GENERAL GORDON'S DEATH.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1856, 21 February 1889, Page 4

GENERAL GORDON'S DEATH.

Albany, Feb. 18. Late European papers to hand by the mail steamer contain a description by an eye witness of the death of General Gordon at Khartoum. Dimetrio Georgio, a Greek, states that if a few British troops had arrived before the Madhi attacked Khartoum it would have been saved. Faragh Pasha advised the Madhi to attack at once, and that night the city was in a ! state of blood and flames. Gordon was smoking on the balcony of the seraglio with Georgio, the medical officer of. the Greek Consul, when 500 dervishes entered the seraglio, and standing at the foot of the staircase, cried for Gordon Pasha. Two of his companions advised Gordon to fly and make his escape by the side door, but he indignantly refused to take this course, which he said would be a disgrace to a British officer, and coolly leaving the beleony went into the inner room, donned full uniform, and, buckling on his sword, advanced to the top of the stairs, and looking scornfully on the crowd below as he exclaimed, “Whom seek ye? I am Gordon Pasha. Come on here.” The dervishes being under orders not to kill Gordon, Nash, a Mahdist General, then ascended the stairs, and Gordon met him sword in hand in military fashion. Nash snatched the sword from Gordon in a brutal manner, at the same time striking him an unexpected blow, from the effects of which he fell. Another general then thrust a spear into Gordon’s body, inflicting a grievous wound. Thus died Gordon. Zebehr,the Mahdi’s treasurer, witnessed the scene, and cried out, “ May his blood be on their heads! May Allah punish thete men!” The body of General Gordon was not mutilated, and, after being embalmed, was sent to the Mahdi. After Gordon’s murder the Arabs turned their attention to his companions. The Greek Consul and the medical officers were cut to pieces, and a general massacre of the Egyptians took place. The Arabs, however, spared those regiments which admitted them into the city. Earagh Pasha was afterwards taken before the Mahdi, who said, “ You were the slave who deceived them; you may deceive me,” and ordered that his head should also be cut off. . The account states that there are many white women" at Khartoum.