Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-03-05
GALLANT COL BURNABY.
THE STORY or NOW NE FELL Ar rHE
RATTLE or ABC-KLEA.


Mr.. Burleigb, one Of the newspaper cor
respondents who was wounded at Abu-KIea
has written the London Daily Telegraph a
thrilling account Of the battle, and in II Is q
description OF Colonel Fred goBurnaby's
DEATH II begins: "Still down upon us
rolled a dark wave of Arabs. 1t had arrived
within 800 yards, undiminished In volume,
unknown In strength, a rush of spearsmen
and swordsmen. Other Arabs stood ON the
hillside watching the charge upon the Brit
ish square in will excitement, with their
weapons flashing like thousand mirrors.
Onward came the horde of Arabs, charging
straight into our ranks l was at that in
stant inside the square, not far from Gard
ner gun, when l saw the left face move
somewhat backwards. Colonel Burnaby,
whose every action at the time / saw
from distance of about thirty yards, rode
out In front of the rear left face, appar.
emily to assist two or three skirmishers who
were running I'm hard pressed. All but
one man succeeded in reaching our lines
Burnaby went forward 10 his assistance,
sword In hand. As the colonel rode forward
he put himself in the way of sheikh who
was charging down on horseback. Ere the
Arab closed with him, bullet from some one
In our ranks brought tho sheikh headlong
to the ground. Some spearsmen were close
behind the sheikh, and one of them sud-
denly dashed at Burnaby, pointing
the long bladed spear al his throat,
Checking his horse and pulling II
backward, Burnaby leaped forward In his
saddle and parried the Moslem's fero-
cious thrusts, but the length of the
mans weapon eight feeD put 1t out of his
power to return with interest the Arabs
murderous intent Once ortwice Burnaby
| just touched his man, only to make him more
wary and eager. The afiray was only the
work of seconds; Arabs were fast closing In
| upon our square, and Burnaby fenced with
| his swarthy assailant as II he were playing i'm
! an assault-at-arms, and there was smile on
his features as he parried the mans awk ward
| points.
"The scene was taken in at glance, with
| that lightning instinct which I have seen
desert warriors before now display in battle
| while coming to one anothers aid, by an
| Arab VINO was pursuing soldier. He had
] passed five PAGES to Burnaby's right and
rear, and, turning with sudden spring. he
| ran his spear-point into Colonel Burnaby's
| right shoulder. /: was but slight wound,
enough though to cause Burnaby To twist
| around In his saddle to defend himself from
this unexpected attack. Before the Arab
| could repeat his unlocked for blow, so near the
ranks oftbe square was the scene now being
| enacted, soldier ran out and drove his sword
rbayonet thsaugt the xearrrtr
as was Burnaby's glance backward, 1t was
long enough to enable the first Arab TO de
| liver his spear point full in the colonel's
throat. The blow drove Burnaby out of his
saddle, but II required a second one before
he let go his grip on the reiDs and tumbled
upon the ground. Half dozen Arabs were
now about him, and the blood was gushing
in streams from his gashed throat. Tn,
dauntless guardsman leaped to his feet sword
in hand, and slashed at the ferocious group
iheJ ,"..S .hi nt oi,as of proud, brave
man, dying hard, and he was ,,uickIy over
borne an6 left helpless and dying"