, 1885-01-31
LIEUT.. COL. BuRNABY.
Engiand's Heroic Soldier. Killed In the
Battle OF Abu kIea.

When, after the battle Of Abu Klea,
the victorious British sought the missing
from their ranks. the dead body of Lieut..
Col Burnaby was found, his hand grasp
ing the throat Of the Arab whose spear
had given him his death wound. The
news othis death was received in Eng
land with great sorrow.
Frederick Gustayus Burnaby was born
at Bedford. England, in March, ls42.
His father was a clergyman Of the Church
Of England. The family TO which the
boy belonged was of royal stock. He was
the nineteenth in descent from King Ed
ward l., n of the grandest figures in
England's history.
Young Burnaby was educated at Har-
row. While at school he was remarkable
for his linguistic ability.
At 10 years Of age he was a handsome,
scholarly young fellow, as remarkable for
feats Of athletic strength and skill as for
his attainments. He chose to be q SOL
der, and in 1889 passed the prescribed
examination and was gazetted cornet in
the Royal horse guards. In 1861 he was
made lieutenant. and five years afterward
captain. His nomination for major took
place in 1879. In 1880 he attained the
rank Of lieutenant colonel, and the next
year was made a lieutenant colonel COM
mnnding his wi regiment
Col. Bumaby was known throughout
the civilized world as an adventurous
traveller He travelled in 1866 through
Spain and France, and became as well
known in the highest circles of those
countries as of his own. In 1870 he paid
a brief visit to Russia. Three years after
he was in Naples, where he was struck
down with fever. The Duke of Con-
naught, who happened to be in the city
at the time. had the patient removed
from a hotel to more comfortable quar-
ters, and did much to forward his recov-
cry. In 1874 Col. Burnaby visited Spain
and attached himself to the army of Don
Carlos. He assisted at Allo, Dicastillo,
Vera, and Maneru, as well as at the cap
ture of Estell and the siege Of Tolosa.
At the close of 1874 Col. Burnaby was
in Central Africa, where he went to visit
Chinese Gordon who had organized
and was in command of an expedition
formed under the auspices ofthe Egyptian
government for the purpose Of exploring
and, If possible. civilizing the Unknown
Land" The frt step in attaining the
latter end was the suppression of the
slave trade, which was carried on in a
barbarous and revolving manner by the
Arabs. Gen. Gordon found in Col.
Burnaby one of his most faithful and en-
ergetic auxiliaries.
Burnaby's ride to Khiva'' took place
in 1876. During his performance of
this wonderful feat of courage and en-
durance not only was he exposed to the
harships of an Asiatic- Russian midwinter,
but the government Of the Gar. had
strictly forbidden foreigners to be ad-
mitted into the Khivan territory. No diff
f~culties, however. could deter Burnaby
from his purpose, which he accomplished
without serious injury to his health,
though he had a narrow escape from los
ing both his hands and arms through frost
bite. During the greater part of his tour
he had to traverse a difficult country. in
which very frequently there was no read
at all, in thick layers of mud.
In lS77-7s, he repaired to the seat of
the Russo Turkish war, and rendered emil
nent service in looking after the sick and
wounded. but though acting only in a
purely civil capacity, he was ever found
in the midst Of danger.
Colonel Burnaby was magniicentlook-
ing man. He was six feet four inches tall
and m~assively built. His physical strength
was enormously great. He could perform
extraordinary feats in fencing, boxing and
dumb-bell exercise. and could carry a pair
Of ponies under his arms. Always a hard
student, he continued his studies OF Lam
guage, without which his surprising
achievements in Central Asia could not
have been performed. He wrote with re-
markable ability for the London Times,
from the East and from Spain during the
Carlist rebellion. His celebrated book,
Ride to Khiya." was hardly more pop
ular than "0n Horseback Through Asia
Minor" He took a lively interest in
ballooning, made nineteen a~scents, and
was a member Of the Council of the Aer-
onautic Society of Great Britain.