The Death of an English Hero.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 138, 16 May 1885, Page 3

The Death of an English Hero.

THE L \TEvST ACCOUNT OF BURNABY'SFALL.

Several accounts of Burnahy' death have appeared, B aid the London correspondent of the New York Tribune. hut the truest and best is admitted to l»o that of the special war correspon dent of the London Daily Telegraph it wasas follows ; — Colonel Buruuhy, whose eve\ y action at the time I saw from a distance of about thirty yards, rode ont m front of ihe rear of the left face, apparently to a*sist two or three of our .«hirmishers, who were running m hard piessed . £ think all hut one man of them succeeded m reaching our lines. Burn-ihy rode forward to the men's assistant c sword m hand, and be put himself m the way of a sheik charging down on j hors back. Ere the Arab closed with him a bullet from .some one m our ranks, and not Burna'ty's sword thrust, brought tho*thcik. headlong to die ground. The enemey's spearmen wore close behind, and one of them suddenly dashed at Colonel Burna l »y, pointing the long blade of his spear at his throat. Checking his hoixe and slowly j.iillinj* 1 it backward, Burnaby leaned forward m his saldle aud parried the Moslem's rapid and "ferocous thrusts, but the length of the rnnn's weapon, eight feet, put it out of his power to return with inter- i est the . Arab's nturderou3 intent. ' Once or twice I think the Colonel lust touched his man, only to make him more wary and eager. The atfray was the work of three or fourj seconds only, for the savage horde of swarthy negroe3 from Kordofau, and the straight haired, tawny-omplex-ioned Arabs of . the B.iyuda stepp«V were fast cloMiig iv upou our square. Burnany fenced ju.sfc a* if he were gu tiding m hu assti't at ai ins. and thvre was a smile <>v his features as he drove off the man's awlcwanl points. The .scene was «»»kei» iv at a <rl.ince — with lh.it lightning 1 instinct which I have s= : eu ihe desert warriors bitf«>:-o now 'display m battle, while coming to one- another's >»id — by an Arab, who, pursuing a soldier, h:id pastel five paces to Buruaby's right and. rear. Turning witlv a Midden spring, this second Arab run hisspe.ii* point into the colonel's right shoulder. It was Wut a slight wound — enough, though, to cause Burnaby. to twist round m hi? saddle to defend him— self from this unexpected attack. Before the savage could repeat his unlooked for blow — ko near the ranks of the square was the sc«*ne now bcin-r enacted — a soldier ran out and drove his sword bayonet through the second assailant-. As the Engli.slrnan withdrew the steel the ferocious rebel wriggle.U round and sought to reach him. The eilort wan too much, how- j ever, even for the delirium of hatred against the Cbristain, and tin; rebel reelol and fell. Brief ng was Buruaby's plance backward at this fatal episode, it was long enough to enable the first Arab to deliver his Hpearpoiut fall iv the brave officer's throat. The blow drove Bui naby out of the saddle ; but it required a .second one t>etore he let g«> hid grip of the reins and tumbled upon tin* ground. Haifa dozen Arabs were now about him. With the bl<n>.l gushing m streams from hi* gashed throat the dauntless guards man leaped to his feet, sword m hand, and slashed At the ferocious group. They were the wild strokes of a proud, brave man dying hard, and he was quickly over orne, and left helpless and dying. The heroic soldier who sprang to his rescue was, I fear, also .slain m the melee, for — though I watched for him — I never saw h m get back to his place m the ranks.