Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1885-02-19
KHARTOUM CAPTURED.
GREAT EXCITEMENT THROUGH
OUT THE BRITISH ISLES.


GREAT EXCITEMENT THROUGH
OUT THE BRITISH ISLES.
The Mahdi in Posscssion--Gordon'
Fate Still I'm Doubt-A History of his
Gampaign--Khartoum the Fallen
City.
From, associated Press Dispatches.
LONDON, Feb. 5.-10:15 a. NJ
Gen. Wolseley telegraphs that Khar-
toum has fallen. He says that when
Col. Wilson, who went from Metem-
neh to khartoum, reached the latter
place he found it in the hands of the
rebels. He returned to Montemueh
under a heavy fire from both banks
Of the river.
1890 a. m.-The Daily Telegraph,
on official authority, confirms the re-
the rebels secured the city by treach-
cry. Gen. Gordon is probably a pris-
oner in the hands of the victors.
History of Gordon's Campaign.
From the N z. Hortd
Gen. Gordon has been shut up in
khartoum since May, and, the last
word heard from him was that he
, could hold his position for twenty
years. He was sent from England
just year ago, and the story of his
travels is full OF adventure. In 1881
Mahomet Achmet, Of Dongols, an
nounced to the world that he was di-
rected by God, and under the title of
Mahdi called to his standed all the
tribes around Islam, Kordofan and
tho Western Soudan to battle with
him in the cause of universal equal
ity and a community of goods.
Hicks Pasha, the English comman-
der, and the flower of the Egyptian
troops were swept away by the False
Prophet, who next turned his banners
toward Khartoum and Assum aud
the other towns along the line of the
Red Sea held by English garrisons.
Col. Coetlogon's six thousands troops
could not leave khartoum, for outside
the Lahdi's forces stood ready to cut
them to pieces. The English press,
after the publication of an interview
| with Chinese GoId don in which the
General said evacuation meant death,
demanded that he be sent to the Sou
dan to treat with the Mahdi, and on
Jan. Is, 1884, he left London.
The tirsc word of hope that came
to the English soldiers at khartoum,
was in the spirited telegram they re-
ceived from Gen. Gordon when he
reached Cairo. 1t ran thus: "You
are men, not women. Be not afraid.
L am coming.
Gordon travelled by rail, boat and
dro.nedary, and at every village
through the valley of the Nile he
called the petty chiefs to him and in
vited them to khartoum, there to dis.
cuss the independence of the Soudan.
The three years of warfare which the
people had waged under the leader
ship of the Mahdi had been faithful
only in devastated villages, and they
seemed very anxious to break their
disagreeable union with the False
Prophet. But in order to pacify the
N[t.hdi he proclaimed him Sultan of
Kordofan, at which time he cab.ed to
England that his success had eclipse d
his hopes. AT Khartoum he was pro-
claimed the savior Of people. He
took off half the taxes and burnt the
assessment rolls in the market-place
The doors of prisons were thrown
open and political prisoners freed
In March came the first rumor from
Kordofan that the Malldi had organi-
zed an army of3 10000 men, and come
oat to rid tho country of both infdel
aud Turk. Fanatics from all parts
answered his call, and then Gordoa
discovered that the road from Berber
to Snakm, by whicn, in case ofjust
such an event as occurred, he could
escape with his garrison, was closed
and guarded by the False Prophet
On March 15 Gordon, with 3 900 men
fought the battle of Halfyeh, and
through the treachery of the tive
Pashas, whom he afterwards shot, was
defeated. Gen. Graham captured To-
kar and won victory from Osman
Digna, but Gordon, seeing the roads
| closed behind him, sent word to En-
gland that unless he was speedily as
sisted Graham's victory would go fol
nought; and his mnch needed helE
did not leave England until Septem
ber under Wolseley's command, while
Gordon and his garrison waited anx
iously at Khartoam.