Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-02-07
HOW GEN. GORDON DIED.
THE STORY TOLD BY ONE WHO
WAS AN EYE WITNESS.

OF the English Hero at the Fall OF
Khartoum- Refusing to Save Himself
by Flicht--Troaoherou Farig.
The mail from Sual1im brings dispatches
from Gen Grenfell, among which is the lat
est, and this time the absolutely authentic,
account Of the last hours Of Gordon, the
hero of Khartoum, whose lonely tomb in the
center Of Soudan is now venerated, even by
the Mahdi's followers, as that Of a saint
The account, which has been collected with
various documents and reports and officially
declared to be true, is furnished by Dimetrio
Georgia, Greek, who recently arrived at
Suakim from Khartoum. Georgia was born
at Berber, and was present at the capture
and sack Of Khartoum Here is his story as
told TO Gen. Grenfell;
SMOKING CIGARETTE
/ was at Khartoum the night it was taken.
The Nile had gone back 50 that part OF Inc
city was open Cen Gordon oG nos con
struct fresh trenches and ramparts, because
he thought there were sufficient troops there,
5000, | think. The gaps and all round about
were held by q large force under Farig Pasha
That night Farig moved his troops, especially
the blacks, from the gaps, saying the soldier
we're wanted on the other side Gordon had
perfect confidence in Farig. The attack took
place at two points At the largest gap there
was no resistance. If the British army, or
even few of them. had arrived even one
hour before the attack the place would not
have been taken and Gordon's troops would
have fought to the last. Farig had sent word
to the Mahdii Unless you attack tonight all
is lost" That night all was blood and flames
The city Ind passed over from the command
dreadful night | shall remember it to
my dying day. The air echoed with hor-
rible shriefs, yells, lamentations, wall
ing and smell Of blood. | had three friends,
Greeks FASTENED to rescue them
had two Mahdist uniforms given me by an
Arab friend One | gave to one friend, put
ting on the other myself 1t was nearing
daybreak when ! took my friends to my
house Some Arabs rushed in telling me
ought to go to the government house at once,
as all the great officers of the Mahdi had gone
there to kin Gordon Pasha. When they saw
my third friend had no Mahdi Uniform on
they slew him We were then taken into
the court yard. saw Gordon Pasha sanoll-
ing a cigarette on the balcony facing the
river We had entered at the back OF the
palace, entering at the yard " here the syca-
more treo is Georgia nimetrio, the princi
pal medical officer of the Soudan and the
provinces, and Nicola Lemindit, the Grcel
consul, were with him. Five hundred der
wishes, who had been sent by the Mahdi with
special orders 70 take Gordon alive, stood al
the foot of the staircase. ! went up stairs
being sent by the men below, who were 70
ciferuting Gordon Pashaln Gordon coolly
left tho balcony.
STANDING BY HIS POST.
ely said the other two. while t,ero {
yet time. Go in at the little door and talk,
the boat"
shall ly and leave my postf' Gordon re
pllod. Indignantly. THAT, indeed, would b
a disgrace. ! shall not n.y."
Ho then went into his inner room ant
donnod his full uniform and sword Then b.
came out and grandly drew himself up to hi
fun height On his visage was look o
sc0rn
"Whom seek yef'he asked, on gazing a
tho sea of angry faces Of the dervishes
Gordon Pasha," they cried
"You want him, do your am ne. Com
up hither," Gordon. replied.
On being again urged by Dimatrio and tn
Greek consul to fly. Gordon replied. $40
shamel Would YOU have me abandon m.
post ignominiouslyF
He could easily have escaped at the real
Then, as Gordon stood boldly facing the der
wishes, several superior Mahdist general
came up. Tho dervishes allowed them {
pass They assembled the stairs and asked 70
tho pasha. Gordon met them, saying, II az
he" and handed them his sword in the uil
tary fashion, intimating that he knew tae
had taken the place. and that consequent
he surrendered according to the usages {
war, but Nassas, ono Of the general
snatched hold Of his sword, at the san
time, in brutal and most cowardiy manne
striking Gordon an unexpected blow TT
pasha would have fought desperately had
thought he would not have been treated
an honorable manner. lie fell, rolling dow
the stairs. AS he relied another gener
speared him ON the left side, innicting
glievous wound
Thus died Gordon. was there, a spect
torNo the CHASTITY deed, and got out OF I.
way when he rolled down To tho bcttcal
tho stairs. Some say Gordon was cut up
little pieces, but others relate that they on
halmed bis body and took It 70 the Maht
There were SOHO bodies cut mp, but am {
clined to believe these were the bodies 81 Il
consul and the doctor London Re, gram