River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1885-02-19
GoRDoN's FATE SETTLED.
The Brave Commander Was Stabbed to Death
In Khartoum Before the Capture
of the City
The Entire Garrison Slaughtered, Men, Women
and Children, and Almost Unparalleled
Atrocities Committed.
Col. Wilson and Party Rescued from Their
Perilous Position-The Proposed adj.
vance from Suakim.
Gen. Gordon Dead.

i Zen. Gordon Deaus
| LONDON, Special Cable, Feb 10.-A report
has reached here protesting to throw light
on the fate of Gordon Al Arab messenger
has reached Rorti who says that Gordon was
AMONG the first to fall; in fact,
| that his death was the signal
for the revolt which led to the
capture of the city A great tumult arose in
the city and Gordon went out impulsively to
learn its nature As he was leaving the
government house, the report says, he
was suddenly set upon from behind and
stabbed to death before he could defend him
self A dreadful massacre followed Every
Christian was hunted down and slaughtered
The most frightful enormities were commit
| ted Neither sex nor age saved the unfor-
Inmates from death amid terrible sufferings
1 The treachery Of the pashas is confirmed
They feared, it appears, that with Gordon
alive they would never induce the garrison to
| submit Once he had fallen the gates We're
| opened to the enemy and the government
house given to the flames Then the Arab
besiegers poured in in great hordes. Many
of the survivors of the army of Hicks Pasha
were in their ranks They brought with
them great stores of ammunition and many
guns, which they have mounted on the for
tifcations Sir Charles Wilson reports
that the city will require long siege by
large army before it can be taken To hurl
the handful commanded by Lord Wolseley
against it would be madness. All the Lon
don papers appear in black borders The
report is given out as official, A great popu-
lar uprising in favor of war of extermina-
ton is expected as a result of the news.
COL WILSON SAVED.
LONDON, Feb 10-A dispatch from Korti,
dated Feb o. says. Lord Beresford has re-
turned in safety from Gubat, bringing with
him Col Wilson and party, who were strand
ed on an island some distance mp the Nile
while returning from khartoum. Some di1fi-
Guilty Was experienced in fetching away the
stranded party. The rebels on the river
banks kept up a constant firing, and shortly
after the party embarked a bullet from a
rebels rifle pierced the boiler of the steamer.
1t was necessary to anchor under fire and
make repairs. The British fire. however,
took effect, and the rebels were repulsed.
Immediately after reaching Gubat Col Viii
son started for Korti, where he has now ar
rived, to report in person to Lord Wolseley
the details of his reconnaissance at Khar-
toum. Lord Wolseley telegrapbs further
particulars of Beresfords rescue of Col,
Wilson. When the steamer had gone down
the river about three miles, a battery of the
enemy on the left bank, opened fire upon
I
was kept up while the steamer anchored for
repairs. Meanwhile Col Wilson with a small
party took four guns and landed on the right
bank The party marched down the river till
directly opposite the battery, and then put
the guns in position and opened fire. Much
assistance was thus rendered Lord Charles in
keeping the fire of the enemy down. At sun
set Col Wilson and party marched on three
miles further down the river, and halted for
the night They were there joined by Lord
Charles the following morning. The steamer
meanwhile had another engagement with a
rebel battery, but succeeded i'll passing it
without serious harm Col. Wilson and party
were again taken ON board, and the steamer
proceed ed to Gubat without further difficulty.
During the passage from the island to Gubat
one man was killed and seven injured. OF
the injured four were natives, scaded in the
engine room. Lord Woseley concludes his
dispatch with these words:
cannot speak too highly of the pluck of Lord
Charles Beresford and party. Col Wilson's men
likewise behaved admirably and with the usual
determination of Englishmen.
