AN INCIDENT OF THE SOUDAN WAR.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1222, 31 July 1885, Page 3

AN INCIDENT OF THE SOUDAN WAR.

In a letter of one of the special correspondents with the Sydney contingent appears the following account of an incident which does not reflect much credit upon the invaders : “ A good deal of excitement was caused on one occasion by the appearance of an Arab ascending a neighboring hill about 800 yards distant. No, 3 Company (Australians and Berks) at once opened fire, and though tho bullets were dropping in all directions around him, he pursued his way calmly up the hill till he reached the summit, where no doubt he thought he would bo safe, but what must have been his feelings when he discovered that a company of Sikhs were on tho other side making escape by that way impossible ? His only chance lay in again running the gauntlet of our bullets. Pausing for a minute or two, he turned, and slowly made his way across the side of the hill, taking a downward course, with the object of obtaining cover in that direction. All this time our men were

keeping up a brisk fire, though many men refrained from taking aim, saying that it was a pity to kill such a brave man. The steepness of the hid (or mountain) made his progress necessarily slow, bat onward he went, occasionally stopping to look down on us, or measure the distance that intervened between him and safety. Many men stopped firing to watch him, and the excitement as to whether ha would escape or not increased. Bets were given and taken that he would never reach shelter alive, but he seemed to bear a charmed life ; for though we could see the bullets striking the ground all round him ho seemed to be invulnerable, Just before reaching cover be appeared as as if struck, but, recovering himself, gave a bound or two and was out of sight, but only to fall into the hands of the ‘ friendlies ’ who were sconring the hills, and with them ha was not so fortunate, being speedily despatched. We found out afterwards that he had been hit 1! times by our bullets.”