Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-01-16

Dargai ridge, from the direction Of
the assault. it is now more fully ex-
planned, presents a frontage of about
mile. the left end of which is sheer
rock for 200 yards In spite Of the diff
fculty of the ascent the movements OF
the British troops were fairly well COW
cred, except in the case Of the low dip
or small valley, from 100 to $50 yards
wide, about half way up the ridge.
This dip was exposed to the direct fire
from the summit Of the cliffs.
AS the Ghurkas. supported by the
Derhyshles and Dorsetshires. reach
ed this Are zone. the top of the cliffs
burst out into flame, for a thousand
trlbesmen had reserved the fire of
their rifles until that moment Though
decimated, the little mountaIneers
tGhurkas) struggled across the dip and
reached the shelter of a few rocks,
where they lay down under cover for
moment or so i'll order to recover
their breath Then. led by their Off
GERS, they made rush Tor the cover OF
the cliffside. But the others could not
follow, and the enemy, with true mill
t%ry instinct. reserved their fire.
Though the remainder of the Ghurkas.
the Derbyshres and the Dorsetshires
appeared on the fringe of the dip. vet
to step into the fire zone was to court
death. But the uorsetshires again
tried IN ahuaEen IL. rta ..A.5
Ghurkas. and thirteen men struggled
into the open space, only to drop be-
fore the far side haven was reached.
Already the little dip was strewn with
corpses, and so b!oodthirsty we're the
enemy that n wounded man had but to
move limb to become the target for
a dozen marksmeu.
Many u man struggled to his knees
or to his Cce+ n u be struck down
again, and many sacrificed their own
lives while trying 10 save their com
rades. 1t was III 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.
AT this juncture Gen. Kempster or
dered the Gordon Highlanders to the
front.
The time had arrived for desperate
action, for 1t was then 4 O'Clock in the
afternoon, and the dead and wounded
We're lying thick on every side Over
100 men had already fallen, and the
enemy We're shouting their defiance
and waving their battle flags or stand
ards and beating their drums conf
dent of the imprcg!n bi,ity of their no
sition and certain of their success.
But the G0rd+.u ghla adfs7-s had yet
to be reckoned with. Rapidly forming
his men, and after his now historic
speech, Men of the Gordon Highland
ers: Our general says that the position
must be taken at all costs. The Cor
don EHghlanders Will take it." Col
Matthias, the commander OF the High
landers dashed out at the head OF his
gallant regiment and in a moment
they were across. carrying every one
with them in THEN onrush, storming
the ridge with resolution that was
resistless and bet;ltIng down all op-
position.
When Col. Matthias gave the order
to advance he and his officers leaped
into the open, and the pipers of the
Highianders followed, 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 Findlater, blowing his loudest
! and best, was among the first to show
| the way across that deadly strip OF
| ground, and, when. after trayersing
but few yards, he was laid low by a
shot through both legs, he managed to
prop himself up against boulder, and
| continued, with undated energy to
play Cock OF the North" animating
his comrades by the familiar, stirring
music OF his beloved pipes.