The Sun. — 1868-06-23 (London, England)

ARRIVAL OF TROOPS FROM ABYSSINIA.  On the arrival of the Crocodile at Portsmouth with the 33rd Regiment on board, a scene was witnessed in the harbour which has not had its parallel since the return of the troops engaged in the suppression of the Indian Mutiny. People on shore shouted and waved handkerchiefs ; others in watermen's wherries stood up and cheered and waved handkerchiefs and hats ; and the crews of the Victory, the St. Vincent, and the Duke of Wellington, manned the rigging to the honour of the men who only three short months since were toiling up towards Magdala. The Crocodile was speedily berthed alongside the southeastern jetty of the dockyard, a great rush of people to the gates being the consequence ; and before the ship had been an hour alongside the jetty, notwithstanding the strict rule for admission carried out at the dockyard gates, she was crowded with visitors. In the waist of the ship were berthed about a dozen horses, and here among the others was a small, quiet, chesnut horse, not more than thirteen hands high, and said to be the favourite charger of Theodore. Of course it was a special point of attraction, and remains of what was once a " flowing mane " shewed, by only a few hairs being left, the interest which had been centred in the animal. This horse was captured by some men of the 33rd, who afterwards sold it to Adjutant Edwin Sandys Watson, who has, it is said, since been offered the fabulous sum of 1,000 guineas for it. There is said also to be a great quantity of money and " loot " on board the vessel ; but the only visible relics of Magdala were a few rough-looking spears, a score or so of shields, and a few trappings of horses. Among the latter the appointments of Theodore's horse, before spoken of, were the most costly. The idea that Theodore committed suicide is scouted by many men of the 33rd ; indeed, a general concurrence of opinion is given that he was shot by some of their own corps. He was found face downwards ; he was wounded in his leg, in the throat, in the chin, and through the chest. In his hand was found a revolver bearing on it an inscription that it had been presented to King Theodore by her Majesty the Queen. The description of the entry into Magdala, as given by Michael Magner, a bugler attached to Staveley's division, is, that he was the first man in, that he was followed by a private named James Burgin, and that by these men an officer named Connor was next assisted under the gateway. Magner, it appears, was only armed with a " cheeseknife," as he terms his sword ; and seeing one of the Abyssinians well armed, and pointing his gun at him, he asked Mr. Connor to " shoot that coon," which he did, and he (Magner) appropriated his arms and ammunition. The final assault took place against the gate just at that time, so that the attention of the followers of Theodore's desperate fortune was diverted from this trio to the greater danger, and to that fact Magner attributes their personal safety. The scene between decks of the Crocodile was one of the most extraordinary imaginable. Sun-burnt, bearded veterans, but half-clad, were to be seen grouped with well-dressed females, detailing the history of the siege. The berths of the troops were besieged by anxious inquirers, and all over the ship, in fact, there were tellers of, and listeners to, one story. Just before three o'clock an " assembly " sound told those who were on board that the 150 Dragoon Guards, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Conyer Tower, were about to parade on the jetty opposite to the ship. A few minutes later as fine and as smart a body of men as ever fell in for a church parade was formed, and a minute or two after, saluted by hearty cheers from their comrades on board, and by visitors both on shore and on the Crocodile, the men, many of them bearing relics of the campaign through which they have passed, marched for the Landport station of the South-Western Railway, and left by train for Winchester. The health of the men of the 33rd has been remarkably good throughout the voyage. All with one consent speak in the highest terms of the i manner n which the campaign was conducted, and d the admirable arrangements of General Napier ; and, as a matter of course, anecdotes of personal adventures are abundant. There was never the slightest doubt among the troops of the final result. All their fears were that Theodore would give them the slip, and that a long and wearisome campaign would have been the result.