The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-10-31
zNAY'
a.

out from JskduL Meanwhile the Mahdi
had sent forces to oppose the English ad-
vance. and so give him more time to
carry out his designs upon Khartun.
These Arabs gave battle to the British
at Abu Klea, but were defeated with
heavy loss. and had to retire. Their
spirit. however. was not broken. for.
having been REINFORCED. they rallied. and
| again Joined issue with the troops near
| Metenlma-only to be rolled back once
more in dire confusion On the evening
OF the day upon which this last engage
ment was fought. the relieving force
reached the banks o: the Nile at Gubat.
By the afternoon Of the 10Th the fighting
column was close to Metemma. and the
four armed steamers which Gordon rad
sent down were sighted. These vessels
had been waiting for the British troops
for 112 days
On the morning OF the 24tb two of the
steamers got under way and steered for
Khartum. 100 miles distant It was at
about the hour OF noon on January 3
that the steamers sighted the island of
Tut. close TO omdurman and Khartum.
Presently the latter city bursts into view
and the officers. anxiety gnawing at their
hearts. eagerly turn their field-glasses
upon that conspicuous white building In
the center of the town which they know
to be Gordon's palace. Alas! no hax
shakes out its folds in the sultry air to
prove to the relieving force that the I'M
daunted Gordon was still governor Of the
city The bitter truth is grasped at once
-khartum has been taken by assault
and is at this moment in the hands of the
wild levies of the Mahdi. II any further
proof be required. it is soon given, for
armed and hostile Arabs rush down to
the rivers brink and open a CALLING fire.
upon the two steamers. which is soon
backed up by hostile guns from the forts
Too late, Too late,
The steamers could do no more Their
mission remained unaccomplished. Il
only remained for them now to return TO
Metenma with the sad news of the fall
OF the city. or Gordon's actual fate they
knew nothing. but had they remained de-
family upon the river within range OF
the forts they would quickly have been
sunk. or captured.
1t was in the profound darkness Of the
early morning of January IS that some
warlike tribes of the Mahdis army made
the last fierce assault upon the doomed
city of Khartum. The garrison. weak
ened by hunger and taken by surprise in
the darkness. made but feeble resist
ancs
Gordon. aroused Just at daybreak by
the sounds OF conflict and the victorious
shouts of the enemy they fought their
way onward in the direction OF the CEN
ter Of the town. hastily arose. and. hav-
ing donned some clothes and summoned
few soldiers and dependents. quilted
the palace and made straight for the
Church of the Austrian Mission. which
building was but stones throw distant
and had been selected many months be-
fore as the spot where a final resistance
should be offered by the remnants of the
garrison in the event Of the Mahdi ste
cessfully rushing the town. II had IN
reality been made the reserve magazine
for the garrison. and all the buildings in
its vicinity had been levelled to the
ground for purposes of defense
Gordon and his followers. numbering
about twenty. had arrived at a spot
about midway between the palace and
the church. when they found themselves
cSlite suddenly confronted by body OF
the Mahdis warriors armed with mus
kets and spears. These fanatics had
emerged from a side street into tho
square, with the idea OF seeking out Cor
don at the palace. In an instant they
recognized the foe they were in search
Of
A volley Of musketry rang out in the
clear morning air. and the great. good.
and heroic Gordon fell to rise no more.
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