GEN. GORDON DEAD.
dispatch from Korti says: "Colonels viii
son and Wortley with the expedition to Khar-
toum arrived to-day, They made the journey
from Gubat in four days They bring news
of Gen Gordons death One OF the pashas
among Gen Gordon's forces marched the
garrison to the side OF the town nearest 0m-
durham, saying a rebel attack was expected
at that point Meantime another traitorous
pasha opened the gates at the other end and
allowed the Mahdi's troops to enter, and they
easily captured the town Gen. Gordon was
stabbed while leaving the government
house The war Office has ordered uniforms
and aceouterments for 10000 reserves
Gen Wolseley asks that the advance from
Suakim be made within a month He sees
no necessity for waiting until autumn or for
the construction of q railroad across the
desert from SualSim to Berber. Gen. Steph-
enson, Gen Dormer, and others of the mill
tary council at Cairo, however, oppose the
dispatch of an expedition from Suakim in so
short time on the ground that it cannot be
made in readiness to start before April.
They say the march to Berber will take a
month and be a severe test of the endurance
of the men, who will suffer fro.a intense
heat and want of water Isolated detach-
! ments will be exposed to attacks by Osman
Digna, If, however, Gen. Wolseley declares
an early advance to Berber necessary for the
safety of the Nile expedition, the Cairo au.
thorlties will withdraw their opposition
DETAILS OF GORDON s DEATH
The following additional details of the
killing of Gen Gordon and the fail of Khar-
| toum are at hand On the day of the cap
ture which is variously stated as the 26th
II and 27th of January, Gen. Gordon's attention
was attracted by great tumult on the streets
! He left the so-called palace, or government
building in which he had made his head
quarters, to ascertain the cause of the dis
turbance just as he reached the street,
he was stabbed in the back and fell
dead. The tumult was caused by
the MahdIs troops, who had gained
/ 4l.,s, Of flo tbrCI 1rrta
treachery, and who were soon in complete
possession of the place, including the citadel.
A fearful massacre of the garrison followed
The scenes of slaughter are described
as surprising the bulgarian atrociIles;
and rivaling the worst horrors of
the Sepoy mutiny. Panic-s tricken Egyptians
were captured in their fight and put to
death with most fendish tortures-some
were transhxed with spears and left to bleed
to death. Most of the victims were mutllated
in the most horrible manner.
EYES WERE GoUGED OUT,
noses slit, and tongues torn out by the roots.
In many cases mutilated parts OF vic
TINS bodies were thrust in their mouths
while they were still living The massacre
included many non-combatants, and Egypt
ian women were subjected to the most
shameful indignities. More than hundred
women and young girls were given over
to the Mahdps followers to be
used as slaves. After the slaughter
Many Arabs were seen rushing about the
streets with heads of Egyptians impaled
upon spears The next night was spent
in saturnatra of blood and debauch-
ery Since the capture of Khartoum,
the Mahdi has repaired the Notifications
and made the place well nigh impregnable.
He has made it his permanent headquarters,
and is said to have an abundance of guns,
small arms and ammunition, Both Col
Wilson's steamers were wrecked owing to
the treachery of the pilots, who will be court
nartialed
woLsEIEYs OPEN Discomfort
London cable of the 9th To-days cabinet
council lasted four hours, and was one of the
stormiest sessions that have been held since
5ladstone's return TO power. After the for
nal meeting of the ministers in Downing
.treet there was an excited discussion at the
var office between Lord Harrington and the
,hiefs of the administrative departments.
The officers were in favor of urgent meas
ures but the secretary for war insisted upon
the necessity for caution The ministers are
sadly worried by Gen Wolseley's open ex-
Dressions of discomfort He has complained
very frankly of the ambiguous character OF
The orders he has received from London, and
some of his dispatches which have been
made public are not c0uched in respect
iul terms The government appears.
however. to have at last decided upon 2
lehaite policy, and it is believed TINT It's
PRESENT determination is based upon warn
ngs received from Sir Evelyn Barring, the
iscal agent of England in Egypt Sir Evelyn
4as notified the government in very positive
language that a continuance Of the Mahdi's
rinmphs in the Soudan will not only be
ubversive of English prestige in Egypt but
/ viii be fatal TO English men and women in
, an Moharnmedan countries The London