Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-02-08
That Marks the Outpost Of English
AVarics
In the TrsachsrOus Sands Of the
SOudan-
The Latest Tidings From the Far
or
Advance Guard That Heralds Victo-
ria's CoYeiousaess.

The first proposal that an English officer
should be despatched to superintend the
evacuation of the Soudan was made by Sir
Evelyn Barring in December, 1888. At
that time General Gordon was about to
leave London for the Congo. Public opin-
ion, however, demanded that Gordon, whose
splendid services in the Soudan, though uu-
rewarded BY his government had not been
forgotten by his countrymen, should be
despatched to the scene Of his former tn
umph. On January l6 the Egyptian gov
eminent asked that q well qualified British
officer be Sent to Khartoum armed with full
powers, and two days sfterward, General
Gordon departed for Cairo.
The khedi7e's 6rman appointed Generl
Gordon Governor General of the Soudan.
The KhediVe directed him to evacuate the
Soudan, to withdraw the civil and military
authorities, as well as all the troops, and
such of the inhabitants as might wish to
return to Egypt. General Gordon's plan
was to restore the country to the heirs of
the petty sultans who hourished at the time
of Mehemet Ais conquest; to leave it op-
tionsl to these princes whether they would
recognize the supremacy Of the Mshdi or
not: and 70 carry out this program with
avoidance, if possible, of all fighting. Ac-
cording to an estimate of the Soudan Com
mittee there were in the Soudan 10000
Egyptians, and 1000 Egyptian houses doing
q business with Egypt amounting to $780,
900, 0O0 q year.
General Gordon rode on a camel across
the desert to Abu Hsmad. From that place
he first communicated to the government
his intention of using the threat Of al inys-
sion of Turkish troops to induce the Sou
danese to submit to his plans. He thought
that the mere mention of the Padishah's
army would cause a collapse ofall fanstical
feeling. General Gordon arrived at Khar-
toum on February Is. He Immediately
proposed that Zebhr Pasha should be made
Governor General Of the Soudan. This
proposal was viewed uniavorably by the
British government. Gordon insisted that
Zebehr was the only man to carry out his
program, and informed his government that
ifhe we're not appointed a pacific solution
of the question would be impossible. But
the Anti-Slavery Society objected to Iebehr
On account Of his record as a great slave
dealer. And the British government was
afraid of the Anti-SlsYery Society and
would not sanction his appointment. Thls
proved fatal to Gordon's plans. The Mahdi,
seeing that Gordon was taking no active
measures, made hostile demonstrations.
General Gordon then telegraphed thai he
could not eyacuate the Soudan without q
- D-.s.,l Eranna Hn aaEaN
only for 100 men, and if that very modest
demand had been granted General Gordon
would in all probability have fulfilled his
mission-s .,
But the British government which had
refused General Gordon Iebehr for Govern
ora chieftaiu who. according to the sest
authorities, is City times the Mahdis match
we're 80 III advised as to decline TO send
him troops, though their moral effect would
have been great. On the first OF March
Gordon began to feel that his chances OF
success were diminishing rapidly. He sent
a dispateh asking why Wood and his forces
were not utilized to move on to q
and thence to Berber. At last IN disgust
At the inactivity ofhis goyernmsnshe offered
10 resign his commission. bus manly dis-
matches were met with the reply hat the
Government were not prepared to send troops
10 The Soudan. The reason for this was
based on the absurd miseoneeption that the
endowment of British troops to aid IN the
Evacuation would be equivalent to their
employment for the reconquest OF the Sou
dan or Egypt.
The last messages which passed between
Gordon and the government were charac,
teristic. They showed the i~ncapscity OF
he Government and the bravery and deter,
mination of the General. Gordon refused
10 leave Khartoum in state Of anarchy to
fall a prev to the Mahdi, announced his IN,
teution Of never being taken alive, and told
the government that they would eventually
have to smash up the Mahdi at the cost OF
much money and many MN.
Deserted BY the English and beleasGreG
nv the Mahdi's troops, General Gordon held
his own for nearly twelve months. he
Gongbt several battles and inflicted much
loss on the enemy. Every one OF ms pre-
d;ciions has come true. There Is little
Sonbt that If he had been allowed to aP-
point Zebehr Governor he would have eyac-
uualed the SOudan, assured-the Mahd oe'-
trpetion and created ~ the Souoan q