The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1897-11-20
THEY WON DEATHLESS GLORY
sroRaED THE OAReAl RIDGE
striking Up the "Coek of the North"
and with q shout the Gordo"
HiwhIanaera Rushed IRtO the Fire
Zone.


this city have received graphic details
by mail Of the recapture OF Darga' ridse
by the Gordon Highanders ON October
20, during which the regiment exhibited
remarkable dash and courage.
On Wednesday, October 20, Gen Bugs
sent the second division to dislodge the
tribesmen from the Dargai ridge lhe
position was strong one, the enemy oe-
eupying he summit OF preeipitous hui,
Tn top Of the hill could not be reached
except by single path, along which the
attacking force. consisting OF GhulAa
regiment, the Derbyshire regiment and
the Dorsetshire regiment was Obliged To
climb in Indian file while three batteries
Of artillery shelled the breastworks Of the
hill men.
The Deadly Ridge.
Dargai ridge, from the direction OF the
assault, presents frontage of about a
mile, the left end OF which is II sheer rock
for 200 yards. In spite of the difficulty
of the ascent the movements OF the Brit-
ish troops were fairly well covered tx
cept in the case OF low dip or small
valley from 100 to $50 yards wide, about
half way from the summit OF the elm
As the Khurkas, supported by the Derby
shires and Dorsetshires, reached this hre
zone, the top Of the cliffs burst out into
fame, for IA thousand tribesmen had re-
served their tire until that moment.
Though deeimated, the Ghurkas strug
gled across the dip and reached the 'hel
ter OF few rocks, where they lay down
under cover for "A moment in order 10 re
cover their breath. Then. led by their
officers, they made a rush tor the cover
OF the ellis. But the others could not
follow, and the enemy, With true military
instinct, reserved their lire Though the
remainder Of the Ghurkas. the Derby
shires and the Dorset.hlrra appeared On
the end OF the dip, yet To step into the
fire zone was to court death. But the
DorsetshiTes again tried h advance T.
the support of the Ghurkas and 10 ,trus
gled into the open space only u drop be
fore the far side had even been reached
Then, reluctantly, the ,enlor otficrr 'tg
nailed 10 the main body OF the Brit
ish troops that the passage could not be
made.
HIEhinn dePs to the fFOat.
At this juncture General krmpstrr OF
derrd the Gordon Highlander, 10 the
front. The time had arrived inr lrspef
at action, for It was then % clock IN the
afternoon. and dead and wounded eerr
lying thick on every side. But the Cor
don Highlander, had yet TO be- reckDned
i with. Rapidly forming his men, and aft
er his now historic speech Men oi The
Gordon Highlander, our general ,ay, that
position must be- taken at all spsts, The
Gordon Highlander. viii take H. tol
onrl Matthias, the commander VI the
Hishlanders, dashed out al thc head Of hr,
gallant regiment, and in Il moment thry
were across, carrying every one Nth them
on their onward rush, .torming the rldge
with a resolution that wa rrsrstIesa.
Geek OF the North"
When Colonel MathA. gave the order
to advance, he and hia officer, lrap.d inta
the open, the pIp"rS following striking up
Cock OF the North. and with a shout
the leading company va. into the drv
zone.
\ stream 1T lead swept over. through
and past, the bullets chuFnng up the
dust, which halt hid the ru.hiug bnd,-s
Piper Fiudhtes, blowing b.. loudr-t and
best, was among the first 10 show the
"ay across that deadly strip Of ground
and when, after trnver4ing but few
yards, he was laid low by shot through
both legs, he managed to prop himaeli
and continued with unabated energy "a
play Cock Of the North, animatrng hi,
comrades by the familiar, stirring music
Of his pipes.
But the fire IT the enemy wa most
deadly, the leading line melting awav
and It seemed that the Gordon Highland
ers would be annihilated More men, how
ever. sprang into the passage and the
leaders struggled across the center Then
with a second cheer, the troops .treamr,l
across and the enemy, seeing that the
barrier had been swept away. left their
loopholcS and fed prrcipitatrlv.
Piper Findlates has been recommended
Tor the Victoria cross Captain Robinson
Of the Ghurkas al.o acted with III,
greatest gallantry. After leading his men
across the fire zone to the cover. and
finding the force there insufficient. no 70
turned over the death trap alone and wa.
mortally wounded while leading the .er
ond rush Of Ghurkas.
DObIe Was short 5000,