The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-04-17
A HERO'S DEATH.
HOW COL. BURNABY MET HIS FATE
AT ABUKLEA.
The Story as Told by Mr.. Burleigh, the
War Correspondent of a London
Paper - Thrilling Contest
to the Death.

London Daily Telegragh.l
Still down upon US the dark Arab wave
rolled. 1t had arrived within 800 yards, un-
diminished In volume unbroken in strength
"a rush Of spearsmen and swordsmen- Their
rifle fire had ceased Other Arab forces
surrounding us-the mahdfs troops, plum
dering Bedouins, and pillaging villagers
from the riverside-stood eager on the hill
sides watching the charge upon the British
square. In wild excitement, thsir white
teeth glistening and the sheen of
their brandished weapons flashing like
thousands Of mirrors, onward they
came, charging straight into our
ranks / was at that instant inside
the square, not far from the Gardiner gun,
when | saw the left flank move somewhat
backward. Col Burnaby himself, whose
every action at the time saw, from dis
tance Of about thirty yards, rode out In
front of the rear left face, apparently to as
sist two or three skirmishers running In hard
pressed. All but one man Of them succeeded
in reaching our lines. Col 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 horseback. 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 Col
Burnaby, pointing the long blade Of his
spear at his throat Checking his horse and
pulling 1t backward, Burnaby leapt forward
in his saddle and parred the Moslem's rapid
and ferocious thrusts. but the length Of tie
mans weapon-eight feet-put it out Of his
power to return with interest the Arabs
,,la s,,ta fl,,na ftp;r al pnrf,.
ably just touched his man, only to make him
more wary and eager The atfray was the
work of seconds only, for the savage horde
of swarthy negroes from Kordofan and
aight-haired, tawny- -complexioned Arabs
of the Bayuda Steppe were fast closing in
upon our square.
Col Burnaby fenced the swarthy Arab as
IL he were playing in an assault Of arms,
and there was a smile on his features as he
drove off the mans awkward points. The
scene was taken in at a glance With that
lightning instinct which have seen desert
warriors before now display in battls while
coming to another's aid, an Arab, who was
pursuing a soldier and had passed five PAGES
to Burnaby's right and rear, turned with q
sudden spring, and this second Arab ran his
spear point into the colonels right shoulder.
1t was but a slight wound Enough, though,
to cause Burnaby to twist around In his sad
die and defend himself from this unex-
pected attack Before the savage could re.
peat his unlooked-for blow, SO near the inks
of the square was the scene now being en-
acted, a soldier ran out aud drove his sword
bayonet through the second assailant
Brief as was Burnaby's glance backward
at this fatel episode, it was long enough to
enable the first Arab to deliver his spear
point full in the brave officers throat The
blow drove Burnaby out Of his saddle, but
it required a second one before he would let
go of his grip Of the reins and tumbled upon
the ground. Half a dozen Arabs were now
about him. With blood gushing in streams
from his gashei throat the dauntless guards
man leaped to his feet, sword in hand, and
slashed at the ferocious group. They were
the wild strokes of proud, brave man dy-
ing hard, and he was quickly overborne and
left helpless and dying.