“CHINESE” GORDON.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1139, 29 February 1884, Page 4

“CHINESE” GORDON.

The following sketch of this -well■iknown soldier will bn of intere-t at the present jut elute, It ts taken from the London Standard : The [active jj career , of the great soldier of fortune, Major-General •'(I iiinese) Gordon, began in the Crimea where he toihd in the trenches, and -endured many hardships. Colonel ■Chiwiey says:— “ Gordon attracted the notice of his superiors by his special aptitude for war. We used to send ihim to find-out What new move the Russians were making. Bo stronglv did the young subaltern’s ability impress the officers under -”hom he served that, when the war was over, the was sent to help in the work of laying down the new frontiers of Russia, Tnikey and Rournania. In 1858 lie went as cominis ioner to Armenia, •■and after his work there was done he proceeded to China, where he arrived just in time to see the sack of the Summer Palace. At that time the Chinese Empire was tottering in its fell During the wild disorder which prevailed when the Gptum War of 1842 was ended, a village schoolmaster, named Hmig-tsueschnen, su denly proclaimed himself as a prophet of vengance and freedom. He said that his mission was to exterminate the IVJanchoo race, and he found’hundreds and thousands to believe him. Gradually the “ prophet” gathered a great army, and gained one victory after another, until at last he stormed -TNarikin g-and -established his throne there. His troops ravaged’the country, -anti the Imperialists could’do nothing them. The starving peasants vwere reduced to cannibaksm, business >rn the coast towns was paralysed, and the rebel who caused this desolation and suffering bestowed on himself the title of King. In despair the Chinese -'Government asked that a British com- ■ mander might b- appointed to the Imperial forces, and-Gordon was chosen. He-went very wari'y to work. First of all he completed a military survey • of tlie country lor thirty miles around Shanghai, and then he began with the • training of his troops. His force was about t 4OOO strong.; the men were poorly armed, and the officers were adventurers ftom almost eveiy State of Europe But officers and men alike found in 'Gordon their master; rigid • idiscip'ine was established, and the Englishman at last took the field with an army that recognised him as a real ruler. Gord- n struck at the very heart of the rehellion; he was as swift and decisive in his operations os Napoleon himself;; and the Taipiug geneTals never knew when arid where the next blow would fall. Stockade alter stockade, town after town, were stormed by-the imperialists, and every attack of importance was led by the -commander-in-chief in person. He never cairied any weapon; he went “into action with a tiny cane, which he handled jauntily, and used to stand ■ amid the hottest fire pointing quietly with his little rod, which the soldiers ■called “Gordon’s wand ot victory.” On one occasion he was leading a storming party into an awkward breach, and the men wavered under a hail of bullets. Gordon’s thoughts ■ were probably unpleasant.; but he turned smilingly to his men and lit a • ci-.ar with the utmost coolness, then he waved his little wand ; the soldiers came on with a rush, and - carried the position. When the town of Kinbing was taken by storm, he led all the assaults, and the weight ot the enemy’s fire again and again forced the, stormera back. Here l e was hit in the leg,and one of his bodyguard cried out that the general was wounded The, wounded leader sternly silenced this alarmist, and stood giving orders until he fainted from loss of blood. There was no bravado in all this; it was absolutely necessary that the Chinese troops should see no sign of oven teasonable weakness in the general.

In his dealings with the Chinese, ■General Gordon was highhanded in (he extreme. The Emperor sent the Yellow Jacket fwhich carries with it the highest military gr .de of the Empire), and sent also a donation of 10,000 taels When the rearers entered Gordon’s presence, carrying huge howls of coin, the irate general took up his famous wand and flogged them out of the chamber. If we can imagine an English general refusing the Order of the Garter and assaulting a ■ Queen’s messenger-, we can form some idea of the consternation which followed this action. But Gordon knew what he. was doingg his rude treatment of the yellow robe only served to give him more consequence, and he attained the very end which besought He crushed the re ellion, and left China without takh.g one penny of reward. By promptly ending acme ..civil war, he had r scued an iramet se population (rom star atioo and miser Alt'" - saving an empire he settled ■soberly down at Gravesend, worked on the Thames fortifications, taught Tn ragged schools, visited the sick and the )i"or, and remained in obscrnity till the fame of his exploits had almost passed away. But he was fated to ■rule yet another empire. In 1874 he ■was requested to take service under Ismael as Governor of the tribes in Upper Egvpt. The Khedive ofteird Trim LI 0.000 a year, but Gordon re•fused to accent more than L2OOO His own Government had p-ud him L2OOO « year, and he would take no more tfrom a foreign power. Excep inn for <me short break, Gordon ruled the

Similar) during live > ears, and his task was harder than-Hist of any Government known to history. The province is as large as Gre t Britain, Franc , Si ain and Perineal, and Germany put •ogether ; the slave traders were in ivvnlt; settled government had ceased, and the wildest amnehv prevailed. The Governor- enend had to face a deadly edmate, bestial savagery, ai d ruthless fanaticism; !ho had eveiything against him, and he was alone. But he began his task cheerlullv, with with a sn|i p rb self-conti lence which is astonishing and admirable. In one year he rode over 5000 miles, mined the -lavers, delivered the natives fr in oppression, restored order, and esah lished the terror of his name, just he did among the Taipings. lie once rode alone into an enc'tnprnent of chiefs who had sworn to kill him. He ordered the si would-be assassins to meet him, and they went away from the interview awe-stricken and humble Hist sk was peforraed amid constant opjrosition from Cairo'; but he triumphed over all obstacles, and lett an empire where he found a chaos. We know now how weaker men have couti ived to render his labour as nought. Guidon’s one failure in life was when he tried to impress the authorities at Capetown with some of his notions of abstract justice ; but of that episode we need say little. Common praise becomes an impertinence when applied to such a career, and we piefer to let the inspiring facts speak for them selves. In spi'e, of all that despairing philosophers may say, .there are still thousands of Knglishmen who despise showy attractions, and who admire gallantry, unselfishness, and modesty.