The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-10-08

and calls attention TO the strange career
Of the Great White Pasha" in The camp
Of the Mahdists.
The Wounded Dervishes Massacred by
the British.
What happened to the thousands Of
wounded Dervishes as they lay on the
plain before Omdurman after the battle
constitutes one Clark chapter in the story
of me brilliant victory. There were no
wounded Mahdists left after the battle
said a dispatch from London. Cruel
and bloodthirsty as it may seem the
wounded almost without exception, were
Iaassacred by the British and Egyptian
soldiers. Since Gordon's death this has
been the custom"
England in the Soudan was fighting the
pervishes with the Dervishes' own Wea-
mons. and -nassacred them after the bat
tie. according TO the Dervish custom of
thus 4tra ting their wounded capuves.
4 wounded Dervish, they say in the
British camps in the Soudan, is more dan
ferrous than a well one.
General kitchener brought no hospital
tents into the Soudan to nurse the 5000
wounded Dervishes in, and the surgeons
who went with along the expedition had
quite enough wounded British soldiers on
their hands to keep them busy. 1t was Is
much as any ones life was worth to go
Lar a wounded Dervish He would lie on
the ground, glaring about him like a wild
beast. Approach him and out came his
curved ham-stringing knife. With it he
Would make vicious sweeps, any one Of
which would MAIN a man for life.
A story is told of how parties of English
soldiers, commanded by English officers,
went out to kill the wounded. One private
prodded the helpless body betewen his
shoulders with his 7bayonet. If there was
no movement the party went on; if the
Oervlsh proved alive and squirmed, an
bther private instantly blew out his brains
During the night after the battle mys-
teri0us cry was heard repeatedly from the
battle field. Three men were told off to
get upon the sand bags of the little re-
doubt at the corner of the zereba, and
when the moon came out from behind the
clouds, to fire volleys in the direction from
hich the cry came. The volleys were
fred. but the cry went on. Finally it
ceased. Whether the man was thus
silenced or not was not ascertained. but
n the morning there were only dead men
n that part OF the field
Another story has been going the rounds
now an officer. going mp to A group of
surgeons round a wounded Dervish. and
inGuiring what was the matter. was told
that nothing could be done with him. no
one could approach him. He lay there
With his knife out ready with one Of those
sweeping ham-stringing cuts for any one
Who dared TO come near. Whereupon the
officer still under the blood-madness of
ne fight, and seeing red" whipped out
lis own sword. avoided the rapid sweep
If the wounded mans weapon and drove
ais own to his heart.
This is not the first time victorious
army. under orders done to death their
wounded enemies. II viii be recalled with
what horror the world read of the massa-
"res Of the Chinese at Port Arthur by the
lnfuriated japanese soldiers. 1t was not
- he expected. however. that Christian
England would permit the infliction of a
similar barbarous method of vengeance
upon their fallen victims in the Soudan.
Fanaticel Bravery of the Dervishes.
The fanatcal bravery Of the Dervishes
n the face of hopeless odds was a dra-
matte feature OF the historic battle OF
OmdUrman. Again and again the Dervish
hordes hurled themselves against the
British line. Following the Dervish Gus
TOM they would advance take up a posi-
ton. plant their standard and. rallvins
around it. shout defantly. Where they
planted the standard they stood ready to
die.
In the forefront OF the Khalifa's battle
line was body Of his troops surrounding
the Khaufa's standard. The valiant Nah.
d.s,s. foot and horse. surged forward
and gathered an impetus which. If r. had
not been for the opportune arrival Of the
Lincoins in support. would have carried
them on TO she bayone;s OF the British
vanguard.
As il was, although deCimated at every
yard by the continuous stream of lead
from front and flank. the fa'teved IN tiI
only a mere handful Of dismounted mer
remained - plant the black banner in rht
sand and die around il. X may be sale
that round this banner Maid SIN died.
Witlin n few moments the dead lyo6ie,
Of the Dervishes were 0eaped uo aroun,
the now torn and battered flag. FINAL,
not more than three Of its intrepid de
Tenders were left. and they linked arm.
that they might die together fghting. Tw,
Of the three we're shot, whereupon the on,
survivor. hourish'ng his spear. advance,
against & thousand rifles 7. was an in
spring spectacle. To the credit of tn