The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-05-07
BURNAB
How the Distinguished Litterateur Met His
Fate at Abu-Klea.
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How the Distinguished Litterateur Met His
Fate at Abu-Klea.
Colonel Burnaby himself. whose every
action at the time l saw from dis
lance of about thirty yards, rode out
in front of the rear of the left face, ap-
parently to assist two or three of our
skirmishers, who were running in hard
pressed. think all but one man OF
them succeeded in reaching our lines.
Burnaby went forward to the mems as
sistance sword in hand. He told me he
had given to his servant to carry that
double-barrelled shotgun which he had
used so well against the Hadendowas at
Ell Teb in Difference to the noise made
in England by so-called humanitarians
against its use. Had it been in his
hand Burnaby would easily have saved
other lives as well as his own, but they
would have been English lives at the
expense of Arabs. As the dauntles,
Colonel rode forward on borrowed
nag-for his own had been shot that
morning-he put himself in the way OF
a sheikh charging down on horseback.
Ere the Arab had closed with him
bullet from some one in our ranks, and
not Burnaby's sword thrust, brought the
sheikh headlong to the ground. The
enemy's spearmen were close behind,
and one of them suddenly dashed at
Colonel Burnaby, pointing the long
blade of his spear at his throat. Check.
ing his horse and slowly pulling it back
ward, Burnaby leaned forward in his
saddle and parried the Moslem's rapid
and ferocious thrusts; but the length of
the mans weapon, eight feet, put It out
OF his power to return with interest the
Arabs murderous intent. Once or twice
think the Colonel Just touched his man,
only to make him more wary and eager.
The affray was the work of three or four
seconds only. for the savage horde OF
swarshy negroes from Kordofan, and
the straight-haired, tawny-conplex-
Toned Arabs of the Bayuda steepe. were
fast closing in upon our square. Bur-
naby fenced smartly. just as if he were
playing in an assault at arms, and there
was smile on his features as he drove
off the mans awkward points. The
scene was taken in at a glance-with
that lightning instinct which / have
seen the desert warriors before now dis
play in battle while coming to one an
other abby an Arab, who, pursuing
soldier had passed five PAGES to Bur.
naby's right and rear. Turning with
sudden spring, this second Arab ran his
spear-point into the ColonePs right
shoulder. 1t was but slight wound
enough, though. to cause Burnaby to
twist around in his saddle to defend
himself from this unexpected attack.
Before the savage could repeat his I'M
looked-for blow-so near the ranks of
the square was the scene now being en-
acted-a soldier ran out and drove his
sword-bayonet through the second as
sailant. As the Englishman withdrew
the steel, the ferocious Arab wriggled
around and sought to reach him. The
effort was too much, however, even for
his delirium of hatred against the
Christian, and the rebel reeled and fell.
Brief as was Burnaby's glance backward
at this fatal episode, it was long enough
to enable the first Arab to deliver his
spear-point full in the brave officers
throat. The blow drove Burnaby out of
his saddle, but it required second one
before he let 60 his grip of the reins
and tumbled upon the GROUND. Half
a-dozen Arabs weFenow about him. With
the blood gushing in streams from his
gashed throat the dauntless guardsman
leaped to his feet, sword in hand, and
slashed at the ferocious group. They
were the wild strokes of proud, brave
man dying hard. and he was quickly
overborne and left helpless and diving.
The heroic soldier who sprang to his
rescue was, / fear, also slain in the
melee, for-though 1 watched for him
i never saw him get back to his place
IN the ranks Cor. London Teleoraph