Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-12-22
Miscellaneous READING

A NEGRO CHiEFT IN.-One of the mos, 70
markabe characters who have influenced Tho
history of tho region of country between Tim.
buctt and the west coast of Africa WAS a native
or Futah IorO known rs the SheiKh Oman
l-HaU. he is said to have been Wseeu
man OF extraordinary endownelts. ofcommsrd.
ing presence and great personal influence. He
was educated by the Sheikh Iijsni, Moslen
missionary from Arabia. Having spent seversl
years under the instruction of this distinguished
teacher, visiting Mecca in the meantime, he be.
came profoundly learned in the Arabic Ian
guage. After the death of his master he wcr,
twice to Mecca on pilgrimages. On his return
TO MS country the second time he undertook u
series OF proselytng expeditions against the
powerful pagan tribes on the east and southeast
or rutah Ioro. He conquered several powerful
Ghle1s and reduced their people to the faith vi
Islam. ne banlshed paganism from Sego and
Purlned the practices of several MohamHleian
enlsh notions. He thus restored Jenne and
halnp Allahl, and was on his way to Timbuctoo
ABOUT ten years ago wien, through the treachery
OF Ihe Arabs OF that region, he WAS circumvent-
cd and KILLED al town in Masina One of his
sons is now hlng of Sego, another rules over
ID. lamp lahl0two Of the largest cities in Cen
lrsl Africa. Alhajj Omsru wrote many Arabic
works IN prose. and poetry. His poems are re-
Glted and sung in every town and village from
Futahtown, in Sierra Leone, to Kano. His
memory Is held in the greatest respect by ali
native students, and they attribute to him many
eAtraoroihsry Deeds and see in his successful
enterprises, military and literary, proofs of di-
vine guidance.
ExTsAoRDISARY TRAGEDY-The following
strange account of tragica occurrence At Tou-
louise is published by the Paris Steele of Decem.
Der Is: Two men, strangers to the place. sp-
peared three days back for permission 10 ascend
10 the top OF the tower of the old Cordclier
Church, formerly used as storehouse for foi
DER, and which was partly burned in 1871
Leave WAS granted, but shortly sfterwsrd tho
TWO men were seen to lean over the parapet
Locked in each others arms and then to fall To-
tbs ground. One, who appeared to be the p.in
clpat, ana who wore a decoration in his button
nole was taken up dead the other was ONLY
stunned, and on being carried to the hospital
made this extraordinary statement: The de-
ceased, ne SAID, was an eng neer and had form
&c Win MIN plan to rob the Bank of Toulouse
by means or q su bterranean passage leading 20
the cellars of that esLaolishm emit, and which had
Deen IN course OF construction for several months
previously. The work was terminated and the
plan was TO Do carried out al hour lator. His
accompllce then induced him to 60 to the top o.
the tower on some pretext and then suddenly
selzed MN ~ the waist and endeavorod L.
throw him from the top in order, no doubt. to
obtain the whole of the booty A struggle took
place between them, in the course of which they
ooLu lclI over rs QeScrlDeu. Inc cellars OF the
bank were visited, and the passage was found
almost tcrmlnatet another hours work and i.
would have openel into this floor OF the strong
ro0m."
SHADE TREES PREvESrINi CosFLAGnA
TIoHs.-The SACRAMENTO Record. Union SAYS
that in that city disastrous and wide spread con-
hagratlons have frequently been aver!ed, Amos:
solely through the agency of sha.e trees. The
trees serve to prevent the passage of burang
debris in the sir-the enbers, which would 9TH
erwise be blown from house TO house and block
to BLOCK, being caught in the upper branches
and falling thence to the ground In the sum
mer trees act rs screens between houses and
blocks, moderating tho heat of fires and inter.
posing barrier which is seldom passed by the
flames. When VIC add to these very practical
considerations thu value of trees in bro aking the
force of the wind, enhancing tho beauty OF
city, and ahording grateful shade to pedes
trans, 1t wall be seen that trees planted slong
city streets, pay for themselves many times over
and in many different ways. A community
which acts on the suggestions thus enforced, not
only administers to its aesthetic taste, and pro.
NOTES culture and the love Of the beautiful but
erects barrier against Il es checks tho spread
OF hagratons, and ''puts money in its purse"
in one of the simplest and m ost common sense
cOncpiyab,a