The Irish standard., 1900-05-12

In a few days the firing OF the heavy
guns was directed toward the principal
buildings in the fort and the cannon
were dragged TIP to within $50 yards OF
the outer stockade. Heavy damages
were inflicted on the structures and utter
humiliation was threatened. About
midnight after the day OF this heavy
firing a small band OF rebels left their
position and, under the protection OF the
darkness, stealtlily approached the
British camp and cndeavorcd to execute
a surprise and capture the gun which
had caused them such heavy losses. The
British sentincls were too alert and the
Borneans were driven off under fire.
The deadly and destructive lombard
ment was then continued steadily for
five days. Before sunrise on the sixth
day Bajau woman lett the fort and,
crawling to the British lines, gave the
information that Mat Salley had been
killed and that all OF his followers had
suffered terribly, having been without
food or water for several days. The loss
cs in dead and wounded had been fear
ful. 1t was then deemed safe to at
tempt the capture OF the fort, as all cvi
dcnce seemed to corroboratc the wo-
mans report, All night long the outer
post had been more or less engaged
with the tort and their report OF the
weak responses from the rebels also in
Dictated that an attack would not involve
any serious loss. A short time after sun
rise the attack was ordered. No resist
ancc whatever was offered and the SOL
ders marched in, only to find that all
the rebels who had not been killed had
fled. 1t was certain, however, that few
were left alive, for the graves on every
hand, as well as the unburied corpses
lying scattered about offered undcniablc
testimony that there had been wholesale
slaughter.
Mat Sallch was known by sight to a
number OF the English and under the d-
rection OF the old woman who had come
into camp early in the day search was
made for his grave. 1t was easily found
by her description OF the location and
the body was exhumcd that there might
be obtained indisputablc evidence OF the
death OF the rebel leader. Salleh had
been shot in the left temple. The ball
had passed entirely through the skull
and carried away all the back part OF
the head. From rebels aitcrward cap
tured the story OF the chiefs death was
finally learned. On the day before the
English entered the fort Salleh had been
struck by Maxim ball as he was en-
tcring the door Of the inner tort The
corpse was reburicd by the British and
pursuing parties sent out to attempt the
capture of the fleeing rebels. Many were
taken before nightiall, among the cap
tured being all OF Salchs wives and a
number OF his children.
On examination this last tort OF the
chief proved great surprise to the
English. The walls were OF remarkable
size, depth and strength, considering
the fact that they were erected by the
ignorant Borneans. They were over six
feet in height and ten feet in breadth
The walls OF the inner fort were equally
strong. All OF the grounds within the
outer wall we're thckly planted with
sharpcncd bamboo rods and heavy
bamboo stockadc
1t is said to be practically certain that
the heavy losses OF the rebels, taken to-
gcther with the loss OF their CHIEF, will
end the rebellion