The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-11-11
The Lootlng of Omdurman.

Samuel Abdulal SHIRLEY, an Egyp
tan officer who was rewarded with two
medals for bravery and efficient service
in the British army under Kitchener in
the Soudan, writes a sketch OF the battle
OF Omdurman i'll the New York Critic
rion The following is what he says OF
the looting OF the doomed city by the
victorious British soldiers:
Everywhere women and children
swarlncd and shriekcd. Pandcmonium
reigncd throughout the condemned city.
As it was probably thought that the
treasures OF the city had been taken
safely to the rear, the word had gone
through all ranks that looting would not
be prohibited but, on the contrary,
tacitly encouraged. Naturally there was
tremendous rush for the homes OF the
wealthy Dcrvishes, and greed now
prompted many an atrocity.
Loot, loot. loot-it began to come
forth from Granny and crevicc, here,
there and everywhere, Rugged to the
breasts oil the Egyptian soldiers, a hand
iul OF wailins women in the rear. l
remember one Egyptian soldier coming
out OF 4 doorway staggering under Il
weight oil spoil, when he met an old
man. Dropping his loot, he held his
bayonct to the elders breast, demand
ing everything he had When the old
man swore by Allah that he had nothing
in the world, the soldier called him a
liar and dog. and ran him through
and lett him there with his face hall
buried in the white sand.
But although there was an impression
among the officers that there was little
spoil TO be found, when men were seen
running hithcr and thther with loot i'll
their arms, the officers OF the several
regiments were themselves touched with
the frebrand OF rapacity, and instantly
stationed pickcts here and there, order
ing all spoil to be brought to certain
spot, There the loot was sorted over;
and, as one may imagine, alter the Off
cers-English first and native last--had
taken what they required, there was pre-
cious little Tor the hooters themselves.
Maddcncd by this. many OF the soldiers
committed grave crimes against person
and property in order to secure a few
triilcs that were the all in all OF the
poor souls that possessed them. | saw
two British soldiers struggling with one
woman who was cndeavoring to save
the few rings and other small posses
sions sccrcted on her person, but she
was literally stripped to the skin and
every article OF the slightest value taken
from her
But such even was not the worst
What shall | say OF those abandoned
wrctchcs who penetrated the harcnls
and slave quarters OF the Emirs and the
rich adllcrcnts OF the khaliia, who were
even now fleeing before Il wlirlwind OF
camcclers southwark to safety. farther
and farther from their homes, now rifled
ard pillaged by the enemy? OF these
crimes cannot speak. My hand trcm-
blcs and my blood boils as recall it
all; and I swear to Heaven never to
preach OF the bounties and glory OF
English cl,ivalry and Christian compass
sion alter that Over this darkest spec
taclc OF the whole dread siege and fall
of Omdurman | must draw veil
There are some things OF which one
dare not speak, even were there ade-
qratc words at his command
For three days this mad carnival OF
terrorism lasted | think these scenes
will live with NE forever, and | cannot
recall them now without tears. As |
stood beside the tomb Of the Mahdi
with its dome burst in by a besiegcr's
she'll. | gazcd across the river to the
sad ruins OF Kfartoun. looming like a
skeleton in the dread glow OF sunset,
wondering in my heart ii, on the day
that The gates were trcachcrously
opened TO the Mahdists and brave Cor
don irll. there were scenes more terrible
than these which witnessed here with
til avcnging army some thirteen years
later