The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-30
AMERICAN PLUCK IN CENTRAL ASIA
Russian Report Of the Work Of Herald
Special Correspondent.
Mr.. MAC oAHAN's MARCH TO KHlvA.

Speaking OF Mr.. MacGahan, whose special letters
from Khiva we have published IN the columns OF the
NEW YORK HERALD, the Russian Military Reufeo
OF May, in an article upon the late expedition,
says as follows:-
MacGahan arrived In st. Petersburg in the latter
half OF February, 1873, for the sole purpose ask
ing the permission OF the Russian govern ment to
accompany one OF our deta.hments against Khiya
as correspondent OF an American newspaper but
having learned that many had been refused, he de-
cided to try his luck at his own risk, and. without
any permission lett Tor Central Asia Tor thu pur-
pose OF catching up TO the expedition oil General
Kaufman. He lett st. Petersburg on the 22d Of
March and arrived at Kazaliusk on the 2Otn OF
ment to Irkibai In the direction OF our KaZaliusk
column. seeing the lmDossiDility or fulfilling his
plan he assured them that he had decided to
90 to Tashkent, and received permission TO do so.
Having come to Perovsky he set about thinking.
He disliked going to Tashkent, and decided to find
way Tor himself by turning aside and taking
caravan road that was but little known across the
Kizylkum to Irkibai. With this object he looked
Russian, and q Khlrgiz boy. These he hired at
high wages, bought nve Khirgiz horses, and on the
Journey almost without food and drink he arrived
at HkiDai on the 7th OF May. Having rested little
MacGahan learned that General Hartmann ought TO
be at T0mdy. Without loss OF time the American
departed in that direction, and in twenty-our
hours arrived at Kizy-kok. and twelve hours after
General Kaufman had changed mis- direc-
ton, and was not IN Tomdy. but In Arls.
tan,Be-Kndask: At Tasn-Dzaryk lie was nos,
OF the local Khirgiz who toasted him with
pelay, and told him that General Kaufman was
arrive In the course OF some days, and where he
1.-THE Khirgiz) was obliged to furnish sheep for the
procuring guide he started again with one WHO
had been hired for fifteen rOubes but he had
hardly gone three miles when the guide stopped
and said tnat, as he could not show him the way
without his son, he must demand that MacGahan
should take him also at payment Of another
fifteen r0ubies. MacGnhan, now beside himself
with rage at the eflrontery the Khlrgiz,
scoded the fellow In English, threatening him
W a n na s % sses
MacGahan decided to continue his journey with hs
own people as well as he could. To complete his
disgust, these now refused to go on without
guide. MacGahan took out hts revolver and de-
cared that If they did not march with him he
dig1t begged permission to return to seek guide,
and an hour and half afterwards reloned
MacGahan with another, who asked twenty
roubles as the price OF his service.
The journey to Khala-ta occupied three days
and half, across region without the slightest
Colonel Weimarn kept him q week at Khala-ta,
and, when leaving himself to join the Turkestan
expedition, positively re used to permit MacGahan
to follow his detachment, but MacGahan decided
to run away from Khala-ta at night, at the moment
OF the departure Of the detachment get out OF the
cult in the stsppe, get in advance Of the Colonel
in the road followed BY the Tnrkestan expedition
ing by the disorder consequent on the departure
OF the detachment from Khala-ta on the night
OF the Z0Cu Oh Mdyy ne anu Ills companions
succeeded In getting through the ranks Of
what was the establishment OF MacGahan when, on
arriving at the wells OF AdamKrylgau he saw that
the detachment OF Colonel Weimarn was already
there His position was critical. 10 90 farther on
was impossible, because, alter his thirty miles,
journey, his horses could hardly move their legs
TO remain Tor an indefinite period at Adamkrylgau
and wait for the departure OF the troops, without
fOOd or water, was also impossible. To report
himself to Colonel Weimarn meant to subject HIM
sell to the strlctest Of martial law, and probably TO
be sent back under escort to Tashkent. At this
kuduk, lying near Adamkrylgau, ana decided to
60 there Immediately on foot, leading his worn
out horse. When they reached these wells
the travellers found the detachment OF
Colonel Novomlinsky, who, not having
received any instructions in this matter,
received MacGahan very gladly. Paying
| no regard TO the representations OF the ofacers
| with respect TO the dangers of continuing his
journey, MacGahan expressed to all his hearty
repose left with hts companions to catch up to The
| expedition. On the Goth OF May, early in the
| morning, after coming near to the Oxus, MacGanar
! heard the sound Of cannon. Climbing one OF thu
| heights, MacGahan, with his field glass, looked a
| Q crowd or hOrsemen not lar from him. When hi
gave his glass to the guide the latter astonishet
| him by saying that as far as he could judge from
| their dress, they were Tnrcomans; and his guide
and digtts, declaring that there would be no quar-
prayers. IL turned out, however, that the horse
men were Khirgiz serving In the main expedition
and sent out to look for the enemy. We can under
stand what feelings were In MacGahan's breast
when he for the first time, saw the regular ranks
of the Russian troops