The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-02-13
rALL OF kHARTouM.


del Falls into the Mahdi's Hands.
LONDON, February s. 10a m.-Intelli-
renee Is just received here that Khartoum
has been captured by the Arabian rebelA
The whereabouts of General Gordon is IN
known. He Is probably prisoner in The
hands Of the yictors
ANOTHER b1sPATCH.
LONDON, 1880 p. M, February 5.-The
War Office has issued ths following: A
telegram from General Wolseley announces
that the fall Of Khartoen took place On
January %. He says Colonel Wilson Or
rived at Kharsoum. January 20. and
vas greatly surprised to find that the
enemy were in possession Of that place.
He Immediately started on his return down
the river and proceeded under q heavy
fire from the rebels. When some miles be-
low the Shuabaca Cataract Colonel Wilson'S
steamers were wrecked, but he and his
whole party managed to reach an island in
safety. where they are secure. A steamer
has gone to bring them back to the British
camp near Metemneh. General Wolseley
says he has no information regarding the
fate Of General Gordon and Ndon't
know whether ne is dead or alive.
Natives report the Mabdi had 600 men in
the vicinity of Khartoun, and he intro
duced number of his emissaries into tia
city. These emissaries mingled freely with
the native troops under General Gordon
and by brides and threats and
working on their religious feel
ings induced them to mutiny and
1000 Of the garrison deserted to
the rebels, leaving Gordon only $500 faith
full soldiers. With this small force he at
tempted to hold the city against Mahdi's
great army. but after severe fighting, in
which large numbers of rebels were killed,
he was compelled to surrender. When
Sir Charles Wilson reached Khartoum he
found the Mahdi's forces occupied both in
town and citadel. He tried to land and
ascertain the fate of Gordon, but this step
he found impossible, the enemy's guns
being turned upon him in full force. He
was therefore compelled to turn his back
upon the fallen city and return to Gubat
without finding out whether Gordon is dead
or alive.
WILSON'S EXPEDITION.
LONDON. February 6.-Lord Wolseley
telegraphs he does not consider the Brit
ish at Guabat In any immediate danger.
The first news of the falfof Khartoum 10
ceived by General Wolseley was brought by
messenger who left the island where Col
Onel Wilson was stranded and. came on foot
to Guabnt Two messengers were dis
patch to KOrti via Abu Klea and GakduI.
They reached their destination, which Is re-
xarded as owing to the news of Khartoum'f
all not being known in the desert. In
telligence of the disaster, however, e..
once spread far and wide. Some tribes
that hitherto professed friendship for Eng.
land have declared for Ell Mahdi,
The Arabs still hold Metemneh. The
garrison there received news of the fall
of Khart0um with repeated salvos Of
artillery. When Colonel Wilson's fOtilla
approached Khartoum he was compelled to
run the gauntlet of a heavy fire from both
banks. The rebels had four Krupp guns on
the river banks at Halfujeh to lombard the
steamer. When the British force reached
Omdurman numbers of rebels continued the
fusilade. Things looked worse when they
discovered the enemy was in possession Of
the Island of Tutti, just outside of the city.
The English still pushed ahead but were
to find that the garrison COM
menced firing upon them. No flags were
flying from the public buildings, and the
town appeared In undisputed possession of
the enemy. The palace seemed to be Quilted.
Finding it impossible to land
in the face of overwhelming num-
bers of rebels the British were obliged to
retire. Rumors concerning the fate Of
General Gordon are many and varied, but
all agree that Ell Mahdi has captured Khar-
tOum by treachery. The most reliable re-
ports point to one Faraz Pasha as the traitor.
1t is said that he, being left In charge of
the ramparts, opened the gates January 26
and admitted the enemy Some rumors
state that Gordon, together with a few
Levantines, are cO0ped up in q church.
Others say that Ell Mahdi was seen wearing
General GordOn's uniform. The majority
agree, however, that General Gordon was
killed. The Pau Mall Gazette of last even
ng. referring to the Khartoum calamity.
says: Nobody can accuse our gal
ant troops Of losing a single mo
nent In their fierce race against
lime in Fastening to the rescue Of the
garrison at KhartOum. The responsibility
rests solely with the ministers who refused
10 allow the Nile expedition to start in
spite of warnings and entreaties until too
ate. The vote in Parliament in favor of
IN appropriation Of e20O, 900 for the relief
If General Gordon was deferred until Au-
.ust 5. Even then If the expedition had
been sanctioned forthwith the precious day
would have been gained, but It was not
until August IL. when the Gov
,rnment finally resolved that It must relieve
General Gorden. That period of hesita-
ion sacrificed Khartoum. Islam Is now
victorious. The revolt and fall of Khar-
Oum will permeate the arch Of the world
md unless the ministry display boIdpess
md wariness equal TO their former dilatori-
Tess, q catastrophe worse than that of
zhartOum will follow. England dare NOT
iy before the Eastern foe. 1t would mean
var and mutiny from one end of Asia to
he other She must reinforce her garri-
ons everywhere, including India, even il it
hall be necessary to call volunteers to do
he work. General Earle must advance
apidly TO Berber. The Suakim garrison
must be reinforced and the road 10 Berber
feared. Every nerve must be strained to
,rove the Khartoum disaster has stiffened
he resolution to hold EnglaDd's flag
loft in the face of every foe. 1t is our
Iuty not to finch. but to prepare for even
ualities and to relieve Metemneh by water.
We have failed to save Gordon. We have
low TO save Stewart" Colonel Wilson had
hree steamers, two Of which were wrecked
n the Nile exactly half way between
<hartoum and Metemneh. The third
bearing Colonel Wortley
md party, came on and brought
he news to the British camp
lear Meteirneh. The excitement attending
he reception of the news of the fall of
ihartoum is increasing. A constant stream
Il anxious inquiries, including Sir William
Iernon HarcOurt George T. Trevelyan aad
cher ministers, il pouring into the war of.
zee. People throughout the provinces a.[
usre greatly excited