Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-06
HOW BURN1BYDI
Struggling with n Crowd OF Arabs-The sword
Against the spear.

AEainsf the speafs
A Herald cable telegram says Mr..
Burleigb, the war correspondent who
was wounded at Abu Klea, has. under
the inspiration Of his hurt, written to
the DAILY Telegraph a thrilling account
of the battle, and in it occurs this de-
scription of Colonel Burnaby's death,
which must become historical:
Still down upon us the dark Arab
wave rolled. 1t had arrived within
three hundred yards undiminishcd in
volume. unbroken in strength-a rush
of spearsmen and swordsmen. Their
rifle-fire had ceased. Other Arab
forces surrounding us-the Mahdi's
troops, plundering Bedouins, and pill
laying villagers from the river side
stood eager on the hillsides watching
the charge upon the British square.
In wild excitement, their white teeth
glisteniDg and the sheen Of their bran
dished weapons flashing like thousands
Of mirrors, onward they came. charging
straight into our ranks.
II was at that ins.an; inside the
square, not far from the Gardner gun,
when ] saw the left face move some
what backward. Colonel Burnaby HIM
self, whose every action at the time |
saw from a distance of about thirty
yards, rode out in front of the rear left
face, apparently to assist two or three
skirmishers running in hard pressed.
All Of them but one man succeeded in
reaching our lines. Colonel Burnaby
went forward to his assistance sword in
hand. As the dauntless Colonel rode
forward he pat himself in the way of a
sheik charging down on horseback.
- Ere the Arab closed with him a
bullet from some one in our ranks
brought the sheik hcadlong to the
ground, The enemy's spearsmen were
close behind, and one of them suddenly
dashed at Colonel Burnaby, pointing
the long blade Of his spear at his throat.
Checking his horse and pulling it
backward, Burnaby leaped forward
in his saddle and parried the Mos
lem's rapid and ferocious thrusts. But
the length of the mans weapon--eight
feet--put it out of his power to return
with interest the Arabs murderous i'll
tent. Once or twice Colonel Burnaby
just touched his man, only to make him
more wary and eager. The atIray was
the work of seconds only, for the savage
horde of swarthy negroes from Kordo-
fan and STRAIGHTFORWARD tawny-compleX-
toned Arabs Of the Baynda stcppe were
fast closing in upon our square.
"Coloncl Burnaby fenced the swarthy
Arab as if he were playing in an assault
at arms, and there was a smile on his
features as he drove off the mans awk-
ward points. The scene was taken in
at glance. With that lightning in
stinct which have seen desert warriors
before now display in battle while COM
ing to one another's aid, an Arab who
was pursuing soldier and had passed
five PAGES to Burnaby's right and rear
turned with sudden spring, and this
second Arab ran his spear-point into
the Colonel's right shoulder. twas
but slight wound--enough though to
cause Burnaby to twist around in his
saddle and defend himself from this un-
expected attack.
"Before the savage could repeat his
unlooked-for blow, so near the ranks of
the square was the scene now being
enacted, soldier ran out and drove his
sword-bayonet through the second as
sailant. Brief as was Burnaby's glance
backward at this fatal episode il was
long enough to enable the first Arab to
deliver his spesr-point full in the brave
officers throat. The blow drove Burnaby
out Of his saddle, but it required Sc
cond one before he LET go the grip of the
reins and tumbled upon the ground.
"lialf dozen Arabs were now
about him. With blood gushing in
streams from his gashed throat the
dauntless guardsman leaped to his feet
sword in hand and slashed at the
ferocious group. They were the wild
strokes Of proud, brave man dying
hard. and he was quickly oyerborne
and left helpless and dying"