The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-31
ENGLISH R[VERSES
N SAAaL| LAND
Mad MuIIah Men Surround
Col. PIunket
EVERY MAN ENGAGED
In Fierce Hand-to-H Strug-
gle for Life

After supporting Captain Olivey, Colo
mel Plunkett pushed forward with the in
tention of rapidly accommodating the
country Immediately ahead. No trace OF
the enemy was seen for some little dis
lance while comparatively open COUNTRY
enabled the column to proceed at a rapid
pace Just about two miles beyond the
point where Captain Olivey and his men
Joined Colonel Plunkett traces of the enc
my were found. The bush grew thicker.
and there were indications that the enc
my not far off, were in strong force
Colonel Plunkett had decided TO conclude
his reconnaissance when a force of the
enemy was cited.
By this time il was impossible to effect
a retreat and Colonel Plunkatt resolved
on moving into more open c. Antry. The
movement was Immediately executed,
small parties Of the enemy hanging on
our TANKS: but intelligence swiftly came
in that the British force was in presence
of the main body of the Mullah's army,
which had evidently con-. =; as soon as
news reached il of the whereabouts of
the small British party. horsemen were
seen galloping to and IT, and spearmen
shouted cries of detiairC.- Colonel Punk
EFT fell back, drawing his men together
TO form square. Thu. scene of the last
stand was an open space with only
patches of shrub anu oush. All the time
the enemy had kept Up brisk fire. Just
as this open spot had been reached, a
large body of the Muliahs men was seen
advancing, ano III further retreat was
cut off, the enemy's horsemen sweeping
down upon three sides of the square
Spearmen end dismounted rifiemen at
tackled the rear. while the TANKS and
front were completely engulfed in surge
of charging horsemen, who. with cries Of
"ATllah, Allah, Allah" rushed upon the
soldiers.
Every man was soon engaged in a free
struggle The horsemen fired from the
backs of their ponies. while the front
ranks of the square used their bayonets,
after emptying their rifles into the dense
mass. Every Dervish of the attacking
parties seemed TO be armed with rifle.
and TO carry in addition a sheaf Of
spears The horsemen whirled round and
round the square until the impact with
the British force Itself stopped their
furious rush. Time and again the heads
of their horses were dashed upon the
very muzzles of the British rifles; time
and again the Mullah's cavalry precipi-
tated themselves into the square itself. In
the background were hundreds of women
melting the spearmen TO fresh efforts
with their shrill outcries.
Meanwhile the British had fought with
grim determination. There was no one in
their case to take the place Of the killed
and wounded, and the fall of each man
weakened the defence. \ dead set was
made against the officers, who. as they
fell urged their men to stand firm. Colo.
rel Plunkett himself was one of the first
to be hit. and he also received a spear
thrust he he kept on 10 the last. There
was no lul to afford a momentary relief
to the defenders. The rattle OF musketry
never ceased. The Maxims at the corner
of the square swept the ground. playing
continuously upon the enemy Scattered
heaps of dead told how fatal had been
their fire. But the ammunitian grew less
and less
Unfortunately the solid Bullets of the
British rife failed utterly TO stop the
Deryish rushes Many of them were nit
but not incapacitated. and their desper-
ate valOr carried them on. In no long
time further defence of the square be-
came impossible. The number of de-
tenders was sorely reduced. and the am
munition was nearly expended. The time
had arrived for final effort. lust the
enemy had delivered a charge under
telling fire. the remnant of the gallant
force. by order OF Colonel Plunkett. broke
up the square and hurled themselves into
the midst of the enemy. Finally the brave
little band succeeded in cutting it's way
through. The enemy were too busy to
attack any more. for they were engs ged
in carrying off rifles and Maxims and all
the ammunition that they could collect
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