The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-05-07
HOW BURNABY DIED.
Struggling With Crowd of Arabs-Th
sword Against the Spear.

! sword Against the Spear.
MIR. Burleigh, ths war correspondent
who was wounded at Abu klea, has,
under the inspiration of his hurt, writ
ten TO the DAILY Telegraph thrilling
account of the battle, and in it occurs
this description of Colonel Burnaby' 5
death, which must become historical:
''Still down upon us the dark Arab
wave rallied, 1t had arrived within
800 yards undiminished in YQlume, uH-
broken i'll strength-a rush OF spears
men and swordsmen. Their rifle tire
had ceased. Other Arab forces sur
rounding ,us-the Mahdi's troops,
plundering Bedouins and pillaging vii
layers from the river side-stood eager
on the hillside watching the charge
upon the British square. In wild ex-
element, their white teeth glistening
and the sheen of their brandished
weapons flashing like thousands of
mirrors, onward they came, charging
straight into our ranks.
Il was at that instant inside the
square, npt far from the Gardner gun,
when ! saw the left face nIoYa some
what backward. Colonel Burnaby
himself, whose every action at the time
| saw from a distance of about thirty
yards, rode out ip front of the rear left
lace, apparently tQ assist tMo or three
skirmishers running in hard pressed.
All but one man of them succeeded in
reaching our lines. Colonel BurnabY
went forward Ia his assistance sWort;
in hand. As the dauntless Colonel
rode forward he put himself in the way
of q shslk charging down on horse
back.
''Ere the Arab closed with him a
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 Colonel Burnaby, pointing
the long blade of his spear at his throat.
Checking his horse and pulling it back
ward Burnaby leaped forward in his
Saddle and parried the Moslem's rapid
and ferocious thrusts. But the length
of the mans weapon-eight feet-put
it out of his power to return with inter-
est the Arabs murderous intent. Once
or twice Colonel Burnaby just touched
his man, only to make him more wary
and eager The affray was tho work
of SECONDS only, for the savage horde
of swarthy negroes from Kordofan and
straight=haired, tawny=complexioned
Arabs of the Rayuda steppe were fast
closing in upon our square.
Colonel Burnaby fenced the swarthy
Arab as if he were playing in an as
sault at arms, and there was smile on
his features as he drove off the mans |
awkward points. The scene was taken |
in at glance. With that lightning
instinct which I have eean desert war
fiors before now display in battle while |
coming to one another's aid, an Arab !
who was pursuing soldier and had |
passed five PAGES to Burnahy'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 slight wound. Enough
though to cause Burnaby to twist
in his saddle and defend him.
self from this unexpected attack.
Before the savage could repeat this
unlocked tor blow, so near the ranks of
'he square was the scene now being
soldier ran out and drove
lis sword bayonet through the second
lssailant. Brief as was Burnaby's
glance backward at this fatal episode
t was long enough to enable the first
Arab to deliver his spear point full ip
he brave officers throat, The blow drove
3urnaby out of his saddle, but it re-
luired a second one before he let 60 his
rip of the reins and tumbled upon the
,round.
''Half dozen Arabs were now about
lim. With blood gushing in streams
rom his gashed throat the dauntless
,uardsman leaped to his feet, sword in
and, and slashed at the feroeious
,roup. They were the wild strokes of
proud, brave man dying hard, and he
Tas quickly overborne and left helpless
nd dying. ."-NeW York Herald.