Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-05-14
HOW BURNABY DIED.
Struggling With a Crowd of Arabs-The
Sword AGAINST the Spear.

Mr.. Burleigh, the war correspondent
who was wounded at Abu Klea, has,
under the inspiration of his hurt, writ
ten to the DAILY Telegraph a thrilling
account of the battle. and in it occurs
this description of Colonel Burnaby's
death, which must become historical:
Still down upon US the dark Arab
wave rolled. 1t had arrived within
800 yards undiminished in volume, I'M
broken in strength-a rash OF spears
men and swordsmen. Their rifle fire
had ceased. Other Arab forces sur
rounding us-the Mahdi's troops,
plundering Bedouins and pillaglng vii
layers from the river side-stood eager
on the hillside watching the charge
upon the British square. In wild eX-
element, their white teeth glistening
and the sheen of their brandished
weapons flashing like thousands of
mirrors, onward they came, charging
straight into our ranks.
II was at that instant inside the
square, not far from the Gardner gun,
when [ saw the left face move some
what backward. Colonel Burnaby
himself, whose every action at the time
[ saw from a distance of about thirty
yards, rode out in front of the rear left
face, apparently to assist two or three
skirmishers running in hard pressed.
All but one man of them succeeded in
reaching our lines. Colonel Burnaby
went forward to his assistance sword
in hand. As the dauntless Colonel
rode forward he put himself in the way
of sheik charging down on horse
back.
ERE the Arab closed with him
bullet from some one in our ranks
brought the sheik headlong to the
ground. The enemy's spearsmen were
close behind, and one of them suddenly
dashed at Colonel Burnaby, pointing
the long blade of his spear at his throat.
Checking his horse and pulling it back
ward Burnaby leaped 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 inter
est the Arabs murderous intent. Once
or twice Colonel Burnaby just touched
his man, only to make him more wary
| and eager. The affray was the work
of seconds only, for the savage horde
of swarthy negroes from Kordofan and
straight-haired, tawny-complexioned
Arabs of the Bayuda steppe were fast
closing in upon our square.
Colonel Burnaby fenced the swarthy
| Arab as if he were playing in an as
[ sault at arms, and there was smile on
| his features as he drove off the man S
| awkward points. The scene was taken
in at a glance. With that lightning
instinct which [ have seen desert war
riors before now display in battle while
coming to one another's aid, an Arab
who was pursuing a soldier and had
passed five PAGES to Burnaby's right
and rear, turned with a sudden spring,
and this second Arab ran his spear
| point into the ColoneFs right shoulder.
1t was but a slight wound. Enough
| though to cause Burnaby to twist
! around in his saddle and defend him
| self from this unexpected attack.
Before the savage could repeat this
| unlocked for blow, so near the ranks of
the square was the scene now being
| enacted, soldier ran out and drove
his sword bayonet through the second
assailant. 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 officer S throat. The blow drove
Burnaby out of his saddle, but it re-
| quired second one before he let 90 his
grip of the reins and tumbled upon the
| ground.
''Half dozen Arabs were now about
him. With 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
a proud, brave man dying hard, and he
was quickly overborne and left helpless
and dying" -NeaU York Herald.