The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-28
GEN. GORDON IN THE SOUDAN
Additional Extracts from the Diaries of
the Defender of KhartOum.
A Man Whom He Thought lie Should Like
A Queer Mixture of Cynicism and Sa-
tire-An Incident of the Siege.

what skunks men are One of my greatest wor-
ries are the Shaggyeh, who are constantly feath-
ering towards me, or towards the Mahdi. / ex-
pect both sides despise them equally. Accord
Ing to history, the same thing went on during
the reign of James III. When William of Orange
landed Queen Annes husband the Prince of
Denmark, did not show we'll in the affair, and
expect that the Empress Eugene could say
good deal for traits" during her time. l must
say cordially hate them, and if had my way
would smite the Shaggyeh, but policy says
''give them rope" have told them distinctly
that l know it is self-interest alone which
rules them, which, however, is plati-
tude, for it governs most of as
Dear General Gordon-Mr. Egerton has
asked me to send you following August 30.
Tell Gordon steamers are being passed over
second cataractS, and that we wish to be in
formed through Dongola exactly when he ex-
poets to be in difficulties as to provisions and
ammunition Message ends: Lord Wolseley
is coming out to command. The Thirty fifth
regimentis now being sent from Halfa to Don
COLA. Sir e. Wood is at Halfa General Earle,
Dormer, Butler and Freemantle are coming up
Nile with troops think an expedition will be
sent across from here to Khartoum, while an
other goes with steamer to Berber. few words
about what you wish done would be very accept
w. II. H. T.,
DEBBEH, Aug. 81"
I am sure l should like that fellow Egerton.
There is light hearted popularity about his
communications and 1 should think the cares
of life sat easily on him. Notice the slip in
margin. He wishes to know exactly day, hour
and minute that he (Gordon) expects to be in
difficulties as to provisions and ammunition
Now, really think if Egerton was to turn over
the archives Ia delicious word) Of his office, he
would see we have been in difficulties for provis-
ions for some months. 1t is as if man on the
bank having seen his friend in river already
bobbed down two or three times, halls: II say,
old fellow, let us know when we are to throw you
the life buoy. l know you have bobbed down
two or three times, but it is a pity to throw you
the life buoy until you really are in extremis,
and l want to know exactly, for am a man
brought up in school of exacGitude, though
did forget (!l to date my June telegram about
that Bedoun escort contract" Egerton is sta
tistician He evidently is collecting material for
some great work. What earthly use is it to US
for Egerton ito know exactly our want of
provisions" when he is 500 miles away!
With respect to letters written to the Mahdi
and to the Arab chiefs, commenting upon the
apostacy of Europeans they may, and are. no
doubt, hard, but it is not small thing for a
European, for fear of death, to deny our faith;
it was not so in old times, and it should not be
regarded as if it was taking off one coat and
putting on another. If the Christian faith is a
myth then let men throw it off; but it is mean and
dishonorabe to do so merely to save ones life if
one believes it is the true faith What can be
more strong than these words: He who denies
me on earth will deny in heaven" The old
martyrs regarded men as their enemies who
tried to prevent them avowng their faith.
In the times of Queens Mary and Eliza
beth what men we had, and then it
Co.. aoa %ho. fAr I'LL
question of the mass, while here it is the ques
ton of the denial of our Lord and of his passion.
1t is perhaps we'll to omit this, if this journal
is published, for no man has a right to judge
another Politically and morally, however. it
is better for us not to have anything to do with
the apostate Europeans in the Arab camp.
Treachery never succeeds, and however matters
may end it is better to fail with clean hands
than to be mixed up with dubious acts and dubi
GUS men. Maybe it is better for us to fall with
honor than to gain the victory with dshonor,
and in this view the ulemas of the town are
agreed; they will have naught to do with the pro-
posas of treachery.
We are wonderful people; it was never our
government which made us great nation; our
government has been ever the drag on our
wheels 1t is, of course on the cards that Khar
toum is taken under the nose of the expedition
airy force, which will DE just too late. The ex-
pedionary force will perhaps think it necessary
to retake it; but that will be of no use, and will
cause loss of life uselessy on both sides. 1t had
far better quietly return, with it's tail between
its legs; for once Khartoum is taken, it matters
little if the opposition say You gave up Khar-
toum," or ''You gave up Khartoum SEMINAR
ETC., the sun will have set, people will not care
much for the satellites. England was made by
adventures, not by it's government, and [ be-
lieve it will only hold its place by adventures.
II Khartoum falls, then GO quietly back to Cairo,
for you will only lose men and spend money
uselessly in carrying on the campaign.
had to make three more arrests--when once
one begins this detestable practice, one never
can stop. AS far as l can judge, the mass of
people approve of the arrests | am now going
on the principle in for a penny, in for pound
Wilifrid Blunt will make nice row about this.
It is very odd we have had no one in from
the Arabs for two days Glad to say found
out one arrest not just, and have let the man
out
jeremiah was arrested over and over again,
and let out by King Zedekiah. / wonder how
any man can possibly wish to enjoy despotic
power He can never be happy comfort
able If he has any pretensions to conscience.
Although man is the essence of treachery
believe every man wishes to be honest his inter
ests prevent him.
1t Is very curious but if I am in bad temper,
which fear is often the case, my servants will
be always at their prayers, and thus religious
practices follow the scale of my temper; they are
pagans if all goes well.
1t amuses me to find people here holding on to
the deluSlOn That the old state or afa1rS Is likely
to come back as to the government, and saying:
''You are going to stay with us as governor
general and things are to be as of old" answer,
II would not take you again at any price after
your meanness' They say, 'Oh, yes, the people
are not we'll behaved ETC.. ETC., but you will stay
for the glory of God" Ii. O. our interests). They
are an amusing lot Allah on lips, self interest at
heart and such self interest as is positively naked
and they even laugh at it.
This is our first encounter with the Mahdis
personal troops. One tumbles at A. NJ into
troubled sleep a drum beats-tup tup! tup! 1t
comes into dream, but after few moments
one becomes more awake and it is revealed to
the brain that one is in Khartoum. The
next query is, where is this tup, tipping going
onl hope arises it will die away. No,
it goes on. and increases in intensity. The
thought strikes one, Have they enough
ammuniti0nl" 1.-THE excuse of bad soldiersl One
exerts ones self. At last it is no use, up one