The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-09-21
Donsoln Falls Into the Hands OF
the British Forces.
SHARES TIE FATE OF Ell IIAflR.
The Dervish Commander Among tho
woundsd-l,tver Forces Of tho Iirltish-
Egyptian E,peditlon Captures Dongoia
Ansr a Hot FiGht-Dtscription OF tho
IiAttie-Nativts OF FL ffnfir Welcome tho
ConIuerors-Ftatures OF the Campaign.
(Copyrlght, 1896 by the Associated Prcss.)
tsIanMI AN ntIn N.itII Cant oa


from El Hair, landed a force at DOngola
and occupied that place. before the Der
Wish forces retreatlns from Ell HAIR
reached that place.
IL Iinnr nnd Dongola are therefore
both in the hands OF the expedition.
while the DcrvISh forces are somewhere
between seeking refuge.
Yesterday afternoon TO resume the
connected narrative of the expcdition).
the long range firing continued between
the DerylsheS on the west bank OF the
Nile and the cxpeditionary force on this
side, The Maxim guns. with their
sweeping hail OF fire, did great cxecu-
tlon In the Dcrvlsh ranks, while the field
and horse batteries never allowed the
enemy to do anything with their Bate
ries.
Darkness put All end TO tho artillery
duel across the Nile water, and Stiffness
fell upon both camps. The night was
one OF waiting, though the silence OF the
desert was broken once by the discharge
from the Maxim guns on this side OF the
river.
In the morning everyone was up at
daybrcnk, anxious to know what change
In the situation had developed during
the night and what would be the next
move. and eagerly scanning the encmy's
camp across the river. There was no
sign OF life in tho Dervish's works, but
soon commotlon was perceived among
the boats along the bank, and n native
In ono or them was dscerned in the act
OF waving something, AZ though for q
signal to this side of the river.
The steamer Dal. OF the expcditlorary
force thereupon proceeded 10 the west
bank OF the river, where II found that FL
HAIR had beon evacuated during the
night and that not DCrvish fighting
man was left In sight. The detachment
on the Dal sent back 10 the camp on this
side OF the river twenty-seven boats.
which had been manned by the native
residents Of II HaHr and loaded with q
great quantity OF grain.
The natives announced that the enc
my had departed. and that Wad Bish-
ara, the young emlr OF DonSola, who
commanded the Dervlshes, was wound
cd in yesterdays fight. a shell from an
Egyptian battery burst in his tent, in
rictlng wounds in his breast and head,
the former being a severe hurt.
After the gunboats OF tho expedition
had forced their way through past tho
forts OF FL Hahr yesterday. and had
proceeded southwark toward Dongoln,
the Dervishes apparently perceived that
IEl Eailr WAS no longer the place for
them and they prepared TO depart. They
buried ns many OF their dead as they
had time for. The rest were prepared
with n stone around their necks and
thrown into the Nile.
Captured the City.
This afternoon the news arrived here
that The steamers and gunbonts OF the
expedition had reached Dongola and
had landed Il force which Immediately
occupied the treasury and the grain
store. the principal stronghold OF the
town. This news was received here
with delight. as II IS supposed that the
enemy Is now marching between here
and Dongola In 4 hGmpered condition
by the reason OF the number OF their
wounded and their retreat along the
river threatened by ,hr steamers, which
can destroy, AT u moment, the food sup
plies stored at Dongola, if they cannot
hold that place against the retrcatins
Dervlshes until the land forces OF the
expedition have advanced 10 cooperate
with them.
Yesterdays engagement at FL Hafir
seems to have altogether dlsmayed the
pervIshcs. who placed great reliance
upon III. fort at that place. They be-
licvcd that that fort would be able to
prevent the passage OF any OF the Steam
ers OF the expedition up the Nile.
The artillery fire from this side OF the
river seems 10 have entirely discoucert-
ed them, their batteries being destroyed
MS soon as the smoke from them indicat-
ed n target for the British and Egyptian
gunnurs.
as soon az the news Of the evacuation
OF IL lIanr was received, the cores
nf bn 4 tnl
ceeded TO cross the river and make n
survey OF the encmy's lnte position. II
was found that their mud defenses had
been built with great care, but the rifle
trenches only permitted the men n very
short and straight front for protection,
Mats were sun strewn along and with
IN the trenches und In the straw shelters
were the remains of tho Curcases OF
sheep. which had been killed to supply
food TO the defenders. The deal had
been buried or thrown into the river
Further south on the river bank was
found their biggest battery. This work
contained iivc rmDraSurrs for guns,
three In front md two Mt the side. This
battery had hocn terribly knocked about
by the artillery fire from the east bank
and from the steamers.
still further south was big entrench-
lh'IllA lllt libl III anu ONO
the Nile. There was noticed the same
system OF piercing the wall In such n
way as to allow firing only IN one d!rec-
ton. In this cntrcnChmGnt II was apna-
rent thai the rllcmcn had made n
plucky resistance, staying In the trench
80 nll day and eating where they lay. ms
was evidenced by the quantity of dates
and water Gourds lying about, left In
retreat.
.'rnr native residents Of El lIaflr hnvc
welcomed the appearance Of the British
and Egyptian expedition nud seem TO
regard their advance as an assurance
OF n dellrernnce from the rule of the
khalifa and the BaGgnras, the khalIfa's
native tribe, who have exercised cru
cl dominion over the Nile tribes. From
tue description Of yesterdays fight fur
nlshcd by the natives. II appears that
the DcrvIsh cavalry kept out in the drs-
ert watching the fight and waiting for
landing Of opposing forces 10 take pnrt,
Wad B!Sharn. the DcrviSh comman-
der. was wounded ut about noon and
was Immediately carried ont OF range OF
the fire, repeatedly cXcluimlnS TO those
who surrounded him:
"Allnh is against me-"
Wnd Bishnra decided to cvacuatc his
position during the night. lie was nblr
TO remove his guns. but he was forced IN
leave behind him n Ercnt quantity of
ammunition for both the artillery and
the rifles. The Dcrvish steamer which
wns sunk by the cxpcditton'a horse bnt..
tory, wns said TO have also been Ion,lcd
with ammunition and guns.
This morning nj $50 o'clock, the troons
of the expedition heEnn crossing the rIv-
ar. McDonald'a brigade was the flrs,
over, and the soldiers were mot with the
widest and maddcst slRna OF dcllsh, by
the nativCs, They shouted In II rrcnxlcd
manner and danced about the troops,
singing and shouting like lunntIcs
The first uSv made of tho capiurrd