Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-03-03
GENERAL GORDON,

The brilliant and erratic career of Gen.
Gordon, who was killed at Khartoum on
January 20, reads like romance of the
days OF chivalry. Perhaps the fate of no
man has ever been watched So anxiouslv.
for so long period, and by such vast
numbers of people, as his has been dur
ing the past year and his death, taking
place just as the hope OF rescuing him
had become near and bright, gives a
tragic ending to a brave life, long lived in
the face of deadliest and constant peril.
| General Gordon was sent to Khartoum
about year ago by the English Govern
ment, to try and bring safely away from
that desert-bound fortress the EGYPTIAN
garrison and population. The Egyptians
were threatened by the barbaric hortles
of the Mahdi, or false prophet; and as
Egypt, by the advice, or rather com
mand, OF England had resolved to give
up the Soudan, it became necessary to
withdraw the Egyptian garrisons from
that country.
1t cannot be easily forgotten how Gen
eral Gordon went thither, unattended
even by the smallest military force, with
only one or two companions, and armed
only with simple walking-stick how he
crossed the desert amid hostile Arab
tribes, holding his life in the hollow OF
his hand at every stage of his strange
journey.
lie reached Khartoum in safety, took
command OF the garrison, and at once set
to work at bus task. But before he could
find way to retire from Khartoum with
the Egyptian soldiers and people, he
found himself hemmed in by the Mahdi's
savage forces. He not only could not get
the Egyptians out, but found his own
path back to civilization closed upon him.
1t is only wonder how this heroic sol
der has been able so long to keep his
fierce foe at bay. His force in Khartoum
was small, and far from brave or we'll
disciplined. 1t was only with great
difficulty that he could keep the desert
city provided with provisions. Starva-
ton must have many times stared him in
the face
At last it became clear that. without
the aid of a large force of British troops,
Gordon could never get away from Khar-
toum. Accordingly Lord Wolseley,
whose fame had been won by his success
on Egyptian battle grounds, was sent to
the Soudan to rescue him, at the head of
well-appointed army.
But Lord Wolseley was too late. As
soon as portion of bis force could make
its way up the Nile near to Khartoum, it
was discovered that the fortress was in
the hands of the Mahdi, and that Gen
eral Gordon, as well as a large portion OF
the Egyptians, had been massacred.
General Gordon was a strange yet he
roic character. He does not seem to have
known what fear is. In his campaigns
both in China and in Africa he showed a
courage which amazed those who wit
messed it. He had capacity for dealing
with savage chiefs and tribes, which gave
him unique power over them whenever
they presented themselves.
No less selfish man ever appeared upon
the public stage. He was careless of and
Indifferent to his own personal fortunes.
He did not seek after rank, Or honor, or
fame. The idea of duty was ever present
to him, and seemed to absorb him.
When he had task to perform which he
believed right and necessary, he seemed
to forget his own avn affairs completely,
and absorbed himself in the work fear
lessly and with all the intensity of his ar
dent nature.
Such character is very rare, and in |
many of its features presents a shining |
example of heroism and self-abnegation |
to his fellow-men.