Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-08
DEATH OF GORDON.
The True story orthe Fall of Khar,oum.

Major Kitchener, in a report Just
published, says that the last accurate
information from Khartoum was dated
December IA, 1884, when General Cor
don said "the town may fall in ten
days" Omdurman had been cut off
from Khartoum on November 81, when
it was provisioned for one month and a
half. Ammunition was short even
then. Even on reduced atoms the sup
ply Of food in Khartoum was almost ex-
hausted on January LIST. The Mahdi
knew this. On January 9th General Cor
don offered the Khartoumers who pre-
ferred it the free permission to leave
the town and 60 to the Mahdi. Only
$4,000 Of "a, 600 remained in the town.
0mdurman fell on or about January
18th. The garrison was not injured, and
the commandant we'll treated, so as to
encourage the others in Khartoum to
desert. The Arabs were able then, by
the construction of batteries along the
river bank, to entirely close the White
Nile to Gordon's steamers.
A soRTIE-DEsPERATE FIGHTING.
About the 18th of January the rebel
works having approached the south
front, sortie was made by the troops,
which led to desperate fighting. About
200 Of the garrison were killed, and
although large numbers Of the rebels
were said to have been slain, it does not
appear that any great or permanent adj
vantage was obtained by the besieged
garrison. On the return of the troops
to Khartoum, after this sortie, General
Gordon personally addressed them,
praising them for the splendid resistance
they had made up to that time, and
urging them still to Go their utmost to
hold out, as relief was near indeed,
that the English might arrive any day,
and all would then be well.
GORDON "NEvER SLEPT"
The state of the garrison was then
desperate from want Of food, all the
donkeys, dogs, cats, rats, &C., had
been eaten; a small ration of gum was
issued daily to the troops, and a sort of
bread was made from pounded palm
tree fibres. Gordon held several coun-
ellis Of the leading inhabitants, and on
one occasion had the town most rigor-
ously searched for provisions; the re-
suit, however, was very poor, only
yielding four ardebs Of grain through
the whole town this was issued 10 the
troops. Gordon continually visited the
posts, and personally encouraged the
soldiers to stand finn. 1t was said
during this period that he never slept.
On the Goth Of January the news of
the defeat Of Abu Klea created con-
sternation, and on the ODD the news of
the arrival Of the English at Metammeh
led the Mahdi to decide to make at
once desperate attack upon Khar-
toum before relnforcements could en-
ter the town. 1t is probable that next
day Mahdi sent letters to Farag Pacha,
commanding the black troops, who had
been previously in communication with
him, offering terms for the surrender
Of the town, and stating that the Eng
liSh had been defeated on the Nile.
FARAG PACHA PROPOSES TO SUR
RENDER.
On the 23d General Gordon had a
stormy interview with Farag Pacha.
An eyewitness states that it was owing
to Gordon having passed fort on the
White Nile, which was under Farag
Pacha's charge, and found to be made
quately protected. Gordon is said to
have struck Farag Pacha on this occa-
sion. 1t seems probable to me that at
this interview Farag Pacha proposed to
Gordon to surrender the town, and
stated the terms the Mahdi had offered,
declaring in his opinion that they
should be accepted. Farag Pacha left
the palace in great rage, refusing the
repeated attempts of other officers to
effect reconciliation between him and
Gordon.
On the following day General Gordon
held a council of the notables at the
palace. The question of the surrender
Of the town was then discussed, and
General Gordon declared whatever the
council decided he would never surren-
der the town.
THE EVE OF THE CATASTROPHE.
On the 25th Gordon was slightly ill,
and as it was Sunday he did not appear
in public. He had, however, several
interviews with leading men OF the
town, and evidently knew that the end
was near. 1t has been said that Cor
don went out in the evening, and cross
ed the river to Tut Island on board the
lsmailia, to settle some dispute among
the garrison there. This statement has
not been verified by other witnesses,
but If he crossed the river to Tut there
is no doubt he returned later to his
palace in Khartoum.
On the night Of the 25th many OF the
famished troops fttheirposts on the for
tificaiious in search Of food in the town.
Some Of the troops were also too weak,