Details of the Fall of Khartoum.

Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5060, 1 April 1885, Page 2

Details of the Fall of Khartoum.

London, February 13. The best authorities* agree that the fall of Khartoum was doe to the treachery of Faragh Pasha, who commanded Gordon's Soudanese troops. The miscreant betrayed the city and its glorious defender on the morning of January 26. It is alleged that Gordon had always mistrusted this man, treason* hating been prored against him. on a previous occasion, in respect of which he was condemned to death; but General Gordon,-either doubtihg the effect his execution would hare upon the fidelity of the Soudanese troopt, with whom he possessed great influence, or yielding in that spirit of. generosity which distinguished him, to Faragh's reiterated prayers for pardon and profes' sions of devotion, forgave him. . For many months Faragh's conduct was above suspicion ; but it is thought that, fearing, ' on the arrival of the English, punishment -would overtake him, he entered. into negotiations with the Mahdi's troops. > The hunters of Kordofan and the Baggara horsemen rushed into the devoted city, and the word was given to slay. A massacre of . indescribable ferocity followed. Those who had remained faithful to the gallant Englishman who had stood beiween them and the knife ao long, were, regardless of age or sex, ruthlessly butchered, the women being murdered in cold blood, and the little children spitted on Arab spears out of pure wantonness. All those relatives of the faithful 500 under Russia Pasha, who assisted us at Gubat, shared the general fate. From the account of an eye witness who boarded Sir Charles Wilson's steamer on the'return voyage from Khartoum, it would appear that for an entire day the streets of the city ran with blood. But, allowing for Oriental exaggeration, no doubt the scene of carnage which followed the entrance of the Mahdi's force of warriors into the city was one of unparallelled horror. ' A message of Feb. 20th says:— Details of the fall of Khartoum state that Faragh Pasha opened the two gates on the south wall of the fortifications. General Gordon hearing the tumult, left liis palece, armed with a sword and axe, with 20 cavashes. : They met a party of tlie rebels, who at once fired a volley, killing General Gordon on the spot. The Mahdi hanged Faragh Pasha shortly after entering the place.