, 1885-04-01
A HERO'S DEATH.
HOW COL. eURNABY MET HIS FATE
AT ABUKLEA
The story a. Told By Dir. Burlsigh. the
War Correspondents Of a London
PAPER Thrilling Contest
10 the Death
nnndon Daily Telegraph

tNt h"'F
SIN down upon Us tho dark Arab wave
rolled. It had arrived within 300 yards, un-
dimini,hed la volume. unbroken Ia strength
"a rush Of spoarsmen and swCIdsmen. Their
rifle fire had ceased. Other Arab forces
surrounding us-the mahdfs troops, plum
dering Bcdouins, and pillaging villagers
from the riverside- stood eager on the hill
sides watching the charge upon the British
square. In Wild excitement, their white
teeth glistening and the sheen OF
Their brRniished weapons flashing like
thousands Of mirrors onward they
came, charging straight into our
ranks was at that instant inside
the square, not far from the Gardiner gun.
when ] saw the left flank move somewhat
back ward. Col. Burnaby himself. whose
every action at tho tins 1 saw, from a dis
tance OF about thirty yards, rode out In
front Of the roar left face, apparently to as
sist two or three skirnlishers running In hard
pressed. All but one man Of them succeeded
in reaching our lines Col Bnrnaby went
forward to his assistance. sword In hand.
As tho dauntles colonel rode forward he
put himself in the way OF a shoik charging
down on horseback. Fro the Arab closed
with him a bullet from some One in our
ranks brought the shelk headlong to the
ground.
Tho enemy's spearsmen were close behind,
and ons OF them suddenly dashed at Col
Huruaby. pointing the long blade OF his
spear ut his throat. Checking his horse and
pulling Il backward, Burnaby leapt forward
in his saddle and parted the Moslem's rapid
and ferocious thrusts. but the length Of the
mans -wcapon-eight feet-put it out OF his
power 10 return with interest the Arabs
murierOl4 Intent. Once or twice Col. Burn
ably just touched his ma only 10 make him
more wnry and eager. The ARRAY was the
WORK Of seconds only, for the savage horde
of swarthy negroes from kordofan and
straight-haire., tayny-c omplsxioned Arabs
Of the Bayuia steppe were fast closing in
upon our square
Col. Burnaby fencel the swarthy Arab as
II he wero playing in an assault OF arms,
and there va a Smile ON his features as he
drove on the mans awkward points. The
scene was taken in at a glance. With that
lightning instinct which | have seen desert
WARRIOR before now display in battle while
coming 10 another aid, an Arab, who was
pursuing n soldier and had passed five PAGES
10 Burnaby's rigat and rear, turned with a
sudden epring, and this second Arab ran his
81 ear point into the colonel's right shoulder.
IL was but a slight wound Enough, though,
20 causs Buruaby TO twist around in his sad.
die aai iefenl himself from this unex-
pectsi attack. Before tho savage could re-
rent hig nio)kel-for blow, so near tho r INKS
Of tho square was the scene now being en-.
Ec;ci 4. a solder ran out AMI drove his sword
bayonet through the second assailant.
Brief as was Burnaby's glance backward
at tn fntul episode, it was long enough to
cnsb.s the first Arab To deliver his spear
point full in tho brave officers throat. Tn
Low drove Bnrnaby out OF his saddle. but
IL require a second one lefore ho would let
81 o bis grip of tie reins and tumbled upon
tie ground. Half a dozen Arabs were now
about him. With blood gushing in streams
from his gashed throat the dauntloss guards
man leaped 10 his feet, sword in hand, and
slashcd at tho ferocious group They were
tho wll strokes Of Il proud. brave man dy-
ing harl. anl he was quickly oyerborne and
left helpless and dying.