The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-06
FALL OF KHARTOUM.

The City in Possession of the Mahdi-Gordon
Supposed To Be Dead.
LONDON, Feb 5, 10 A. M. Intelligence has
just been received here that Khartoum has been
captured by the Arabian rebels The where
abouts of General Gordon is unknown, but he is
probably prisoner in the hands of the victors.
1915 A. M.-General Wolseley telegraphs that
Khartoum has fallen. He says that when Colo
mel Wilson, who went from Metemneh to Khar-
toum, reached the latter place he found it in the
hands Of the rebels He returned to Metemneh
under heavy fire from both banks of the
river.
1880 A. M.-The Daily Telegraph, on official
authority, confirms the report of the fall of Khar
toum. 1t says the rebels secured the city by
treachery.
II Noon. The morning papers issue extra
editions in which they continue to affirm the fall
of Khartoum but the War Office as yet has
given out no official intelligence in regard there
to- and refuse to state the character of the dis
patches received from General Woseley, or to
declare whether the report is true A report
that Khartoum had been taken by the rebels
reached Korti by messengers from Gubat but it
is said no official dispatch from Colonel Wilson
confirming the report has been received by Gen.
eral Wolseley. 1t is possible that Colonel Wilson
was unable to reach Khartoum, owing to the
heavy fire of the enemy, and that his return gave
rise to the report that Khartoum had been cap
tured. At this hour no official confirmation of
the report has been published, and so far it rests
wholly on the statements contained in the
Chronicle and Telegraph.
THE NEWS CONFIRMED.
1890 P. M-The War Office has issued tele-
gram from General Wolseley, announcing that
says Colonel Wilson arrived at Khartoum on
Jan. %, and was greatly surprised to find that
the enemy were in possession of that place. He
Immediately started on his return down the
river, and proceeded unde: a heavy fire from the
rebels When some miles below the Shublaka
cataract, Colonel Wilson's steamers were
wrecked but he and his whole party managed
to reach an island in safety, where they are Sc
cure. 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 does not know
whether he is dead or alive.
PIP. M.-There is no longer any doubt that the
Mahdi holds possession of Khartoum. Some
hopes are entertained that General Gordon may
still be holding out in the citadel of the town.
Meanwhile, the excitement in London and every
where throughout the British isles where the
news is known, is rising to fever heat Clubs
and public resorts of every description are
thronged by crowds of people, eager to catch the
least syllable of intelligence from the distant
Egyptian desert Through Fleet street and the
Strand it is impossible to make ones way,
so crowded are the thoroughfares with throngs
of curious and excited citizens Most people
take gloomy view of the position of the British
troops in the Soudan The jubilant gladness
which has characterized England in regard
to Egypt since the welcome news
OF Stewards successful arrival in the neghbor-
hood of Metemneh was received, has given way
to universal depression, and expressions Of dis
may and foreboding come from almost every
body. 1t is too early to estimate the influence
of the news on the political situation. The War
Office is besieged with army officers rendering
their services for active duty in the Soudan
Numerous kilograms are being received from off,
GERS throughout the county, asking assignments to
a rescue expedition, should the government con-