Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-04-05
GORDON'S TRAGIC DEATH
DESCRIBED By AN EYEWITNESS
OF THE SACK OF KHARTOUM.
Struck Down After He Had Sur
rendered by Generals Who Hac
Been Sent to Take Him Alive.


The New York Sun prints .an abso
lutely authentic account of the last
hours of General Gordon, the hero Of
Khartoum, whose lonely tomb in til,
centre of the Soudan is venerated even
by the Mahdists as that of saint" The
account, which has been collated with
various documents and reports, aud offici
ally declared to be true, Is furnished by
Demctrio Georgia, Greek, who recently
arrived at Suakin from Khartoum.
Georgia was born ut Berbcr, and wa,
present at the capture and sack of Khar-
tOum. Here is his story as told to Gen.
eral Grcnfell:
u was at Khartoum the night it wa,
taken. The Nile had gone back SO that
| part of the city WIS open. Gordon did
not construct fresh trenches and ramp.
parts, because he thought there was
sufficient troops to defend the city.
There were three thousand, think.
The gaps and all round about were held
by large force under Farig Pasha
That night Farig moved his troops,
especially the bucks, from the gaps,
saying the soldiers were wanted on the
other side. Gordon had perfect con-
idence in Farig
Tho attack took place at two points.
AT the largest gap there was no resist.
ance. If the British army, or even few
of them, had arrived even one hour be-
fore the attack took place. Khartoum
would not have been taken, and Gordon's
troops would have fought to the last.
Farig had sent word to the Mahdi:
Unless you attack tonight all is lost
in that night all was blood and flames.
The city had passed over from the com
mand of Gordon to the Mahdi. 1t wal
dreadful night. 1 shall remember it
to my dying day. The air echoed with
horrible shricks, yells, lamentations and
wailings, and smclt of blood.
al had three friends, Greeks. ]
fastened TO rescue them. l had two
Mahdist uniforms given me by an Arat
friend. One gave to one friend, putting
on the other myself. 1t was nearing
daybreak when took my friends to my
house Some Arabs rushed in telling
Eousc-thc scraglio. they called it at
Dncc. l asked why They replied
All the great officers of the Nlahdi have
gone there to kill Gordon Pasha.'
"When they saw that the third friend
had no Mahdist garment on, they slew
him.
We MClC tICu luhCu lIlIO InC COURT
yard. l saw Gordon Pasha smoking o
cigarette on balcony facing the river.
We had entered at the back OF the
palace, entering the yard where the syca.
more tree is. Georgia Demetrio, tho
principal medical officer of the Soudan
ana the provinces, and Nicola Lemin.
dita, the Greek Consul, were with him.
Five hundred dervishcs, who had been
sent by the Mahdi with special orders to
take Gordon alive, stood ut the foot of
The staircase. went up the stairs, being
sent by the men below, who were vccif.
Grating Gordon Pashal Gordon Pashan
Gordon coolly left the balcony.
Ely said the other two, while there is
yet time. Go in ut the little door and
take the boat
'''Shall l fly and leave my post? Cor.
don replied, indignantly. That, indeed,
would be 4 disgrace. shall not n.y.
''He then went into his inner room
and donncd his full uniform and sword.
Then he came out and grandly drew
himself up 10 his full height. On his
visage was look Of scorn.
'Whom seek yc" he asked, on gaz.
ing ut the sea Of angry faces.
Gordon Pa, ha.' they cried.
"'You want him, do you. am he.
Come up hither, Gordon replied.
con being again urged by Demetrio
!, and the Greek Consul to fly, Gordon re.
Piled: For shame Would you have
me abandon my post ignominiouslyf
He could easily have escaped ut the rear
then. ~
LAS Gordon stood boldly facing the
dcrvishes several superior Mahdist Gen
erals came up. The dervishes allowed
them to pass. They assembled the stairs
and asked for the Pasha Gordon met
them saying: Il am he, and handed them
his sword In military fashion, intimating
that he knew they had taken the place.
and that consequently he surrendered
according to the usnges of war. But
Nassas one of the Generals, snatched
hold of his sword, at the same time, in
brutal and most cowardly manner, strik-
ing Gordon an unexpected blow. The
Pasha would have fought desperately
had he thought he would not be treated
in an honorable manner. He fell, roll
ing down the stairs. As he rolled,
another General speared him on the left
side inhicting a dangerous wound.
"Thus died Gordon. 1 was there, a
spectator to the ghastly deed. got out
of the way when he rolled to the bottom
of the stairs. Some say that Gordon
was cut up to little pieces, but others
relate that they embalmed his body and
took it to the Mahdi. There were bodies
cut up, but am inclined to believe that
these were the bodies Of the Consul and
thn 1notar