Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-03-03

have saved himself by fight, but he
would not desert his post. Heaven
sent him there and at Khartoom he
would remain, the rock of Egypt, I'M
til the longedfor line of British troops
appeared in view or doom came.
what we went through with during
those months heaven alone knows.
Day after day we fought the black
dervlshes of the desert, and thou
sands laid down their lives in front of
Khartoom's walls. Now it was n
sally; anon, an attack. We might
have even won on a certain occasion
but for the treachery of certain lead
ers. Gordon tried them later, and all
were shot. He would not stand insub.
ordination.
"Thus months passed. We endured
all that can come during that pestilcn.
tial season from July, when the city
was invested. The weeks passed us
by IN a way that was maddening.
Our eyes were strained looking for the
succor that never came. Through 1t
, all Gordon was the same man l have
ever know him, cheerful, sober. and
never falterlng. If 1t was his fate to
die at his post, death would lind him
ready.
II shall never. while | have breath,
cease to remember that man with nll
the wonder and admiration my soul
can express. God never made hu.
man being more in the mold of hero
than when he gave lis Gordon. The
world will keep his memory green for.
cveI.
"Thus. as the months passed away,
our stores grew low. and a spirit of
discomfort arose. Money was scarce,
and the soldiers were in = state of con
slant irritation bordering on frenzy.
Mutiny would long since have broken
out but for the astonishing power this
man seemed to have over his subjects.
| marvclcd mt it then, and it will never
cease to he source of wonder TO me-.
at last came the fatal hour when
this magnetism could no longer hold
the fragments of his little army 10.
gethcr. | knew 1t was coming as well
as | knew anything. Signs pointed to
it from all quarters. and each morn
ING rs the sun rose in the east | won
dcrcd whether it would ever be my
good fortune to look on its setting
again.
Gordon never dcSpaircd Of rescue.
lie had no doubt prepared for the
worst, but his faith in the ultimate
coming of his comrades was sublime.
'Thcy will come tomorrow he would
S0y each night as the darkness settled
about us, and deep down in my heart
| firmly believed that tomorrow
would never arrive.
THUS the days moved along. each
sun showing new difficulties that ut
its setting Gordon had managed 10
smooth over in ii way that was simply
marvellous; but each time | noticed
that things locked worse, and it was
only n question of how long it would
he ere certain matters came into con.
junction, and bore US under. What |
most dreaded was mutinv during
one of the cncmy's fierce assaults
Should q portion of oar troops turn
upon us, even the fierce ardor of tho
BaShi Ha2oukS who remained faithful
Cuuld not keep Gordon's life sacred.
My fears proved to be we'll ground.
ed, as YOU shall soon see. 1t hap.
pcncd on the 2Gth day of January, and
that should be a day of moruninS for
all time 10 come in England.
"Gordon came from his room that
morning MS cheerful rs was his wont,
and ready to meet the duties of the
day, whatever heaven might send him.
The storm was gathering. but his
presence had chased away the clouds
so often that all Of us had come to be.
licve him invincble.
I'VE knew the enemy was about TO
make desperate assault, but, we had
hurled them back from the walls of
khartoom so often in bleeding masses
that we aid not doubt our ability to do
the same thing again, although ammu.
milton was beginning TO grow scarce.
II have since come to the conclusion
lHul utilIHS we ulS III VI ''le -otl
some arrangement must have been
made between our native troops and
The shciks who led the hordcs Of the
Prophet. Certainly, the events Of the
day justified such conclusion.
"Gordon, as usual. assembled his
leaders and harangued them. Up TO
NOW, he had never once failed TO i'm.
part some of his own enthusiasm to
those in charge of his men, so that
they went to their several stations in
spired to fight like heroes in the cause
Vi this magnetic man.
with wonder and uneaSiness l saw
that his words on this morning ap-
pcared to fall upon deaf ears. The
dark faces grew moody AS it hap
pencd | was the only white man close
by, though | could hear some of his
officers giving orders near the govern.
Ors house.
zone man threw the spark that eX.
Dloded the magazine. He dared an
swer Gordon back sld tell him 1T
would be best to give up KhartOOm
while El Mahdi was willing to let
them depart in peace since the doom
of the city was settled thing, aSy-
how.
"rhc generals face famed up as he
heard this cowardly plea. can see
him now, as in scathing terms he re-
buked the officer The man hung his
head. | expected to see him fall on
his knees and beg for pardon.
MY atteution was drawn from him
for just Il few seconds, while | swept
my eyes around to see how the others