The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-02-12
CAPTURE OF gHARTeuM.
II Falls Into the Hands Of the
False Prophet the 26th
Of January.
Gen. Gordon Either q Prisoner or Killed
-Treacherous Arabs Flocking
to the Mahdi
London cablegraml

The streets are filed with an anxious and dis
mayed people. eager 20 catch the last syllable o.
intelligence from the distant Egyptian desert
Universal depression has taken the place OF tho
iubilant qladnfss which few days ago greeted
the news OF Stewards victory near Meiemncn-
This exciting state OF AFFAIRS Is que 70 tne Iacs
that intelligence was received this morning that
Khartoum had been captured Dy the Araglan
rebels. Nothing Is known OF General Gordon,
who Is probably pris oner IN the hands Oh inc
A Cabinet counsel has been summoned to
meet at once. Ola istonc IL fearfully disturbca
by the news. and some people beiieye ne VIII
According to the Daily Ohronicie, the first
telegram was received at the War once last
graph. asserting that it did 20 on otdcial au-
Mority, published the report. which, no -
noon, was not confirmed by the War once
lie q telegram from Gen. Wolseiey announo-
ing that the fall OF Khartoum took place on
Jan &c. COL Wilson arrived at khartoum jan
o. and was greatly surprised to ind that the
enemy were in possession of1hat place. H inn
mediately starred on his return down the river
and proceeded under heavy IRE from the rebels.
When some miles below the Shublaka cataract
Col Wilson steamers were wrecked. but he and
his whole party managed to reach an Island In
safety, where they are secure. steamer mas
gone to bring them back TO the-Brftish camp
near Metemmeh. Gen. Wolscley says he has no
information regarding the fate OF Gen. Gordon,
and does not know whether he
the fact that the first news OF the fall OF khar-
toum received by Gen Wo seley was brought by
q messenger, who left the island where Cen
Wilson got stranded and came on foot TO Gubat
Two messengers were dispatched to kor1. via
Abu-Klea and Gakdul. They reached their des-
tination, which IL regarded IA owing to the
news that khartoum's tall was not known in
the desert. The intelligence OF the disaster,
however. has since spread far and wide. Some
tribes that hitherto professed friendship for
England have declared for El Mahdi The
Arabs still hold Metemneh. The garrison there
received the news Of the fad OF khartoum
with repeated saivos of artillery When
Col Wilson's f,otIla approached Khartoum he
was compelled TO run the gauntlet OF heavy
fire from both banks. The rebels had four
lombard the steamers. When the British force
reached Omdurman numbers OF rebels con-
tinued the fusillade. Things looked worse when
ion OF the island of Tut, Just outside the city.
The English still pushed ahead, but were dis
mayed to find that the garrison commenced mr.
ing upon them. No flags were living from tho
public buildings and the town appeared in I'M
disputed possession of the enemy. The palace
seemed Quilted Finding it impossible to land
in face OF the overwhelming numbers OF rebels.
the British were obliged TO retire.
The rumors concerning the fate Of Gen. Cor
don are many and varied, but all agree that Ell
MahdI captured khartoum by treachery. The
most reliable reports point to one Faraz Pasha
as the traitor. IL is said that be, being left in
charge of the ramparts. opened the gates on
Jan. 26 and admitted the enemy. Some rumors
state that FL Mahdi, together with few Levan-
tines, is cooped mp In the church Others say
that Gen. Gordon was wearing FL Mahdfs
uniform. The majority agree. however, that
Gen Gordon was killed. Col Wilson had three
steamers, two of which were wrecked halfway
between Khartoum and Metemneh. The third
steamer, bearing Col Wortley, came on, and
brought the news to the British camp near
Metemneb.
Lord Woseley does not consider the British
position at Gubat In any immediate danger.
Gen. Stewart is doing well. All the British
wounded have been brought back to the camp
at Gakdul Wells.
native reports that the Mahdi had 60. 900 men
in the vicinity of Khartoum and he introduced
a number OF his enissaries into the city. These
emissaries mingled freely with the native troops
under Gen. Gordon, and by brides, threats. and
working on their religions feelings induced
them to mutiny. Seven thousand
OF the garrison deserted TO the
rebels. leaving Gen. Gordon only
$500 faithful soldiers. With this small force he
attempted 10 hold the city against the Mahdi's
great army. but after severe fiyhting, in which
a large number of rebels were killed, he was
compelled 10 surrender.
Nilfrid Blunt the friend and counsel for Ara
bi Pasha, says that it il his opinion that Ell
Mahdi being humane and well accustomed to
the usages of war, viii treat Gen. Gordon well