The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-11
Bad Worse! Worseley

4, soon as the news o. the disaster
reached the British camp near Met
cuuea Two messengers were despatched
to hort. va Aba kIea and Gakdul.
They reached their destination IN safety,
owing 10 the fact that the news Of hhar-
touns iall had not reached the desert.
Intelligence OF the disaster, however,
has since spread far and wide. Some
OF the tribes that have hitherto protested
friendship Tor England have declared for
the Mahdi. The Arabs still hold Met
einneh. The garrison there received
the news Of the fall OF khartoum with
repeated salvos OF artillery.
When Col. Wilson'S tiotilla approach
ed hhartoum It was compelled 10 run
the gauntlet of q heavy fire from both
banks. The rebels had four krupp gums
on the river banks at Halfuieh TO bonn
bard the When the British
force reached Omdurman numbers OF
rebels continued the fusilade. Things
looked worse when il was discovered
that the enemy was IN possession OF the
island OF Tutti. Just outside the city.
The English stli pushed ahead, but
were d.smayed 70 find that the garrison
began tlrIng upon them. No flags were
flying from the public buildings, and the
town appeared TO be II u~Idsputed pos
session Of the enemy. The palace
seemed to have been Quilted. Finding
It impossible to land IN the face OF the
overwhelming numbers OF the rebels,
the British were Obliged to retire. Col.
Wilson had three steamers, two of
which were wrecked III the Nile exactly
half way between khartoum and Metem-
neh. The third steamer, bearing Col.
Worthley and his party, came on and
brought the news TO the British camp
near Metemneh.
All agree that the Mahdi captured
khartoum by treachery. The most
trustworthy reports. point to one Faraz
Pasha as the traitor. 1t is said that he,
being left in charge OF the ramparts.
opened the gates on Jan. %, and adj
mitted the enemy. Some runors say
that Gordon with 3 few ILeyantines,
is cooped up in a church. Others say
that Gen. Gordon has been seen wear
ing the Mahdi's uniform.
Opinions differ greatly as 10 the fate
of Gen. Gordon. He has always averred
that he would never be taken alive, and
those who know him best believe that
he has been killed. Sill, it is known
that the one point toward which FL
Mahdi has devoted his best energies
during the past twelve months has
been the capture OF Gen. Gordon alive.
AS long ago as August, 1884, Gen.
Gordon wrote to his sister in London
that she need not have no fears for his
life, which he would not explain to her
beyond saying that II came from his
trust in the Almighty. Other private
letters received at about the same time.
and only o made public, say that Ell
Mahdi had ordered that all his soldiers
must shoot wide Of Gen. Gordon. and
that any one who killed or even wound
ed the great infidel should be punished
with death. The battlefield at Ell Obied,
where the army of Hicks Pasha was
slaughtered, is staked off with posts to
show where various officers met their
fate, and Ell Mahdl has solemnly as
sured his followers that he would some
day show them Gen. Gordon chained to
the post which marks the spot where
Hicks Pasha was killed, but those who
know Gen. Gordon believe that before
he is chained to any post there will be
many men killed and that he will be
among the number. The belief among
army officers is that, if the fight which
| results in the surrender of khartoum oc-
| cured after a mutinous uprising of the
native troops and Gen. Gordon is dead.
The capture of khartoum has created
| grave fears, especially in army circles,
for the safety OF Gen. Stewart and his
army. A number of military officers OF
repute even express the opinion that
unless reinforcements are hurried for
ward to Korti the fall of khartoum may
lead to disasters to the forces under
Lord Wolseley and Gen Earle. Mill
tary authorities are of the opinion that
Gen. Gordon sent the greater part OF
his troops down the Nile to meet Gen.
Stewards force, and so depleted the gar
rison in the town and citadel OF khar-
toum that an attack by the enemy from
Umderrman was rendered much easier.
Lord Wolseley telegraphs that he does
not consider the British position at
Cuba in any immediate danger.
Mr.. Gladstone and Tarl Granville
started for Loddon as Don as the news
reached them. Mr.. Gladstone is fear
fully disturbed by the news.
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