The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-23
TRUMPETER TANNING.
His Heroic Fight in the soudan In Defens.
of Ifis Wounded Colonel.

His Heroic Fight in the soudan In Defense
of His Wounded Colonel.
From London Tid-Bits.
Only those who have been engaged in
active warfare in the Soudan can real
ize to what extent religious fanaticism
of the Mahdfs followers will carry
them in time of war. Reckless as to
death they rush madly into the thick OF
the fray. Fearless, bold and resolute
is a true description of the Hadendowa
tribe of Soudanese warriors, whose
home lies in the mountainous districts
of the Eastern Soudan.
This warlike tribe of warriors had
never known what IL was to suffer de-
feat at the hands of an enemy until
they received their first check from the
British troops at the battle of El-Teb.
Many a brave young fellow shed his
life's blood fighting hand to hand with
this warlike tribe in defense of his
country on a field of battle that day,
and many a poor mother at home in
England mourned the loss of the one
great joy of her heart, and whose home
was left desolate and bare. now that
the beloved one had persisted CALAMITY
fighting on the plains of the Soudan.
The disastrous defeats of Hicks Pasha,
on the Nile, and the intrepid Baker Pa
sha, in the Eastern Soudan, led up to
the subsequent events which L am
At the battle of El-Teb CFeb. 20, 1880
Colonel Barrow and Trumpeter Fan
ming, young fellow of 10 years, were
leading a wing of the Nineteenth Hus-
saars, in the charge against the Arab
forces, who were then in full retreat,
when suddenly they were cut off from
the main body of the regiment by a SUI
perior force of the enemy. Colonel Bar
row had already been badly wounded in
the charge, having been speared
through the left arm and side, and was,
therefore, powerless to defend himself.
Trumpeter Tanning, who was riding by
his side, took in the whole situation at
glance and, quickly dismounting from
his horse, stood on the defensive over
the body of his fallen comrade, and
fought with that indomitable pluck
and courage which only the British SOL
der can do when put to the test. Draw
ing his revolver and with determined
look to do or die upon his manly young
face. he calmly awaited the onslaught
of the savage horde. Not a shot was
wasted. Every bullet had it's mark, for
Tanning knew only too well his chances
would be small once his revolver was
empty.
At last the critical moment came and
he had fired his last shot. Drawing
his sword he awaited the attack with
firm grip, and now came a terrific
hand-to-hand struggle, in which he
fought like lion until, stabbed in the
right arm with spear, the gallant fell
low, through weakness and loss of
blood. was compelled to relinquish his
hold upon his sword.
Nothing daunted, however, the gal
liant trumpeter seized his trumpet with
his left hand and again fought the enc
my hand-to-hand until literally borne
to the ground by sheer force of num-
bers. Here they fell upon him and
hacked his body with their short stab
bling spears and knives and left him
and the colonel for dead upon the field.
When we recovered the bodies they
were taken to camp. Here we found
that flaming was stabbed in IL differ
ent places yet, despite this fact, the gal
liant fellow fingered for five days after
ward and died in Victoria hospital,
SueZ, where he was buried. Needless to
say, had he recovered from his wounds,
he would have received the Victoria
Cross for his bravery. He leaves a
widowed mother to mourn his loss.
The trumpet which bore such mute
testimony by the blood-stained finger
marks in his deathly grasp of the gal
liant stand made by the heroic youth,
was afterward recovered and preserved
as a memento by his comrades. Colonel
Barrow afterward died from the effects
of his wounds. although not until he
had rendered excellent services on the
Nile axnadition