "a dispatch from Cairo
says:
FL Mahdi, in the beginning of September,
hearing OF the advance OF the British forces,
made a supreme effort to reduce khartoum,
which place at the end of September was sur
rounded by 100000 rebels. Supplies failing
the garrison began to waVer. A deputation Of
officers complained bitterly to Gen. Gordon
that they hat been deceived by a promise of
British assistance, and they accused him of
aiding in deceiving them. The deputation
also demanded that a retreat be made
to DOngOla, and threatened that if this
action were not taken they would join Ell
Mahdi. Gen. Gordon theraupOn consented to
the plan proposed. Meanwhile panic arose,
and 5000 soldiers and civilians deserted In a
body. Two thousand men remained faithful
and embarked with Gen. Gordon. The rebels
were advised of what had occurred and har-
assed the retreat to Shendy, where masses of
rebels, provided with artillery, disabled the
fOtilla Only Col. Stewards vessel succeeded
in passing Berber, and shortly afterWard it
was wrecked. The remainder of the fotilla
was obliged to return southwark, and on
reaching Shendy the entire force was cap
tured. About Oct. Gen. Gordon was sent,
under strong escort, to Ell Mahdi's camp,
where he is now close prisoner.
THE NEWS DIsCREDITED.
LONDON, Nov. 3.-The Foreign Office dis
credits the dispatch announcing the capture
of Gen. Gordon. A dispatch from Debbeh
says the powerful Tatara tribes which are
inimical to the MahdI have captured Ell Obeid
1t Is said that El Mahdis prestige is waning
among the tribes between Debbeh and FL
Obeid.
THE "TINEs" DOUBTS.
The Times considers the news reported from
Cairo to Paris to the effect that Khartoum
had fallen into the hands of the rebels, and
that Gen. Gordon had been taken prisoner
extremely doubtful. This view, it thinks. is
especially reasonable in the absence of ad-
vices on the subject from Gen. Wolseley. The
Times traces the report to the BOsphOre
E0yptidn dubious French organ, which may
nave given EurOpeanIzed version of Arab
rumors, which have recently gained some cur
rency in Cairo. Lord Granville, Secretary of
State for Foreign Affair, assured the Press As
sOciatiOn to-day that the government had re-
ceiyed no confirmation of the news. Up to noon
to-day nothing had been received at the gov
ernment Office in regard thereto. a dispatch
to-day from DongOla makes no mention of the
reported fall of Khartoum. 1t says, however,
that Eel Mahdi at last accounts was collecting
his forces around KhartOlm, and had sum-
mOned Gen. Gordon to surrender. The trOOps
of Ell Mahdi had intercepted two messengers
dispatched by the British to KhartOum. The
same dispatch declares that large force of
rebels was at Berber, and that the rebels had
possession OF the wells on the caravan route
between Debbeh and Khartoum. After the
crops are harvested, FL Mahdis forces will be
largely increased.
In the House of Lords this afternoon Lord
Granville SAID that the government had no
reason to believe that the report of the fall of
KhartOum and the capture of Gen Gordon
was true. The House adjourned till Thurs
day.
The Marquis of Salisbury, the Conservative
leader, referring to the instructions given by
the government to Gen. Gordon, said that it
appeared to be the intention Of the govern
ment to abandon all the Egyptian garrisons in
SOudan. Lord Granville denied that the gov
ernment had any intention to abandon Khar-
toum, but he admitted that it had no inten-
tiOn to prolOng the campaign in order to res
cue Sennaar or other garrisOns.
Gen. " Olseley arrived to-day at Dongola,
where he held a conference with the Mudir.
An Alexandria correspondent says that
upon careful inquiry he learns that the report
OF the fall of Khartoum originated from the
following source and gives it for what
1t is worth: A French merchant,
formerly French Consul at Khar-
toum, learned from messengers who
lately arrived from Khartoum that Gen. Cor
don was in want of provisions and forced to
make Il sOrtie. He reached Berber only. Col
Stewart was able to push further north, and
Gen. Gordon started to return to Khartoum,
and when near Shendy he learned that Khar-
toum had been handed over to the rebels,
Gen. Gordon found himself unable to retire
or advance, and was killed there.