HOW BURNABY DIED.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1545, 8 May 1885, Page 2

HOW BURNABY DIED.

Mr Barhugh, the war correspondent who was wounded at Abu-Klea, ha*, under the inspiration^ of kis hurt, written to the Daily Telegraph a thi illing account of the battle, and in it occurs this description of Colonel Burnahy's death, which must become historical : — " Still down npon us the dark Arab wave rolled. It bad arrived within 800 yards undininished in volume, unbroken|in strength — a rush •f spearßtnen aud swordsmen. Their rifle fire had ceased. Other Arab forces surrounding vs — the Mahdi's troops, plundering Bedouins, and pilaging villagers from the river gid« — Btood eager, on the hill sid«-s watching the charge upon the British squar*. In wild excitement, their white teeth glistening, and the sheen of their burnished weapons flashing like thousands of mirrers, onward they came, charging straight into our ranks. I was at that instant inside the square, not far frem the Gardner Gun, when J Maw the left face move fiomnwnat backward. Colojihl Burnal>y, himself, whose every action at the time I saw from a distance of

about thirty yards, rodtt out iv irtitt of the rear left face, apparently to assist two or three gk*r«iisit«rs running in hard pressed. AH but one man of them succeeded in reaching oar lines. Colonel Barnahy went forward to bis assistance, sword in hand. As the dauntless Colonel rod*- forward, he put himself in the way of a sheik uhargiug down on horseback. Ere the Arab closed with him, a ballet from someone in oar ranks brought the sheifc beadlong to the ground. Thi •n**n»y'i spearsmen were close behind, and oil* of them suddenly dashed at Colonel Burnaby, pointing the long blade of his spear at his throat. Checking his horse and putting it backward, Burnaby leapt forward in his saddle and parred the Moslem's rapid and ferocious thrusts. But the length of the man's weapon — j 8ft — put, it out of his power to return i with interest the Arab's murderous in- ) tent. Once or twice Colonel Burnaby j just touched bit man. only to make j him more wary and eager. The affray j 1 was the work of seconds only, for th« j savage horde at swarthy negroes from < Eordofan and straight haired taway j complexioned Arabs •! the Bay.nda Rteppft ware fast dosing iv upononr square. Colonel BurnaWy forced the swarthy Arab as if he wwo playing in an assault at arras, and th<i-e »wa« a - smile on hi* features as he drbvn off i tht man's awkward points. The scene was taken in at a- glance. With. ilia.t lightning instinct which I ha?e" seen desert warriors before now display in battle while coaiing to one auother's aid, an Arab, who was pursuing a soldier aud had passed fivi paces from Burnaby's right and rear, turned with a sadden spring, and this second Arab ran his spear into the Colonel's right shoulder. It was bat a slight wound, enough, though to eaus# Bnruaby to twjst rojind in his saddle, but it required a second one before he let go his grip ef the reins and tumbled upon the ground. Half a d*z«n Arabs were now about him. With blood gushing in streams from his gashed throat the dauntless guardsman lept to his feet ■word in band and slashed at th« ferocious group. They were the wild strokes of a proud, brave .man dying hard, and he was quickly overborn* and left h«lpless and dying."