390 WORKMEN AND HEROES son, R.E., at Cairo, that he thought the game was up, and a' catastrophe might be expected in ten days' time, and sent his adieux to all. On the same day he wrote to his sister : "I am quite happy, thank God, and like Lawrence, I have tried to do my duty." His diary ended on the same day with : " I have done the best for the honor of my country. Good-by." It was necessary for the safety of his troops that Wilson should first make a reconnoissance down the river toward Berber before going to Khartoum, and when he started up the river, on January 24th, the difficulties of navigation were so great that it was midday on the 28th before the goal was reached, and then only to find it in the hands of the Mahdi, Khartoum having fallen early on the 26th, after a siege of 31 7 days. From the most accurate information since obtained, it appears that the garri- son, early in January, had been reduced to great straits for want of food, and great numbers of the inhabitants had availed themselves of Gordon's permission to join the Mahdi. Omdurman, opposite to Khartoum, on the west bank of the river, fell about January 13th, and about the 18th a sortie was made, in which some se- rious fighting took place. The state of the garrison then grew desperate. Gor- don continually visited the posts by night as well as day, and encouraged the famished garrison. The news of Sir Herbert Stewart's expedition, and the suc- cessful engagements it had fought on the way to Metemmeh, determined the Mahdi to storm Khartoum before reinforcements could arrive for its relief. The attack was made on the south front at 3.30 a.m., on Monday, January 26, 1885. The defence was half-hearted, treachery was at work, and Gordon received no tidings of the assault. The rebels made good their entrance, and then a general massacre ensued. The accounts of Gordon's death are confused and conflicting, but they all agree in stating that he was killed near the gate of the palace, and his head carried to the Mahdi's camp. Intelligence of the catastrophe reached England on Thursday, February 5th. The outburst of popular grief, not only in this country and her colonies, but also among foreign nations, has hardly been paralleled. It was universally acknowl- edged that the world had lost a hero. Friday, March 13th, was then observed as a day of national mourning, and special services were held in the cathedrals and in many churches of the land, those at Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's being attended by the royal family, members of both houses of parliament, and repre- sentatives of the naval and military services. Parliament voted a national monu- ment to be placed in Trafalgar Square, and a sum of ,20,000 to his relatives. More general expression was given to the people's admiration of Gordon's char- acter by the institution of the " Gordon Boys' Home " for homeless and destitute boys. Gordon's sister presented to the town of Southampton her brother's li- brary, in March, 1889. Gordon's character was unique. Simple-minded, modest, and almost mor- bidly retiring, he was fearless and outspoken when occasion required. Strong in will and prompt in action, with a naturally hot temper, he was yet forgiving to a fault. Somewhat brusque in manner, his disposition was singularly sympa- thetic and attractive, winning all hearts. Weakness and suffering at once en-
