CHAPTER VIII.

THE SIEGE AND FALL OF KHARTUM.

The surrender of Omdurman fort--Gordon's dispositions for defence--His great personal influence--The night before the assault--The attack and entry of the Dervishes --Gordon's death--The adventures of Domenico Polinari-- The massacre in Khartum--How most of the Europeans died --Ruthless cruelty and bloodshed--The fate of the wives and daughters of Khartum--Ohrwalder's views on the situation in Khartum and the chances of relief by the British Expeditionary Force--His description of the town three months after the fall 131