New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-16
STORMING OF DARGAI RIDGE
HEROIC CONDUCT OF THE GORDON
HIGHLANDERS.
DETAILS OF THE FAMOUS CHARGE BROUGHT BY
MAIL FROM IND!A-PIPER FIND
LATER'S BRAVERY.

NAIL FROM iSDyA-PIPER FIND
LATER's BRAVERY.
r,,aon Nov l5-The newspapers OF this city
have iust received graphic details by mail OF the
re,anture Of Dargai Ridge bv the Gordon Highland
ers or October 90
A,,or the oCht!ng on Monday. October rs, be-
,ueen the column OF British troops commanded by
General Sir Yeatman Biggs and the trioesmen
,,o,, Cbagru on the Samana Range, the British
retired upon shinware, and the enemy. greatly re-
,nforced reoccupied Dargai Ridge, which COM
mands Chagru. This capture and eventual retreat
from Dargal Ridge has been pronounced 10 be
military error; but, the other hand II has been
defended or the ground OF the extreme dlfhcuty ex
perienced In transporting supplies through such a
mountainous country
In any case. Wednesday, October 20. General
Biggs sent the Second Division dislodge the
trbesmen from the Dargai Ridge Tie position was
a strong one, the enemy occupying the summit Of
a prec!pitous nil. The top OF this hill could be
reached only by a single path along which the at
tacking force. at first consisting OF Ghurka reg-
ment the Derbyshre Regiment and the Dorset
shire Regiment, obliged TO climb In Indian file,
while three batteries of artillery sheled the
sangars or breastwork intrenchments, OF the hill
THE CLIFFS BURST INTO FLAME.
Dargai Ridge from the direction Of the assault
It is now more fully explained presents frontal
OF about a mile. the left end o. which Is sheer
rock for two hundred yards In spite OF the diff
Guilty OF the ascent the movements OF the British
troops were fairly well covered except in the case
OF low Dip or small valley. from hundred to
one hundred and fifty yards wide, about halfway
up the ridge. This dip exposed 10 direct fire
from the summit OF the cliffs When the Ghurkas
supported by the Derbyshires and Dorsetsh'res
reached this fire zone, Immediately the top OF the
cliffs burst into fame. for thousand tribesmen
had we'd he fro ~ flci ifpS To-
ment. Though decimated the little mountaineers
(Ghurkas) struggled across the dip and reached the
shelter OF a few rocks where they laid down under
cover for a moment so In order TO recover their
breath. and then. led by their officers. they made
rush for the cover Of the clir side. But the 9TH
ers could not follow. and the enemy. with true
military instinct. reserved their fire Though the
remainder Of the Ghurkas the Derbyshres and the
Dorsetshires appeared the fringe OF the dip yet
10 step into the fire was 10 court death. But
the Dorsetshres again tried to advance to the sup
port of the Ghurkas, and thirteen men struggled
into the open space. only TO drop before the far
side haven reached. Already the little dip was
strewn with corpses. and so bloodthirsty were the
enemy that wounded man had but 10 move limb
become the target for dozen marksmen. Many
a man struggled 10 his knees or TO his feet only TO
be struck down again, and many sacrificed their
own lives while trying to save their comrades. 1t
was In reality "a passage OF death"
Then, reluctantly. the senior officer photographed
down to the main body Of the British troops that
the passage could not be made.
GORDON HIGHLANDERs TO THE FRONT.
At this juncture General Kempster ordered the
Gordon Highlanders to the front. The time had
then arrived for desperate action for 1t vas then
4 o'clock in the afternoon and the dead and
wounded were lying thick every SIDE over one
hundred had already fallen and the enemy
were shouting .heir defiance and waving their
battle flags, standards. and beating their drums,
confident Of the impregnability Of their position
and certain OF their success
But the Gordon Highanders had yet to be reck'
oned with Rapidly forming his men, and after
his now historic .peech. Men OF the Gordon
Hienlanders: Our General says that position must
ne taken at all costs. The Gordon Highanders
will take IT," Colonel Matthias. the commander of
the Highanders dashed out at the head Of his gall
liant regiment and In moment they were across
carrying every one with them in the impetuosity
OF their onrush. and storning the ridge with a
resolution that resisess. and beating down all
opposition.
When Colorel Matthias gave the order to advance.
he and his officers leaped into the open and the
p.pers OF the Hghlanders followed. striking up
Cock OF the North" and with shout the leading
company of Killed men was into the fire zone. A
stream Of lead swept over. through and past them.
outlets churning up the dust which haf-hid the
rushing bodies.
Piper Findlater blowing his loudest and best,
was among the first show the way across that
deadly strip OF ground. and when. after traversng
a few yards. he laid low by a shot through
both legs he managed TO prop himself up against
a bowlder and continued with unabated energy to
play Cock OF the North" an.mating his comrades
by the familiar stirring music Of his beloved pipes.
Bat the FIRE Of the enemy most deadly, the
leading line melted away and II seemed that the
Gordon Highanders would he annhlated More
men, however. sprang into the passage. and the
leaders struggled across 10 the cover. Then there
was a lull. and az paper remarks. "one had
time TO see how cruel had been the slaughter"
Then, with second cheer. the mixed troops.
ughlanders Dorsetshlres. Ghurkas. Derbyshires
and S!khs streamed across. and the enemy. seeing
the barrier had been swept away. left their loop
holes and rock barricades and fled precipitatey
down the reverse slopes without waiting for the
line Of cold steel which then nearly on the
crest OF the ridge
VICTORIA CROSS FOR THE BRAVE PIPER
Piper Findlater has been recommended for the
Victoria Cross.
Captain Robinson. of the Ghurkas. also acted
with the greatest gallantry After leading his
men across the fire zone TO the cover, and hnd.ng
the force there Insufficient he returned over the
death trap alone and mortally wounded while
leading the second rush OF Ghurkas 10 support the
first body OF that regiment