Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-06
KHARTOUM CAPTURED.
GENERAL GORDON A PRISONER.
Disaster TO Gladstone Administra-
tion Predicted ~ Excited london
Fear for Stewart.

LosDoS, Feb. 5.-A decided sensation was
created here to-day by the reported capture
Of khartouIn. There were ali sorts Of re-
ports Ia circulation AS to the manner In
which IL fell and the fate Of Gen. Gordon,
~sst nothing definite could be learned. As
che news spread throughout the city crowds
began 10 gather ia front Of the war Office.
newspaper offices and other news centers for
the purpose OF obtaining the latest informa-
tion. The report vas subsequently confirmed
By the announcement that dispatch had
been received az the war office from Gen.
Lord Nolsefey, dated at Korti, In which he
states that native courier from Metammeh
had arrived at his headquarters with the
startling information that Col. Wilson had
returned from khartOum, To which place he
had been dispatched with a small force. His
steamer was found at Metammeh and he re-
ported that khartOum had been captured by
the enemy and that Gen. Gordon had been
made prisoner of war. Col Wilson said
that all along his retreat from the Ill l-fated
city he was constantly harassed and sub
iected 10 a heavy fire from the enemy :
guns. Many of tho shots struck the steamer,
bat without doing serious damage. Every
thing went comparatively well until within a
short distance OF Metammeh, when his yes
sci ran ashore on one OF the many islands
and was totally wrecked.
Col. Wilson states that khartoum fell Jan.
~. and he arrived off the city two days after
it, fall He expresses the belief that the
capture OF the city was brought about by the
treachery OF some of the natives that Gen.
Gordon had pressed into his service. Col.
Wilson, with his little force. at last accounts,
was still ON the island on which he was wreck
- fr.1~. q.
>AetamIneh. The courier reports" adds
Gen. WOlseiey, 'that the fall OF Khartoum
has caused q general feeling of gloom
throughout Gen. Stewards camp, and that
fears were freely expressed that nnless rein
fOrcemenis arrived their fate would in all
probability be soon sealed"
LONDON, Feb. 5.-lhe confirmation OF the
fall Of khartOum has caused the widest ex-
element throughout the city, far exceeding
IA intensity any that has been aroused by
any OF the standing events of the past few
weeks. The government officials and their
sympathizers hope that the news will turn
out 10 be greatly exaggerated and express
their belief that Gordon has not yet been
driven from the citadel In the center of the
city. Mr.. Gladstone on learning OF Gen.
Nolseley's dispatch proceeded at once to his
official residence IN Downing street, and
Immediately issued n summons 10 the men,
bers OF has cabinet requesting their presence
AZ once. Mr.. GladStOno appeared To br
greatly agitated and his action in calling a
meeting of the Cabinet IL, il is believed, for
the purpose of rendering his resignation.
The streets are thrOnged with people
anxiOusly discussing the ominOus intolli-
gence, and grave fears are entertained that
none of Gen. Stewards little band will ever
recross the de-ert Not since the passage of
the Dardanelles by the British fleet, during
me Turco- Russian war, has there been such
Wild excitenent IN this CITY On every stree
corner groups of excited people discuss and
speculate "a To the result of this new disaster
IN Egypt and the action of the ministry in
the present emergency IA eagerly awaited
Many predict il will result in the fall of the
Gladstone government.