The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-02-12
FALL OF KHARTOUM.
General Gordon Betrayed and the CIta-
del Falls into the Mahdfs Hands

LONDON, February 5. 10 a m.-Intelli-
yence is just received here that Khartoum
has been captured by the Arabian rebels.
/ The whereabouts of General Gordon is un-
known. He is probably prisoner in the
! hands of the victors.
ANOTHER DISPATCH.
LONDON, 1890 p. M, February 5.-The
War. Office has issued The following: A
telegram from General Wolseley announces
that the fall of KhartoUm TOOK place on
January 20. He says Colonel Wilson ar
rived at Khartoum. January IS, and
was greatly surprised to find that the
enemy were in possession of that place.
| He Immediately started on his return down
the river and proceeded under a heavy
fire from the rebels. When some miles be-
low the Shuabaca Cataract, Colonel Wilson's
steamers were wrecked, but he and his
whole party managed to reach an island in
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 information regarding the
fate of General Gordon and don't
know whether he is dead or alive.
Natives report the Mahdi had 600 men in
the vicinity of Khart0um, and he intro
duced number of his emissaries into the
city. These emiSSaries mingled freely with
the native troops under General Gordon
and by brides and threats and
working on their religious feel
ings induced them to mutiry and
900 of the garrison deserted to
the rebels, leaving Gordon only $500 faith
full soldiers. With this small force he at
tempted to hold the city against Mahdfs
great army, but after severe fighting, in
which large numbers of rebels were killed,
he was compelled to surrender. When
Sir Charles Wilson reached Khartoum he
found the Mahdfs forces occupied both in
town and citadel. He tried to land and
ascertain the fate of Gordon, but this step
he found impossible, the enemy's guns
being turned upon him in full force He
was therefore compelled to turn his back
upon the fallen city and return to Gubat
without finding out whether Gordon is dead
or alive.
WILSON s EXPEDITION.
LONDON, February 6.-Lord Wolseley
telegraphs he does not consider the Brit
ish at Guabat in any immediate danger.
The first news of the fall of Khartoum re-
ceived by General Wolseley was brought by
messenger who left the island where Col
onel Wilson was stranded and came on foot
to Guabut. Two messengers were dis
patch to KOrti via Abu Klea and Gakdul.
They reached their destination, which is re-
garded as owing to the news of Khartoum'S
all not being known in the desert. IN
telligence of the disaster, however, at
once spread far and wide. Some tribes
that hitherto prOfesSed friendship for Eng
land have declared for Ell Mahdi
The Arabs still hold Metemneh The
garrison there received news of the fall
of khartoum with repeated salvos of
artillery. When Colonel Wilson's tiotilla
approached KhartOum he was compelled to
run the gauntlet of heavy fire FROM both
banks. The rebels had four Krupp guns on
the river banks at Halfujeh to lombard the
steamer. When the British force reached
Omdurman numbers of rebels continued the
fuSilade. Things looked worse when they
discovered the enemy was in possession of
the Island of Tutti. just outside of the city.
The English still pushed ahead but were
diSmayed to find that the garrison COM
menced firing upon them. No flags were
flying from the public buildings. and the
town appeared i'll undisputed possession of
the enemy. The palace seemed to be Quilted.
Finding it impossible to land
III lHG ldCC VI Overwhelming num-
bers of rebels the British were obliged to
retire. RumOrS concerning the fate of
General Gordon are many and varied, but
all agree that Ell Mahdi has captured Khar-
tOum by treachery. The most reliable re.
ports point to one FaraZ Pasha as the traitor.
1t is said that he, being left in charge of
the rampartS, opened the gates January IS
and admitted the enemy Some rumors
state that Gordon, together with a few
Leyantines, are cooped up liz q church.
Others say that Ell Mahdi was seen wearing
General GOrdOn's uniform. The majority
agree, however, that General Gordon was
killed. The Pal Mall Gazette of last even
ing. referring to the Khartoum calamity,
says: Nobody can accuse our gal
liant troops of losing single mo-
ment in their fierce race against
time in Fastening to the rescue of the
garrison at KhartOum. The responsibility
rests solely with the ministers who refused |
10 allow the Nile expedition to start in
spite of warnings and entreaties until too |
late. The vote in Parliament in favor of |
an appropriation of e200,0 900 for the relief |
of General Gordon was deferred until Au- |
gust 5. Even then if the expedition had |
been sanctioned forthwith the precious day |
would have been gained, but it was not |
sanctioned until August II, when the Gov |
finally resolved that it must relieve |
General Gordon. That period of hesita-
ton sacrificed Khartoum. Islam is now
victorious. The revolt and fall of Khar.
toum will perlIieate the arch of the world |
and unless the ministry display boldness |
and warineSS equal TO their former dilatori-
ness, a catastrophe worse than that OF
Khartoum will follow. England dare moi
by before the Eastern foe. 1t would mean
war and mutiny from one end of Asia to |
the other. She must reinforce her garri-
sons everywhere, including India, even if it
shall be necessary to call volunteers to do
the work. General Earle must advance
rapidly 10 Berber. The Suakim garrison
must be reinforced and the road to Berber
cleared. Every nerve must be strained to
prove the Khartoum disaster has stiffened
The resolution to hold EnglanG's flag
alOft in the face of every foe. 1t is our
Iuty not to finch, but to prepare for even
Qualities and to relieve Metemneh by water.
We have failed to save Gordon. We have
low to save Stewart" Colonel Wilson had
hree steamers, two of which werr wrecked
n the Nile exactly half way between
Khartoum and Metemneh. The third
steamer, bearing Colonel WOrtley
md party, came on and brought
he news to the British camp
lear NetenBeh. The excitement attending
he reception of the news of the fail of
ZhartOun is increasing. 4 constant stream
# anxious inquiries, including Sir William
Vernon Hsrcourt George T. Treyelyan and
:her ministers, is pouring into the war of.
zee. People throughout the provinces all
sste greatly excited
The Supreme Court Of South Caro-
ina has given decision against the
ystem of preference by which insol-