The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-16
Remarkable Exhibition of CouraGo
by the Gordon HighIanders and
Other British Troops.
CHARGE ACROSS A FIRE ZONE
INTO WHICH TRIBEsMEN WERE
POURING A STREAM or LEAD.
Victoria Cross for Piper FindIatexs
Who Played "COcL of the North"
After He Was Shot Down.

this city have received graphic details by
mail of the recapture of nargai Ridge by
the Gordon Highlanders on Oct. %, during
which that regiment exhibited remarkable
dash and courage. On Wednesday, Oct. 20,
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 this hill could be
reached only by single path, along which
the attacking force at first consisting of
Ghurlka 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.
Dargai ridge from the direction of as
sault, presents frontage of about a mile,
the left end of which is sheer rock for
two hundred yards. In spite of the diff
Guilty of the ascent, the movements of the
British troops We're fairly well covered, ex-
cept in the case of low dip, or small val-
ley, from 100 to $50 yards wide, about half
way up the ridge. This dip was exposed
to direct fire from the summit of the cliffs.
AS the Ghurkas supported by the Derby
shires and Dorsetshires, reached this fire
zone the tops of the cliffs burst out in
flame. for a thousand tribesmen had re-
S6TNeu lIlelF IFe until moment. 1nOuSn
decimated, the Ghurkas struggled across the
dip and reached the shelter of few rocks,
where they lay down under cover for a
moment in order to recover their breath.
Then, led by their officers, they made q
rush for the cover of the cliff side. But
the others could not follow, and the enemy,
with true military instinct. reserved their
fire.
Though the remainder of the Ghurkas, the
Derbyshires and the Dorsetshires appeared
on the fringe of the dip, yet to step into
the fire zone was to court death. But the
Dorsetshires again tried to advance to the
support Of the Ghurkas and thirteen men
struggled into the open space, only to drop
before the far-side haven was reached.
Then, reluctantly, the senior officer hello
graphed down to the main body of the Brit
ish troops that the passage could not be
made
AT this juncture General Kempster or
dered the Gordon Highlanders to the front.
The time had arrived for desperate action,
for 1t was then 4 o'clock inathe afternoon
and the dead and wounded were lying thick
on every side. Over one hundred men had
already fallen and the enemy were shouting
their defiance, waving their battle flags and
beating their drums, confident of the inn
their success But the Gordon Highlanders
had yet to be reckoned with.
Rapidly forming his men, and after his
now historic speech: Men of the Gordon
Highlanders, our general says that position
mustfbe taken at all costs; the Gordon
HighIAnders will take it, Colonel Matthias,
the commander of the Highlanders, dashed
| out at the head of his gallant regiment and
in a moment they were across, carrying
| every one with them in their rush,
storming the ridge with resolution that
was resistless and beating down all opposi-
! tion.
When Colonel Matthias gave the order to
advance he and his officers leaped into the
open and the pipers of the Highlanders fol-
lowed, striking up Cock of the North"
and, with a shout the leading company Of
killed men was into the fire zone. A stream
of lead swept over, through and past them,
bullets churning up the dust which half hid
the rushing bodies.
Piper Eipdlater, blowing his loudest and
bestg was among The first to show the way
across that deadline strip of ground, and
when, after traversing but few yards, he
was laid low by a shot through both legs,
he managed to prop himself up against a
bowlder and continued with unabated en-
his comrades by the familiar stirring music
of his pipes.
But the fire of the enemy was most dead-
ly, the leading line melted away and it
| seemed that the Gordon Highlanders would
be annihilated. More men, however, sprang
into the passage and the leaders struggled
across to the cover There then was lulI
and, as one paper remarks, lone had time
to see how cruel had been the slaughter
Then, with a second cheer, the mixed
troops, Highlanders, Dorsetshires, Ghurkas.
Derbyshires and Sikhs, streamed across.
and the enemy, seeing the barrier had been
swept away, left their loop holes and rock
barricades and fled precipitately down the
reverse slopes without waiting for the line
of cold steel which was then nearly on the
crest of the ridge.
Piper Findlatcr has been recommended
for the Victoria Cross. Captain Robinson
of the Ghurkas. also acted with the great
est gallantry. After leading his men across
the fire zone to the cover and finding the
force there insufficient he returned over the
death trap alone and was mortally wounded
while leading the second rush of the
Ghurkas to support the first body of that
regiment.