Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1868-06-05 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THEODORE'S LAST MOMENTS.  The Paris Paine rif Friday prints what purports to be an Abyssinian version of the last moments of' Theodore. The report commences by praising the loyal and generous conduct of England ; "for, whilst regretting the monarch who was our (ri-nd sod who now reposes in immortality, we must render homage to the courage and skill of the conquerors " On learning that the English had disembari.ed, Theodore thought that they would march on his capital by way of the fertile plains of Dembea, the entrance to which he was prepared to defend. Ho regretted the occupation of Sem& as a ruse de guerre to make him abandon the formidable positions he held, and did not move This is why the English accused Theodore of indecision. He refused to listen to his spies, and when doubt was no longer possible, it was too late. His cavalry remained at Amarrha, and wilt 22.000 musketeers he marched on Magdala. He tried to delend the defiles, hut there was no longer time; the advanced guard appeared. His generals, too, were discouraged, and, gorged with gold, abandoned their chief in his extremity The number of Abyssinians buried amounted to 7.4, whilst 2,134 were wounded. " To the rifle and to the steel gun the victory must be in a great measure attributed; but— why should we not say so P—the English soldiers (English is underlined) displayed great bravery and intrepidity during the assault, sad were humane towards the prisoners and wounded. Accustomed to bloody reprisals, the Abyssinians expected to be massacred. The severe discipline of the British army in preventing excesses and useless cruelty has won for itself the admiration of the conquered. Among the dead were seven belantcheias, or men who resembled Theodore, said were purposely dressed like him, and one general.  in-chief. The Abyssinians thought on the 15th that the English would remain in the country, and they desired this. The generosity of the conquerors, their brilliant triumph, and their respect for property caused it to be foreseen that under their adt inistration there would be liberty, fortune, and protection fur commerce, industry, and agriculture. They feared anarchy if the  country were evacuated. Theodore did not commit suicide. Having witnessed the destruction of his army, and having searched death in vain amid ball and shell, when he saw the head of the enemy crown the breach he understood that his last hour was come; he saw that resistance was impossible, and that he was about to be made prisoner. This reflection made him roar (rugir) If the English captives had been still in his power, their death would have been certain. In a fit of fury, or rather madness, he ordered their extermination, forgetting that they were free in the English ! camp. On seeing his power fleeting from him w,th the blood of his soldiers, contempnting hieempire destroyed, his dynasty overturned, his reign finished, two streams of tears coursed down his cheeks; the muscles of his face and chest were contracted with pain, and his limbs writhed with mute despair. His hitter feelioigs should atone for many of his crimes. Two belautcheras, pisiol in hand, stood silently waiting his order. He gave his will to Erngheddo: Crossing his arms over his breast, he prayed; then with a hollow voice he repeated several times, Ethiopia! Ethiopia! my wife! my children I' The gate, trembling under the blows of the assailants, was giving way. Proudly raising his head, Theodore drew his sword to perish like a European. 'ln the .bosom of the Trinity,' said to the belunteheras. fire.' They both aimed at his head, but Eingheddo's courage failed, and his arm fell inert. Area aloue obeyed, and his bullet broke the skull of Africa's bravest warrior. The belantehe as remained by the body of their master expecting death. At this moment the gate was broken in, and the Engli-Ji soldiers, drunk with blood and carnage, rushed forward Etugheddo showed them the lifeless body of Theodore. At this sight the soldiers, stupefied, let fall their arms, and the two guards were saved." The will was copied and distributed to such officers as had remained faithfuI.—"