Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-02-27
CAPTURE OF KHARToUM.

OAF Onc VT NIlHiN
It Falls into the Hands of the raise
Prophet-General Gordon Either II Fris-
oner or Killed Treacherous ARABS
Flocking to the Mehdi-EXcitement IN
England.
LONDON. Feb. 6.-The War Office has is-
sued the following: kilograms from Cen
eral Wolseley announce that the fall OF
Khartoum took place on January 26. lie
says Colonel Wilson arrived at khartoum
January 2s and was greatly surprised
to find that the enemy were III
possession of that place. He lmme-
diately started on his return down the river
and proceeded under a heavy fire from the
rebels. When some miles below the Shu-
blaka Cataract Colonel Wilson's steamer
was wrecked, but he and his whole party
managed to reach all island i'll safety, where
they are secure. A steamer has gone to
bring them back to the British camp near
Metemneh.
General Wolseley says he has no infor-
nation regarding the fate of General Cor
don, ana does not know whether he is dead
or alive.
There is no longer any doubt that the
Mehdi 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 Lon
don and everywhere throughout the Brit
ish Isles where the news is known
is rising to fever heat. The clubs
and public resorts of every description are
thronged with crowds of people eager to
catch the last syllable Of intelligence from
the distant Egyptian desert. Through
Fleet Street and the Strand it is almost
impossible to make ones way, so
crowded are these thoroughfares with
throngs of curious and excited citizens.
Most people take a gloomy view of the po-
sition of the British troops in the Soudan.
The jubilant gladness which characterized
England in regard to Egypt ever since the
welcome news of General Stewards sue
cessful arrival in the neighborhood of
Metemneh was received has given
way to universal depression, and
expressions of dismay and forebod-
ings come from almost everybody. 1t is
too early to estimate the influence of the
news OIL the political situation. The War
Office is besieged with army officers tender
ing services for active duty i'll the Soudan.
Numerous kilograms are being received
from officers throughout the country asking
assignments to rescue the expedition, should
the Government conclude to take such ac-
ton.
The capture of Khartoum has created
grave fears, especially in army circles, for
the safety of General Stewart and his army.
A number of military officers of repute even
express the opinion that unless reinforce
ments are hurried forward to korti the fall
of Khartoum may lead to disasters under
Lord Wolseley and General Earle.
The military authorities are of the opilr
ion that General Gordon sent the greater
part OF his troops down the Nile to meet
Stewards forces, and so depleted the gar
rison in the town and citadel of Khartoum
that an attack by the enemy from Omdur-
man was rendered much easier.
Native reports are that the Mahdi had
60, 900 men in the vicinity of Khartoum, and
that he introduced a number of his ennis
saries into the city. These emissaries
mingled freely with the native troops
under General Gordon, and by brides,
threats and working on their religious
thousand of the garrison deserted to the
rebels, leaving Gordon. only $500 faithful
soldiers. With this small force he attempt.
ed to hold the city against the Mahdi's
great army, but after severe fighting, in
which a large number of rebels were killed,
he was compelled to surrender.
Further details reveal the fact that the
news of the fall of khartoum received by
General Wolseley was brought by a mes
senger, who left the island where Colonel
Wilson got stranded and came on foot to
Gubat. Two messengers were dispatched
to Korti via Abu-Klea and Gakdul. They
reached their destination, which is regarded
as owing to the news that Khartoum's fall
was not known in the desert. The
intelligence of the disaster, however, has
since spread far and wide. Some tribes
that hitherto professed friendship for Eli.
gland have declared for Ell Mehdi. The
Arabs still hold Metemneh. The garrison
there received the news of the fall OF
khartoum with repeated saivos of
artillery. When Colonel Wilson's 1otilIa
approached Khartoum he was COM
PEELED to run the gauntlet of a heavy
fire from both banks. The rebels had four
krupp guns OH the river banks at Halfiyeh
to lombard the steamers. When the British
force reached Omdurman numbers of rebels
continued the fusSillade. things looked
worse when it was discovered that the enemy
was in possession of the Island of Tut, Just
outside the city. The English still pushed
ahead, but were dismayed to find that the
garrison commenced firing upon them. Nc
flags were flying from the public buildings,
and the town appeared in the undisputed
possession OF tile enemy. The palace
seemed Quilted. Finding it impossible to
land in face of the overwhelming numbers
Of rebels, the British were obliged to retire.
The rumors concerning the fate of General
Gordon are many and varied, but all agree
that Ell Mehdi captured Khartoum by treach.
cry. The most reliable reports point to one
FaraZ Pasha as the traitor. 1t is said that
he, being left i'll charge of the ramparts,
opened the gates OH January 26, and ad.
mitted the enemy. Some rumors state that
Ell Mehdi, together with a few Levantines
is cooped up in the church. Others
say that General Gordon was seen wear.
ing Ell Mehdi's uniform. The majority
agree, however, that General Gordon
was killed. Colonel Wilson had three
steamers, two of which were wrecked
halfway between Khartoum and Metem-
neh. The third steamer, bearing Colonel
Wortley, came on, and brought the news to
the British camp near Metemneh. LORD
Wolseley does not consider the British 20.
sitlon at Gubat in any immediate danger.
General Stewart is doing well. All the
British wounded have been brought back tc
the camp at Gakdul Wells.
1t is understood that the fall of Khartoum
will not x,nrI- 4Io oI,o,,o ~ I~....I