Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-25
STEALING A MARCH,
The Way an American Photographer
in Egypt OutWittcd His English SUI
periOr.

From the New York Times
In Turkey and Egypt it is customary for the
grandees to make presents to those who bring
them the first information of good news.
These men are called ''musdegis'' or news
bearers. The successor to the Egyptian throne
always rewards the person informing him of
the death of his predecessor by promoting him
TO the rank of hey and paying him 10000
pasters (750001. When Said Pasha to whom
Ismatl Pasha, the late khedive. succeeded.
was dangerously i'll at Alexandria, Ismail
Pasha himself was at Cairo. 1t is said to have
been proved beyond doubt that Said Pasha
died of slow poison, which Ismal Pasha had
personally administered, and when Ismai sub
sequently didt same thing successfully to many
other Egyptians it was said that the victims had
been 'Saided." Be this as it may Said Pasha
was seriously unwell at Alexandria, and the
ambitious ismail was anXOusly awaiting at
Cairo the news of his demise. At that time the
Eastern Telegraph company had not yet estab-
lished their lines all over Egypt and Cairo was
joined to Alexandria by single line belonging
to the Egyptian government. and which was
managed by certain Mr.. Thomas an English
man. who is still in the service of the company
Mr. Thomas knew how anxious Ismail Pasha
was to receive the news of Said Pasha'S death
and he further knew that the reward to the per-
son first Informing iSmail Pasha would be the
title of hey and 100. 600 piasters-bOth of which
would be very acceptable to Mr.. Thomas him
self, and which he resolved to get. His Office
was in Alexandria, but knowing that the news
must come over the telegraph wires which he
controlled, lie told his subordnates at AleXan-
drla that he was going on visit of inspection
to Cairo, where he might stay for some time.
He asked them to be very careful during his
absence especially as to the important news
concerning Said Pasha's health-abOut which
poor lslnall was very uneasy-and, mounting
his drOmedary, started for Cairo.
The Cairo office was then managed by a young
American from Baltimore named Tinney, to
whose surprise Mr.. Thomas, instead of going to
the hotel, as he had always DONE took up his
quarters at the telegraph station. where (besides
staying all day. he also passed the night. He
never left the office for one minute, and ALWAYS
being near the instrument to see what passed
over the wire. The system by which the tee-
graph was worked in Egypt was by impressions
OF dots and lines on paper bands, and not by
sound. as it is in America, and Mr. Thomas
kept his eye on the slip for fully ten DAYS and
nights and yet the news he was so anxioilsly ex-
pecting came not. Young Tinney was at a loss
to understand what all this meant and was
much annoyed by the managers proceedings
who, he thought. suspected him. and there
fore watched him. Mr.. Thomas by this time
became quite nervous, the effects of sleepless
nights were plainly visible in his face ana at
about O'Clock one afternoon feeling exhausted
he told Tinney that he was going to take
to call him in case any telegram came about the
death OF Said Pasha. Tinney then for the first
time, discovered what all Mr.. Thomas anxiety
was about and as soon the latter was fast
asleep he called in the Arab bookkeeper from
whom he learned in a casual way as If i'm no
way interested that the bearer of the news of
Said Pashas death to his successor. Ismai
Pasha, would receive the rank of hey and 100 600
piasters.
Hour after hour passed. many business and
nf hnP tnIn
At the commencement Mr. Thomas awoke every
time the instrument licked and asked what it
was, but at last he slept so heavily that no ordi-
nary noise would wake him.
About two hours after midnight tick tick
tick" went the instrument. Young Tinney
became all ears and eyes and he knew in few
seconds that Said Pasha had just then expired
at Alexandria. He Immediately tore away the
slip unscrewed the instrument took away part
OF 1T with him, and pulling off his boots. left the
room, making as little noise as possible For
further security. he went up to the story above
and disconnected the wire. He then ran as fast
as he could in the direction Of the EZbekich road
where he knew lsmail Pasha lived. Arriving
at the little kOsque the latter then Occu-
pied, he was then stopped by the guard but
upon telling him that he had run all the wav
from the telegraph station to give the pasha
news OF a revolution that had broke out in
Alexandria during the night. he was kept in the
basement until word was brought from upstairs
that 1snail Pasha would receive him. The mo-
ment he saw the telegraph operator he knew
what had happened, as nobody had been more
anXiousy expecting the news than himself. not
even Mr.. Thomas.
Tinney told him in English which language
lsmail Pasha understands. that Said Pasha was
dead and then gave him the slip Off the instru-
ment. lsmal asked him his name and upon
his saying George Tinney, the pasha who was
now viceroy OF Egypt. wrote something on
piece of paper, and, handing it to him. said:
''linney Bey. thank you very much here is an
order on the treasury for 100000 piasters, and
the trade naming youbey will be the first sh all
sign"