THE TRUE STORY OF GENERAL GORDON'S DEATH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1783, 7 March 1888, Page 3

THE TRUE STORY OF GENERAL GORDON'S DEATH

Sir Lewis Pelly, X 0.8., K.O.S 1., M.P., addressed a crowded meeting of his coDßtltutents at the Assembly Rooms. Stoke Newlngton, on January 17th, and la the course of his remarks a»ld he had tbtt day become acquainted with some particulars from an authentic souroe of the death of General Gordon, which had

Dot yet been made public J3eneral Graham bad recently received » despatch from General Chermslde, an officer serving In the Sondan, from which it appeared thai three sergeants of the Egyptian •ray had a short time since been released from the Soudanese camp, and one of them falling In with an Et-gUsb outpost, Informed the officer In charge of the real facts oonneoted with the death of General Gordon. From the man's narrativa It appeared that on the evening of his death. General Gordon was very tired, being worn out by watching, and was no•ble, M he usually did, to visit all the outposti and pickets of his oamp Hence It was not within his knowledge that a particular gate waa left open that nlftht. He retired Into an Inner fort for the purpose cf taking rest, having three sergeants of the Egyptian Army with him three men who had recently been released from . the Soudanese oamp. ' While Gordon was asleep a Sheik with a number of men obtained admittance through the open crate and advanced to the place where Gordon was resting Alarmed by the no»se Gordon came forth and was then called upon by the Sheik to surrender. Be, of course, refused, and one of the sergeants with him w«s about to fire upon the Sheik when Gordon prevented him. Again Gordon was called upon to surrender, but he again refused, sayiog ha would die at his post. He taped, however, that the lives of the men with him might be Bpared. The Sheik then drew his sword, and the brave Gordon waa decapitated. That story, said Sir Lewis, was exalte consistent with the Jpowjedge he hi»d of Gordon's oharaoter.