The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-05
Finally Reached England as a.StowaWay and
Enlisted In The Army
SERVED IN MANY PARTS OF WORLD.
Finally Ills Regiment The Royal waWlckshrs,
Was Ordered 10 the Soudan He Helped 10
Avenged Gordon al Khartoum.

Paterson. N. j.. June 5.--With a he
ro's medal on his breast and with the
proud distinction of having been the
only American boy In the ranks OF
Kitchener's victorious army at Khar-
toum, Edwin c. Nichols returned to his
home at No. l0l Vine street. few days
ago.
Nichols Is 26 years old, and In the
nine years since he ran away from
home has had strange experiences en-
ough for several ordinary llfetimes. In
Lowell, Boston. New York and other
cities he failed to achieve anything and
finally started for England as stow
away. Three days out. as he supposed,
he came on deck and saw that the ship
was still off Staten Island.
Every man OF the crew took a turn at
him with a ropes end and then he had
10 work his passage. In different parts
of England the young adventurer pros
pered at times. but for the most part
nearly starved.
1t was anything for food and clothes,
and Nichols, seeming adventure en-
listed in the Royal Warwic&shire regi-
ment In London. Then followed num-
berless strange adventures in Ceylon.
India, Malta and elsewhere, until final
ly the regiment was ordered TO Egypt.
This meant active fighting and soon
kitcheners great campaign, ending in
the avenging of Gordon at khartoum
began. Through 1t all Nichols, WIN
the Royal Warwickshire, marched and
endured much. Twice was the Pater-
son boy at deaths door with fever, but
each time his strong constitution car
ried the day
Gen. Kitchener" declared Nichols.
was the idol OF the wnoie army, and
Col Mcdonald, who had risen from the
ranks OF the Gordon Highlanders, and
commanded the Soudanese troops, rank
ed next in the esteem of the men.
Both were daredevils who knew no
fear. Kitchener knew all the jargons
of the country and twice made long
tours of investigation In advance OF the
army. On these occasions he was dis
guised as a dervish
We had been sleeping In our clothes
Tor three weeks when the final march
TO Omdurman came. There were Is, 900
OF us marching ON the hot sand, with
the thermometer at 120 degrees. Each
wore special canvas pad for protec-
tion from the sun and curtain droop-
Ing from the back Of the helmet. Many
dropped by the wayside, but we got
there on time, as men following Kitch-
enor are sure TO do.
Il saw one dead or dying dervish who
wore a peculiar leathern collar that had
been severed by a thrust / took IL and
found in IL this parchment. No one
has ever succeeded in reading ii for
me, but / have been told that IL is a
prayer OF rare worth, and was worn as
a fetch.
1t did save the fellows life. but there
Is little doubt that il was not worn for
that purpose. IL was more likely a free
pass To paradise. and hoped IL worked
all right.
The stencil of dead men and horses
was sickening at Omdurman and we
were glad enough 10 cross the river to
khartoum, where there were some Gu
rious happenings. / had been made a
corporal, and was with the nom COM
missioned officers who served as a de-
tail TO the Gordon memorial service. In
the street a mad dervish priest sprang
upon me with a knife.
1T was aimed for my heart and
would have found its mark had / not
been pulled back by an officer behind
me. AS IL was IL struck me on the
forearm where you see the scar
About the most pitiful thing saw in
Khartoum was Charles Mansfield's first
look into mirror. He had been pris-
oner i'm Khartoum for fourteen years.
and we had just released him.
When captured he was young and
strong. He wandered about our camp.
and finally CHANGED upon a hand mir
ror. He seized IL eagerly, but staggered
back when he looked upon himself.
Then he sat down and cried like a child.
His confinement had aged him terribly,
and he had grown positively uncanny
10 look upon.
IT am through with the service now,
and am going 10 settle down."