The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-12

almost incessant fire on the moving column
Had they been left alone they would have
that they were attacked, and, fleeing to the
villages of Nazen and Kundi Mishti made
another stand Driven from there, they
scattered in all directions, but finally Joined
their brothers in Dargai ridge
With this fighting it was not until 1890
O'clock that the advance guard of the
British troops reached the last point where
they could halt and be out of range of the
Afridi sharpshooters, hidden behind the
mentary halt General Kempster surveyed
the scene; Before and below him was a
shelter for his men, but which must be
crossed before the entrance to the road to
the ridge could be reached. The valley was
within easy range of the Pathan rifles. This
was shown as soon the troops came in
sight, for all through the valley clouds of
dust constantly were raised by the bullets
or the SharpShOOterS as they tested the
range.
But the valley must be crossed, and the
Ghurkas were ordered forward. With a
cheer and a rush they entered the fire zone.
Then, from the long range of the ridge
came one sheet of flame. Bullets whistled
through the air, so that they could be heard
by the reserves, and such a cloud of dust
was sent up that little could be seen of the
fearless mountaineers. But, unable to stop
cheering as they went, though their shouts
grew feebler as their ranks were thinned
by the hail of death which had come upon
them. AT last a cessation of the firing
from the ridge told the reserves that the
Ghurkas had crossed or were dead A mo-
ment later the dust settled and the valley
was clear. Scattered thicl1ly across it were
the bodies of many of the men who had
fallen as they ran. On the opposite side,
sheltered by the rocks, was the little hand
full which had passed the field of death
In the first rush only half of the Ghurka
regiment had gone forward. Before the
ure was seen to leave the shelter of the
rocks where the troops lay and stalk across
the valley. Bullets fell on all sides of him,
n md hn rod
British forces he was recognized as Captain
Robinson, commanding the Ghurkas.
I've come to take the others across"
he said, simply, to General Kempster.
There's not enough over there to do any
good
Then, when the order was given, he again
plunged into the valley and the storm of
lead which met him and his men was some
thing awful. This time he did not escape.
Hardly had he dashed down the slope than
Pathan bullet pierced his breast and he
fell among the bodies of his men who had
met death in the first charge But the
GurkaS pushed on and ten minutes later
the little force under the rocks had been
increased while the bodies lay still thicker
in the valley of death.
Then the DerbyShireS and the Dorset
shires appeared on the edge of the dip. AS
they began their charge, a storm of bull
let's fercer, more deadly than any before
met them, and the front ranks fell dead to
a man. Again they tried to advance, and
again came the shower of lead, which
struck down all who entered the valley
Many man, wounded, but his strength
left, struggled to his feet, only to be again
struck down by bullets from the pitiless foe
above.
CHARGE OF THE HIGHLANDERS.
At last General Kempster grew desperate.
1t was then o'clock in the afternoon, and
five hours of desperate work had resulted
only in getting handful of men across the
valley. OF his troops left the Gordon
Highlanders had done no fighting. and he
called upon them. AS they marched for
ward they halted at the edge of the din
Far across the valley they could see the
Ghurkas who had made the rush. Above
were the banners of the Afridis, waving de-
fiance, and now and then puff of smoke
as a Pathan sharpshooter killed a wound
ed man in the valley Rapidly forming his
men. colonel Matthias spoke to them in
words that are now historic:
Men OF the Gordon Highlanders" he
said, our general says that position must
be taken at all hazards The Gordon High
landers will take it,
A moment later. with the bagpipes skreel-
ing in the van the killed men dashed
forth. In moment they were in the midst
OF the nre, but with an irnpetuOusity that
could not be withstood they rushed in care
less OF the bullets striking them down and
careless of the dead upon whom they were
forced 10 trample- So fierce and fast was
their rush tnat in less time than seems pos
sible the Highlanders had crossed the dip
and We're in the rocks beyond.
But they did not stop there. Needless OF
the pitiless reign OF bullets which fell upon
them, they dashed up the winding death
trap to the ridge. Behind them came the
Ghurkas and behind them what was left Of
the Derbyshsre and Dorsetshire regiments.