The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1885-03-14
How Col. Burnaby Died.


Daily Telegraph a thrilling account
of the battle, aud in il occurs this
description of Colonel Burnaby's
death, which must become his
torical:
"Still down upon us the dark
Arab wave rolled. 1t had arrived
within 800 yards undiminished in
volume, unhroken in strength-a
rush of spearsmen and swords.
men. The rifle fire had ceased.
Other Arab forces surrounding us
the Mshdi's troops, plundering
Bedouins and pillaging villagers
from the river side-stood eager
on the hillsides watching the
charge upon the British square.
In wild excitement, their white
teeth glistening and the sheen of
their brandished weapons flash.
ing like thousands of mirrors, on
ward they came, charging straight
into our ranks.
was at that instant inside the
square, not far from the Gardner
gun, when saw the left face move
somewhat backward. Col. Bur.
naby himself. whose every action
at the time | saw from a distance
of about thirty yards, rode out in
front OF the rear left face, appa.
rently to assist two or three
skirmishers running in hard press
ed, All but one man Of them sue.
ceeded in reaching our lines. Col.
Burnaby went forward to his assis.
tance sword in hand. AS the
dauntless colonel rode forward he
put himself in the way of sheik
charging down Oh horseback.
Ere the Arab closed with him q
bullet from some one in our ranks
brought the sheik hcadlong to the
ground. The enemy's spearsmen
were close behind, aud one Of them
suddenly dashed at Col. Burnaby,
pointing the long blade of his
spear at his throat. Checking his
horse and pulliugit backward, Bur.
naby leapt forward in his saddle
and parried the Moslem's rapid
and ferocious thrusts. But the
length of the mans weapon eight
feet-put 1t out Of his power to re.
turn with interest the Arabs mur-
derous intent. Once or twice Col.
Burnaby just touched his man,
only to make him mere wary and
eager. The affray was the work
of seconds only, for the savage
horde of swarthy negroes from
Kordofan aud straight haired taw'
ny.complexioned Arabs of the
Baynda steppe were fast closing
in upon our square.
Col. Burnaby fenced the swarthy
Arab as ii he were playing in al
assault at arms, and there was Q
smile on his features as he drove
off the mans awkward points
The scene was taken in at glance
With that lightning instinct whicl
| have seen desert warriors be
fore now display in battle Will
coming to one another's aid, al
Arab who was pursuing o soldier
and had passed five PAGES to Bun
naby's right and rear, turned wit
a sudden spring, and this secon
Arab ran his spear into the cole
nel's right shoulder. II was bu
u slight wound. Enough, thougl
to cause Burnaby to twist aroun'
in his saddle and defend himsel
from this unexpected attack.
Before the savage could repea
his unlooked.for blow, SO near th
ranks of the square was the seen
now being enacted, q soldier ra
out and drove his sword bayoDe
through the second assailani
Brief as was Burnaby's glanc
backward at this fatal episode
was long enough to enable tn
first Arab to deliver his spea
point full in the brave officer
throat. The blow drove Burnab
, out of his saddle, but it required
second one before he let go hi
grip of the reins and tumbled u
on the ground.
, Half a dozen Arabs we're no
about him. With blood gushin
= in streams from his gashed thro'
, the dauntless guardsman leapt I
his feet sword in hand and slasl
, ed at the ferocious group. The
, were the wild strokes of a prou'
/ brave man dying hard, and he wa
quickly overborne and left hell
f less and dying"
We learn . strong effort is b