The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-07-29 00:00:00

BISMARCK'S HUMOUR!

PERILS BY LAND AND BY SEA.

A correstrtnolent 14 the Times of bulk gives the following
ACCOUIa of a rentarkahle escape

" Aden, June ii.
" One of the most remarkable escapes from the perils
attendant upon a disabled stemner at sea, and the won-
derful good fortune which brought safely through a
dangerous country a party of volunteers from the ship,
I herewith send you. The steamer Vi.an, Cap-
tain Milne, from Calcutta for London, encoun-
tered ba.l weather, and shortly before reaching
Aden she ran out of coals, and everything available on
board was burnt. She then drifted down on the
Arabian coast, some 150 miles from Aden. After anchor-
ing, the captain and the snrgeon, Mr. J. W. Matthews,
went on shore tan see if wood was procurable, but
none was to be bad. The docto or and second steward,
with two la ear DOW VolUllteeted to protect!
to Aden through the Somali and other tribes on the
coast, which was consented to by the captain. Starting
on the afternoon of the 7th of June, they walked all
night to avoid what rascals might be,.., the way,
while some friendly Arabs accongemied them, and
made a detour to obtain camels of a Sultan named
Hyder. On reaching him they were most hospitably
received, great State even WM observed and salutes
fired ! Tire Sultan kindly is digratulated them on their
getting safely through some hostile tribes, and he
offered them a host to Aden ; but the weather
being unpromising this offer was ileelined. The j.ourney
was now recommenced, partly on foot and partly on
camels when procurable. The tribes through which
the adventurers passed were in such a state of poverty
and wretchedness that nm prrvisions coati.. obtained ;
on the poor fellows suffered very much in consequence,
and their sufferings were aggravated from want of
water airs.; the intense heat, to,, nearly overcame
them. However, with much pluck, though, driven
almost to desperation, they persevered, and, without
any 1,4 or food for 21 hours, they rea.ched Aden on
Sunday, the 11th. The surprise that awaited them
here iA hardly to be described. for the Vixen was
lying in Aden barb, air, and all belonging to her safe !
She Inn I girt corals from a buirgah,w procured at Aden by
the chief officer, win Sonic ,133'S previously hasl sailed
from his ship in an ipen I,oat for the purpose of getting
assistance. NVllen the weary and footsore travellers
, arrived at Aden and the community bad become aware
A Cerman diplomatist tells some stories in Go- of their .langerous trip they manifest.,l the greatest
Prerolsische Jahrbiieher of Prince Bismarck's life while delight, and numerous were the congratulations be-
he exercised the function:4 of Prussian envoy ti the Had bad weather come on at any period from
ermanie I lonfisleration at Frankfiirt. Various ae- the steamer breaking down, while she Wits at anchor, or
counts have been published of his first visit to Count wl ten the small boat was on Ler way to Aden a different
Thum the Anstrima envoy, but, the writer says, the tale might have hall to be told. As it turned out, it is
following, which has not hitherto appeared in print isthe a remarkable escape from dangers which were surti.
true one. At that time it was the cust.,m of Austrian vividly threatening to make all on board ever remember
diplomatisto to treat their Prussian colleagues very nit- their visit to the coast of Africa and all that followed.
ceremoniously, and Count nun received Bismarck in I ain not versed in diplomatic matters, but it is in
his shirt-sleeves. "Quite right," observed the latter, my nand that, seeing how generously, and royally,
gravely pulling off his coat; "it's very hot in your indeed, Sultan Hyder treated the poor wayfarers on
room.' The Austrian, thunderstruck at this unex- their perilous land journey, ought rust sOlst; special
(meted lesson, immediately jumped up, seized his coat, mission to be sent to his Excellency, direct from the
and confounded himself in excuses. Thenceforward the British Government, with a suitable letter of °allow-
Austrian representative, though the relations between ledgment, and something more substantial besides? I
the two Governments continued to be anything but think so. On the way the members of the mission
cordial, showed the greatest respect to Bismarck, might give the people and tribes to understand that if
and the prestige of Prussia rose considerably with they protected white men (and black MOD, too, for that
the Blind. Meanwhile the Austrian Court still matter) cast on their mercy for food and guidance they
looked down on its aspiring rival as a parvenu, and would be repaid and rewarded."
took every opportunity of showing its dislike. Once
an Austrian Areliduke_eame to Frankfort and IT.

viewed the troops. The Prussian envoy was present on
this occasion, wearing to usual the uniform of a lieu-
tenant of the landwehr, on which were several decora-
tions. The Archduke, perceiving Bismarck, rode up
to him, and asked, with an ironical smile: "Excuse
me, your excellency; did you get all these decorations
before the enemy?" "Yes, your Imperial Highness,"
was the prompt reply, "I got them all before the
enemy here in Frankfort."