The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1897-11-19
FOUGHT LIKE HEROES.
Gordon HighIanders Great Charge at
Dargai Ridge.

FoO1F1I LINE nGnOGSs
Gordon High1anders Great Charge at
Dargai Ridge.
London, Nov. 17.-The newspapers
of this city have received graphic details
by mail of the recapture of Dargai ridge
20, during which the regiment exhibit
ed remarkable dash and courage. On
Wednesday, October 30, General Biggs
sent the second division to dislodge the
tribesmen from the Dargai ridge. The
position was very strong one, the
enemy occupying the summit of pre-
cipitous hill. The top of the hill could
not be reached except by single path
along which the attacking force, first
consisting of. Ghoorka regiment, the
Derbyshire regiment, and the Dorset
in Indian file,. while three batteries
shelled the breastworks of the hillmen.
Dargai ridge, from the direction Of
the assault, presents a frontage of about
| mile, the left end of which is sheer
rock for 200 yards. In spite of the
difficulty of the ascent, the movements
of the British troops were fairly we'll
covered, except in the case of a low
dip, or small valley, from 100 to $50
yards wide about half way from the
summit of the cliff
AS the Ghoorkas, supported by the
Derbyshires and Dorsetshires reached
this fire zone, the tops of the cliffs
burst out into flame, for 1000 tribes
men had reserved their fire until that
moment. Though decimated, the
Ghoorkas struggled across the dip and
reached the shelter of few rocks,
where they lay down under cover of
the cliffs. But the others could not
follow, and the enemy, with true mill
tary instinct, reserved their fire.
Though the remainder of the Ghoorkas,
the Derbyshires and the Dorsetshires
appeared on the fringe Of the dip, yet
te,step into the fire zone was to court
death. But the Dorsetshires again
tried to advance to the support of the
Ghoorkas, and Is men struggled into
the open space, only to drop before the
far side had even been reached. Then,
reluctantly, the senior officer signalled
down to the main body of the British
that the passage could not be made.
At this juncture General Kempster
ordered the Gordon Highlanders to the
front. The time Lad arrived for des-
perate action, for it was then o'clock
in the afternoon, and the dead and
wounded were lying thick on every side.
But the Gordon Highlanders had yet to
be reckoned with. Rapidly forming
his men and after his now historic
speech-'Men of the Gordon High
landers. our general says that that posi-
tion must be taken at all costs. The
Gordon Highlanders will take it,
Colonel Matthias, commander of the
Highlanders, dashed out at the head of
his gallant regiment, and in moment
they were across, carrying everyone
ing the ridge with resolution that was
resistless. When Colonel Matthias
gave the order to advance, he and his
officers led into tho open, the piper fol-
lowing, striking up Cock Of, the
North" and with shout the leading
company was into the fire zone. A
stream of lead swept over, through and
past, the bullets churning up the dust
which half hid the rushing bodies.,
Piper Findlates. blowing his loudest
and best, was among the first to show
the way across that deadly stretch OF
ground, and when, after traversing but
a few yards he was laid low by shot
through both legs, he managed to prop
himself and continued, with unabated
energy; to play%a Goes-cfathe North,"
animatippg: his s9mradde.gg g3yHe familiar.
stirring .iNu .iNusSSSs Il oi hiaa ,pPesI But the
hre OF the enemy was mast, deadly, the
leading line,nsen. 1ne}tin9 away, and it.
seemed tfiaft f1f TIE ,Gfdfd6n Highlanders
would be annihilated.. More men,
however, sprang into the passage and
the leaders struggled across the center.
Then, with a second cheer. the troops
stfeamed across and the enemy, seeing
that the barrier had been swept away,
left their bopholes and fled precipi-
lately.
Piper Findlates has been recommend
ed for the Victoria cross. Captain
Robinson1-of the Ghoorkas, also acted
with the greatest gallantry. After
leading his men across the fire zone to
cover, and finding it insufficient, he re-
turned over the death trap alone, and
was mortaliy wounded while leading
the second rush Of Ghoorkas. " -