The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1882-02-03
A Romance or UDOnOvan In central
Asia.

Abi0s
When tie Russians under General
Skobeleff started on their exped ton
against the Turkomans at Geek Tepe,
ODonovan, of the London Daily NeUs,
applied for permission to accompany
them, but was refused. Upon receiving
General Skobeleff's final answer, the de-
termined correspondent telegraphed his
thanks for the courteous wording OF the
refusal, and finished his message with
the significant words, Au revOir,
General, Merv." "Till we meet
again, General, at Merv."
O'Donovan then started upon his Jour-
ney. He reached the northwestern
boundary OF Persia, and succeeded in
safely crossing the frontier, riding 100
miles in twenty-four hours. Luck, In
addition to his native shrewdness. IA
vored him, and he reached Merv In
safety, though prisoner, and suspected
Of being a Russian. As best he could
he informed his captors of his English
nationality, and his wit and manners SO
pleased the Turkomans that he was kept
in a sort of honorable confinement until
his statement could be confirmed. Sat
isfactory information concerning him
was at last received from Teherap, and
he was released.
ODonovans wonderful stores of in
formation, and his statements concern
ing the almost boundless extent of the
English Empire, caused the Turkomans
to look upon him as man of much i'm
portance, and he was called upon to set
tie long-standing dispute as to the chief
executive power. There are two proper
holders of that power-the Sheik of the
Eastern Turkomans and the Sheik of the
Western Turkomans. 1t appears that it
was necessary for the highest dignitary
or dignitaries Of the Turkomaps to un-
dertake q perilous mission TO Teheran.
1t was considered probable that whoever
went would lose his head, and to avoid
this risk the two Chi ftains conferred the
honor upon the eldest of their class.
Much to their surprise, he returned
alive, and was allowed to retain his dig
nifty until the arrival of O'Donovan,
whose abundance of wealth, it is sup
posed, induced the Eastern and Western
chiefs to determine to reassert their
claims, lest he whom they had elevated
to the highest position should monopo
lie the gifts of the illastrious foreigner.
A great council was held, the old chief
deposed, the two restored to their origi-
nal positions, and O'Donovan elected
Ichtiar Bahadoor Khan of the Tekke
Turkomans, and joined the other two
chiefs in forming q triumvirate, ruling
over the district of Merv, with a popula-
ton of 800, 900 souls.
O'Donovan was installed in his hon.
orable position with imposing ceromo-
MES, and given palace" for that re-
Gion, to live in. His official duties while
abiding in Merv consisted mainly in dis
pensing justice, chiefly in cases of MUIR
der and robbery, they being the only
crimes recognized.
After six months O'Donovau wearied
OF his life at Merv, and wishing to re-
turn to civilization, expressed de-
sire to be sent as ambassador plenipo-
tertiary of the Tekke Turkomans to
the European courts. A great council
was held to consider the subject. O'Don-
ovan having arrived at Merv Just at the
moment the onward march of the Rus
slams had been arrested, and the Turko-
mans associating that event with his APP
pearance, looked upon him as their de-
hverer, and his presence as sure pro-
lection against their hereditary enemies.
For this reason they were unwilling to
part with him, but at last consented on
the promise that he would one day re-
turn to them. He replied, 81 will re.
turn when am sent back to you" 1t
requires more than surgical operation
to enable the Turkomans to see through
a joke, and the humor of O'Donovan's
answer not being appreciated, he was
permitted to depart, and was accompan-
led to the Persian frontier by body of
Turkoman troops. = Cincinnati CONNER
cidi