HOW GORDON DIED
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made to believe, died as a coward, for what other construction may be placed on the assertion that he turned his back upon his assailants, and in his back received his mortal wound? It is an infamous lie; but, then, what was to be expected from a man whom Gordon knew so well, and who, maybe, had good reason to invent the tale he did? I quote, side by side, what may be called the three official accounts of Gordon's death: —
| Mahdism. | Ohrwalder. | Slatin. |
| "He (Gordon) made a gesture of scorn with his right hand, and turned his back, where he received another spear wound which caused him to fall forward and was most likely his mortal wound ... He made no resistance, and did not fire a shot from his revolver."
"... One of them rushing up, stabbed him with his spear, and others then followed, and soon he was killed. ... He (Nejoumi) ordered the body to be dragged downstairs into the garden, where his head was cut off." |
"The first Arab plunged his huge spear into his body. He fell forward on his face, was dragged down the stairs many stabbed him with their spears, and his head was cut off and sent to the Mahdi." | "The first man up the steps plunged his huge spear into his body; he fell forward on his face without uttering a word. His murderers dragged him down the steps to the palace entrance, and here his head was cut off and at once sent over to the Mahdi." |
