The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-11-20
Details of the English Attack on the
Stone Tower in the Hindoo
Koosh Range. q
Six Men, With Rifles, Delay the
British Column for a
Whole Day.
The Sultana of Abdul Rahman and
Her Famous Ride Through the
Streets Of Cabul.
Nesc York Sun Special Service

Woo IofE Sun SQooS0G SeTcteS
London. Nov. 20.-From the Afghan
frontier. the home of the Waziris, one OF
the most warlike tribes in the Hindoo
Koosh mountains, come details Of the
story of the defense Of a small stone hut
by six men against the British column In
which the losses on the side of the con-
uuerors were heavy. None Of the six who
refused to surrender lived, but fought
desperately even after the fort was
on fire. ~
Colonel Tonnechy, commanding the
south column OF the expedition, engaged
in putting down the uprising Of the Wiziri
tribesmen, after a long and toilsome
march through the Gondan mountains and
the lower foothills Of the Hindoo Koosh,
arrived at a pass near Gumatti. On at
tempting to make a way through the pass
he found 1t was defended by a small but
solid stone tower, built in such position
that huge stones could be rolled on
troops passing in the cleft below without
the defenders being exposed to fire. One
detachment of native troops was nearly
crushed under a mass of rock, but the
stone had been let fall too soon and all es-
capped.
Colonel Tonnechy then ordered a halt
and the field guns were brought to bear on
the fort. The defenders, however, were
arnlel with rifles and appeared to be fair
fire Of the field guns was weakened by the
name In which the gunners were picked
or. Finally the shells made a breach and
IS 1t was growing toward evening, and
Colonel Tonnechy feared to have the men
escape, he ordered that the place be
stormed.
Together with Captain G. White, of the
Third Silks, he led the storming party.
Captain White was killed as he entered
the breach and Colonel Tonnechy was
fatally wounded, dying a few hours later.
Lieutenant Airy and eight Of the native
troops were severely wounded, while many
We're slightly wounded. After the battle
it WAS found that the defenders of the
port had been but six in number, although
they had held the British column at bay
for whole day.
Capture Of Villages.
General Egerton arrived at SILVIA yes
terday and captured the head man and
several Of the villagers. Colonel McRea
commanding the first column, signaled
from Spinwan on Monday that he had
surprised and captured the villages and
had taken $50 prisoners. Some war mu-
nitions also fell IN the hands Of the first
column. .. e. - = -'.s.r.-.
The. punitive expedition against. the
Waziris has a deeper import ti1af Il merely
to avenge the white men slain by them in
their; outbreak of last month. In the
AdAiouS upl Ol Il year ago. "nen the
sultana.' chief widow Of Abdul Rahman,
raised an important instruction, the
"aziris We're her strongest supporters.
The su!tan's Famous Ride.
Indeed, it was the Waziris who accom-
panied her on her famous ride through the
streets OF Cabul, when on the occasion of
the absence Of her husband the in
habitants Of that town were plotting
against their ruler suddenly a mad troop
Numbered out Of the fortified palace gates.
At the head, on magnificent horse, rode
heavily yelled woman with a sword. it
was no other than the sultana That
troop went through the city from end to
end and every man, woman and child on
the streets was slain and mutilated
Then the savage queen and her scarcely
more savage men rode back to the palace.
One of the victims Of this wild ride was
clerk of the British representative and
for this crime the Wiziris have not vet
been adequately. dealt with.