Mutinous Barbarities of the Arabs

KOROSKO, Feb. 11. On the day of the capture of Khartoum, which is variously stated as the 24th and 25th or 26th of January, Gen. Gordon's attention was attracted by a tremendous tumult in the streets. He left the building, in which he had made his headquarters, to ascertain the cause of the disturbance. As he reached the street he was stabbed in the back and left dead.

The tumult was caused by the Mahdi's troops, who had gained access to the interior of the town, through treachery, and who were soon in complete possession of the place, including the citadel.

A fearful massacre of the garrison followed. The scenes of the slaughter are described as surpassing the Bulgarian atrocities and rivalling the worst horrors of the Sepoy mutiny. The panic stricken Egyptians were captured in their flight and put to death with fiendish tortures. Some were transfixed with spears and left to bleed to death. Most of the victims were mutilated in the most horrible manner. The massacre included many non-combatants, and the Egyptian women were subjected to shameful indignities. More than a hundred women and young girls were given over to the Mahdi's followers to be used as slaves.

Many Arabs were seen rushing about the streets with the heads of Egyptians impaled upon their spears. The next night was spent in a saturnalia of blood and debauchery. Since the capture of Khartoum the Mahdi has repaired the fortifications and is said to have an abundance of guns, small arms and ammunition.