The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-11-25
Is it Truth
or Fiction
Another Egyptian Story by Duke
of Oxford who ASSeverateS
1t is All True. ~~

There are few men who can look back
upon their lives without recounting at
east one instance of close proximity to
death, but it seldom occurs that any
one being sentenced to death and actu-
ally starting on the death march, es-
capes the doom which usually befalls
captured spy in the time of war. In
tances of miraculous Intervention are
known, but there can scarcely be one
more interesting in it's various details
than the following episode in the life
of one who has passed through many
vicissitudes and dangers and who in all
probability is yet living and in the prime
of life.
Donavan Foley, at the period to which
this story relates. had been commits
stoned as subiieutenant in the High
landers. He had yet to receive his first
baptism of fle and with his regiment
was ordered to join the expedition
already en- route to the relief of Khar-
toum. This was in 1885.
With only handful of men-s0me
12OO-General Steward made forced
marches across the desert. 1t was alb
solutely necessary, in this acrid atmos-
phere and with thermometer register
ing 12O degrees in the shade, that the
wells on the line of march should be
taken and held. The lives of the men,
with the success of the expeditic!l, Ce-
pended upon the water thus obtained.
AS the men wearily but doggedly ad-
vanced toward Abu Klea, with the re-
naming few drops of water actually
sizzling in their cantee na, it was with
the hope that they would find the wells
abandoned as they had found others.
1t had been reported by deserters from
the enemy that a large force Was gath
ering about these wells but none-nOt
even the most Jealous and blOOdthirsty
ever anticipated being opposed by a
fanatical horde of seven nty thOusan d
men. 1t is true the weapons of these
men were of the cruCest kind, the ma
jority only having spt ars OF swords
while the remainder possessed few
modern, as vel as obsoleterifles. What
however, they lacked in arms was mOI'
than outbalante ed by their fercenes
and absolute contempt of death. |
was one of the teachings of their proph
cts that the pardon of Allah and ul
innate paradise could only be obtained
by the killing of one or more intidels.
When approaching the wells Genera
Steward used the utmost caution agains
surprise and advanced hismen in squar
formation. At each angle was statione
abattery from the Naval Brigade. Th
centre was occupied by staff officer
ambuIances, camels, horses and wagon
of the commissariat department..
It is almost unnecessary to revie
the previous encounters with the Arab
Suffice it to say that the only force
which had previously opposed them ha
been Egyptians, who at that peric
were renowned for their cOwardlce al
who almost always at t Q first attac
lay down tn cir armsa and ava
butchery. From their repeated u
cesses these fiends of the desert h;
grown in numbers and believed thel
selves unconquerable through the sl
cial protection of Allah. 1t was tn,
with no fear of the issue, they ma
onslaught after onslaught upon the th
red lines and with the quickfirlng gu
moving them down in hundreds, y
thousands, was it to be wondered
that very wall of dead concealed t
view of another advancing army ant
still more vicious attack 1t was
this time the awful pressure from
onpouring foes nearly brought disas
to the British for the square was brok
on the left wing and with rush ma
Arabs succeeded in getting inside
square and attacked the men from
rear. 1t was only by superb coolne