Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1895 — FALL OF KHARTOUN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

FALL OF KHARTOUN.

TEN YEARS SINCE CHINESE GOR.'I OON WAS KILLED. ▲ Bra re and Romantic Figure In Which Heroism and Religion Held an Equal Share-Monument to Gordon In Trafalgar Square, London. His Life in China. In these prosaic days we are wont to think that bravery, heroism and devotion to an ideal are no longer to be met with. Such indeed is often the case, but still our modem life has produced some characters fully as chlvalric as any warrior of the middle ages and

has furnished incidents more dramatic than those of any other century. So recently as ten years ago was brought to an end the life of Gen. Gordon, than whom no man more brave, more courageous and more admirable has ever been seen. Ten years ago the city of Khartoum fell, and in the ensuing massacre was put out that noble and beautiful life. Charles George Gordon was bom in England in IS3O of well-to-do parents. His father was a soldier and one of a family of soldiers; his mother is said to have been a woman of humorous and cheerful disposition, which traits she certainly transmitted to her son. Gordon followed in his father's steps and received a military training. Not tench is known of his school days and

we are told that he never displayed more than the average talent. His first military service was in the Crimean war, in which he served with great courage and received rather a severe wound at Sebastopol. He was next dispatched to China on an expedition sent out by England and he remained there some years. It wnis at this time that Gordon began to come prominently forward in his profession. China was then engaged in trying to put down the Tai Ring rebellion which threatened the national life. He threw himself heart and soul into the Chinese

cause and was in 1863 appointed by the Emperor com-mander-in-chief of the army. For two years he was engaged in vigorous warfare and at the end of that time I found his efforts |crowned with suc- ' cess and the rebellion Suppressed. The delighted Em-

peror conferred on him high military rank and invested him with the yellow jacket and the peacock’s feather—the mightiest in honors in the imperial gift It was from these circumstances that he was niclc-named "Chinese” Gordon, a title which he became known by much more than by his own name.

The next important event in Gordon’s life was an expedition to Central Africa under the Egyptian Government Gordon’s life in Africa wAs most interesting. His bravely and courage made such an impression on the natives that they regarded him rather as some god than as a man; his constant effort to put down the slave trade excited their, keenest admiration and the deep religious motives of the man, which were the mainsprings of his whole life, Impressed the Africans even more than his military genius. -Gordon was made pasha by the Khedive and a few years later England made him governor general of the Soudan. During his term of service he continued his warfare against the slave trade, he effected many reforms in the way of lightening extortionate taxes and dismissing unjust officials and, finally, he put down several, formidable rebellions. His reputation among the natives for justice and courage increased and when, in 1880, he finally resigned his post and returned to England he left behind him lamentations, grief and tears. After Gordon’s departnre affairs in the Soudan got into an alarming condition. The gaining control of the Sue* Canal by English capitalists had given England a hold In Egypt and had naturally led to a soft of protectorate. Such a state of affairs was all well enough in a state of peace, but now that disturbances were arising England’s position became one of great responsibility. This disturbing facto# was Mahomet Ahmed, the Mahdl, whom we know as the False Prophet. This man went thropgljput the SoudfifF

proclaiming himself as the chosen of God, the promised deliverer of Islam, who was to free Mohammedans from the rule of unbelievers whether Egyp tians or English. The Arabs flocked in swarms to this man, swore allegiance to him and Joined the army which he was raising against his enemies. By 1883 the Mahdi’s forces had gained formidable proportions. One by one the strongholds of the Khedive fell into their hands, as did many held by the English. At last Gen. Hicks was sent against the Mahdi with a strong regiment. The followers of the False Prophet surprised them and a horrible massacre followed which scarcely any Englishman survived. Gen. Baker, who was marching to Hicks’ assistance, was next attacked, three-quarters of his men were slain and he himself narrowly escaped to a gunboat, whence lie made his way to England. When this news reached England it cansed the greatest possible consternation. The Goyernmcnt saw its bravest troops slain, its best commanders cut down and knew that unless something were done to hinder the Mahdi's victorious advance the country must lose all hold In the Soudan. There was just one man to whom the Government could turn; this was Gordon; on his

shouders must rest the whole responsibility of maintaining England's glory. Gordon accepted the mission, and in January, 1884, went to Egypt and leisurely proceeded to Khartoum, the chief city in the Soudan. He was received with loud acclaims, the people crowding about and proclaiming him as their savior and deliverer. He proceeded to take command of the city and to bring something like order out of the confused affairs of the people. The Mahdi, meanwhile continued his onward course aud made for Khartoum. Before he knew it Gordon found himself shut up in the city which the Mahdi now besieged. Encouraged by Gordon the city made a noble resistance, but soon the people were reduced to a most desperate condition. Famine broke out; sickness followed in its train and Gordon saw himself in desperate straits. He sent appeals, pitiful in their distress, to the home Government praying for relief; but statesmen and ministers delayed and disputed, aud it nas not till the last of the year that help was sent him. Gen. James Stewart and a force came near Khartoum early In 1885, but only to meet the enemy in desperate conflict, in which Stewart was killed and 12 per cent of his men slain or rendered incapable of fighting. Khartoum had fallen the day before their advent, as reports months afterward showed. Gordon had attempted to dislodge the Mahdi aud failed. Then

came the news of the approach of the reserves and the Mahdi determined to storm the city before their arrival. A colleague of Gordon’s, Ferig Pasha, wanted him to give up the place; Gordon became very angry and a violent discussion ensued. Meanwhile the distress In the city increased aud Gordon was at his w’it’s end what to do. The suffering, the doubt add the difficulties of that strong soul can bo better imagined than described; the hope of rescue, the heart-sick feeling of despair were all his.

Sir Charles Wilson and Lord Charles Beresford next attempted Gordon’s rescue. They approached by water and reached Khartoum on the 2Sth. Gordon’s flag was no longer to be seen, and so they turned back without finding out definitely what the condition of the city was. But it could not last. A few days later and the Mahdl overpowered the small force of defenders and entered the city. A terrible massacre was at once inaugurated and thousands perished. In the general slaughter Gordon was killed, though how is not known to this day. The accounts are most conflicting aud all that is certain is his death. Even that was doubted for many months, and it was long thought he might possibly have survived. Perhaps this strange and mysterious end is of a piece with the mystical character of the man

which almost raises him oat ,of the rinks of ordinary mortals to some higher plane, making him tb resemble Galahad or Bayard or Arthur.

MONUMENT TO GORDON IN LONDON.

THE FORT AT KHARTOUM.

GEN. GORDON.

PALACE AT KHARTOUM.