Omaha daily bee., 1897-11-16
SCOTLAND'S HEROES
"Details Of the Bravery Of the Highland
Troops in Indian War.
H>S-~
LEAD THE WAY WHEN OTHERS DRAW BACK
Commander Of Troop Inspires His Men with
His Own Courage.
THEY CROSS A VERrTkB.e DsATHTRAP
Heroic Piper Continues to Play Even When
Seriously Wounded.
ley CROSS A vERITAB.s OEATHTRAP
ENEMY RETREATS BEFORE SUCH DARING
Full Particulars Of the Capture of
Dargai Have just Been Received,
Rejecting Great Credit Upon
scotland's Soldiers.

mail OF the capture OF Dargdi Ridge by the
Gordon Hghlanders October 20, during
which that regiment exhibited remarkable
dash and courage.
Wednesday, October 20. General Bggs
sent the second division to dislodge the
tribesmen from the Dargai Ridge. The posi-
tion was a very strong one, the enemy &C.
cupying the summit OF a precoitous hill
The top Of this hill could not be reached
except by single path along which the
attacking force consisting of a Ghurkha reg
ment and the Dorsetshire regiment, was
obliged to climb indian file while three bat
teres Of artillery sheled the breastworks
Of the hillmen.
Dargai Ridge from the direction Of the as
sault. presents frontage of about mile
the left end of which is sheer rock for 200
yards, In spite OF the difficulty of the as
cent the movements OF the troops were
fairly well covered except in the case of
low dip small valley 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 Ghurkhas,
supported by the Derbyshires and Dorset
shires, reached this fire zone the top of
the cliffs burst cut into flame, for a thou
sand tribesmen had reserved their fire until
that moment.
IN SHELTER OF ROCKS
Though decimated, the Ghurkhas struggled
across the dip and reached the shelter of
few rocks where they lay down under cover
Tor a momelt in order to recover their
breath. Then led by their officers, they
made a rush for the cover of the cliff side
But the others could not follow and the
enemy, with true military instinct, reserved
its fire.
Though the remainder OF the Ghurkhas
the Derbyshires and the Dorsetshres ap-
peared on the fringe of the dip yet to step
Into the fire zone was to court death. But
the Dorsetshires again tried 10 advance to
the support OF the Ghurkhas 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
fish troops that the passage could not be
made.
At this juncture General Kempster ordered
the Gordon Highlanders to the front. The
time had arrived for desperate action for it
was then o'clock in the afternoon and the
dead and wounded were lying thick on every
side. Over 100 men had already been killed
and the enemy were shouting their defiance
and waving their battleflags and beating
their drums confident of the impregnablity
of their position and certain OF their sue
cess But the Gordon Highlanders had yet
to be reckoned with.
HISTORIC SPEECH OF MATTHIAS.
Rapidly forming his men, and after his now
historic speech. Men Of the Gordoh High
landers: Our general says that position must
be taken at all costs; the Gordon High
landers will take it, Colonel Matthias. the
commander of the Highlanders, dashed out
at the head of his gallant regiment and in
moment they were across, carrying every
one with them in their orrush, storming
the ridge with resolution that was re-
sistless and beating down ali opposition.
When Colonel Matthias gave the order to
advance he and his officers eaped into the
open, the ppers of the Hlghlanders struck
up Cock of the North" and with a shout
the company OF the killed men wera into
the fire zone. stream of lead swept over
through ard past them, the bullets churnng
up the dust. which half hid the rushing
bodies. Piper Findlater, blowing his loud
est and best, was among the first to show
the way across that deadly 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
boulder and continued with unabated energy
TO play Cock Of the North" animating his
comrades by the familiar, stirring music Of
his pipes
DEADLY BARRIER PASSED.
But the fire OF the enemy was most
deadly The leading line melted away. and
it seemed that the Gordon Hlghlanders
would be ann.hilnted, More men however.
sprang into the passage, ana the leaders
struggled across 10 the cover, Then there
was llli and. as paper remarks, "Oue
slaughter"
Then, with a second cheer the mixed
troops Highlanders Dorsetshires Ghurkhas.
Derbyshlres and Sikhs, streamed across. and
the enemy seeing the barrier had been
swept away left its loophOles and rock bar
rieades and hed preepitatsly down the re-
verse slopes without waiting for the line OF
cold steel which then nearly on the
crest of the ridge,
Piper Findlater has been recommended
for the Victoria cross.
Captain Robinson of the Ghurkhas also
seted with the greatest 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 mor;ally wounded while leading the
second rush OF Ghurkhss to support the hrst
body OF that regiment.
Move IA Abolish sugar BOunties.
Tta g.