GEN. GORDON STABBED.

Kumara Times, Issue 2632, 12 February 1885, Page 2

GEN. GORDON STABBED.

MASSACRE OF GEN. GORDON'S ADHERENTS. 10,000 BRITISH ARMY RESERVE TO BE CALLED OUT. LATEST NEWS BY REFUGEES PROM KHARTOUM. ALL GORDON'S ADHERENTS AND FAMILIES MASSACRED. [REUTERS TELEGRAMS.] By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. >_._< (Received February 11, 9.45 p.m.) London, February 10. It is currently reported here today that General Gordon was stabbed while the fighting was proceeding before the capture of Khartoum, and that he subsequently died of his wounds. It is also stated that fully one-fourth of Gordon's adherents were massacred by the Mahdites, and that amongst the latter's victims were a number of women and children. It is annouuced that ten thousand men of the Army Reserve will shortly be cabled out for garrison duty in Great Britain. (Received February 12, 11 a.m.) February 11. Telegrams from Soudan atate that refugees from Khartoum report that Foragh Pasha opened the gates of Khartoum to the Mahdites on January 26, and that Gordon rushed oat of the Palace to ascertain the cause of the commotion, and was slain on the threshold. Telegrams also state that nearly the whole, and not merely a quarter, of Gordon's adherents, and their families, were massacred. THE SOUDAN SITUATION. General Stewart's forces reached Howenjatt wells on the 10th January, obtained a supply of water, and resumed the march to Gakdul. A detachment of the Essex Regiment will remain at Howenjatt, where a fort and hospital have been erected. There are few natives in the vicinity of Howenjatt. We experienced the difficulty of a desert march. The immense column started at 2 a.m., and the march continued the whole day. We are going to Gakdul via Abukalfa wells, when we hope to find sufficient water for men and camels. A small party left at Howenjatt was fired into one night, but otherwise we have not been molested. Small parties of Arabs wearing the Mahdi's colors are roaming the desert, yet some sell us sheep, and assert there are only a few rebels at Metemneh. The heat is very trying, and camels go sixty hours without water, and the men are allowed only two pints daily. The water resembles pea-soup in thickness. The soldiers freely offer a crown a tumbler for it. If the Arabs had been in active hostility they would have rendered the desert route impossible, as it would have been necessary for us to carry every ounce of food and water for both men and animals. A despatch from Gakdul, received in London on January 16th says, thirty camels dropped dead on the march from Howenjatt. The troops suffered severely, and the majority of the water skins leaked, and the men yielding to their thirst exhausted their ratious of water prematurely. Very few fell out of line, and the condition of the soldiers under the circumstances was splendid. All bore their hardships bravely, as is evidenced by their singing as cheerily as their parched throats would permit. They are keenly anxious to fight.