Morris tribune., 1882-11-02
THE PRINCESS ELMINEH.
The Wicked Career ofthe Wealthiest
Woman in Egypt.

THE PRlNUESS ELMlNEH.
The Wicked Career ofthe Wealthiest
Woman in Egypt.
The New York Times prints the fol-
lowing history of the Princess Elmineh
of Egypt, who, as was indicated in recent
dispatches, encouraged Arab Pasha with
money and sympathy in rebelling against
the khedive and in continuing the
struggle until completely annihilated by
the British:
The Princess Elmineh, sister OF the
late khedive, is the richest and most
noted woman in the east. has great IN
fluence with the fellah population, and
hers is ore of the prettiest, and is GER
tainly the richest of the palaces of Cairo.
She is the largest landowner in Egypt,
and having received Il European educa-
ton, makes good use of her income. She
is not what the French call "passes," be-
ing little over forty years old, and the
hot Egyptian sun, combined with life
of dissipation and unstrained enjoyment,
have PLAYED havoc with one who, ten
years ago, was call "the Star of the east"
Egyptian, like Turkish women,
are married BY their parents without
their wishes ever being consulted, so
that, as rule there is no pretense of
love or even sympathy between them.
Thus was the Princess Elmineh, at the
age of sixteen, given away to o Turkish
pasha, noted only for his wealth and dis
honesty, being old, ugly and ignolant.
The wedding took place in Constantine
pie, where the dowry of the princess was
estimated at $50, 100000.
The princess received liberal educa-
ton; she speaks three European langu-
ages, plays the piano, sings well, and is
in most respects an accomplished lady,
and in thirty days she had seen enough
OF her husband to despise him and to
treat him With contempt. No Turk dare
enter his wife's private apartment if she
reverses her overshoes, which every
Turkish woman wears, and leaves them
outside her door, and the Princess Elmi-
noh availed herself of this privilege dur
| ing the two months she remained in
Constantinople. At the expiration OF
| that time the doctors advised her to pass
| the winter at Cairo, whittier she went,
accompanied by her husband, and where
she has remained ever since. Immedi-
| atey on arriving m Egypt she laid her
self at the feet of the khedive, telling
him that she preferred death to living
! with her husband, who was in every re-
! spect her inferior, and begged him to
| protect her. AS She was favorite of
| his, he appointed her husband to the
! general-ship of Souakin, on the Red Sea,
! and as he never arrived there it is pre-
! sumed that he was poisoned by the way,
! this being the ordinary method by which
! the khedives have from time to time
! silenced their foes. The princess, hay
| ing thus freed herself, commenced a life
! adventure and dissipation has not often
been surpassed. The old Shoubra pal
ace, extending from the Shoubra road to
the Nile, was pulled down and the pre-
sent magnificent structure erected in its
stead, containing eighty rooms, all OF
which are decorated and furnished in
the most eXtravagant fashion. Shortly
after the princess had taken possession
of this seraglio many curious and incre.
| dible rumors were af1oat in Cairo, which
at the time were only whispered, but
which subsequent events proved to be
true.
There was in the service of the khe-
dive q handsome young Swiss officer
named Coll, who had been in the pope's
Swiss guard, and the princess, happen
ing to see him one day on duty became
enamored of him, and next day asked
the khedive to transfer him to her ser.
wee, which he did. The main gate te
her palace was then pulled down anC
over large arch way a beautiful Swiss
chalet was built. Lieut.. Coll took pos.
Sc no ~
ceremonies. From hat time they seemed
inseparable; wherever the princes
went young Coll accompanied her, ant
those who called to pay their homage t.
the great Elmineh were introduced by
| him. He had the management of all
her estates, became enormously wealth!
and in a short time developed into
public character. He went to Switzer
land one summer, and returned accom-
panied by his sister, who became the
princess companion, unique position
for a Christian to occupy. About fou
years after this it was rumored that Gol
, had formed an attachment for Frencl
actress named Ernestine Leduc, an,
those of his friends who knew the Egyp
! tians we'll, advised him to be eau
tious, as their vengeance was terrTb.e
He however paid little or no attention t
the warming. Coll suddenly disappeared
leaving no trace behind him, and at tn
same time Ernestine Laduc was fnun
strang'ed in her apartment. Inquire
were made about him in Cairo, and tn
princess offered $1,000 for informatio
that might lead to his recovery, althoug
she caused the rumor to be spread thu
he had murdered Ernestine and fec
Ten days later the banks of the Nil
! ouorHouoI and tho p,r1fi1ofod ha5u 4
young GoH was deposited by its water
in field adjoining the palace. Tn
hands and feet were tied together, th
eyes had been torn from their socket
and the heart had been pierced throag
and through. TheSwis consul demand
ed an inquiry, which, like most pr
ceedings of this sort in the east. ",
wholly formality, Coils sister was ne
er again seen In Egypt though she SUI
sequently appeared in Berne, her n
tive town, where she lives, but whe
asked about her brother she is wont
say that the subject Is too painful fl
conversation
During the following seven years Cali
was startled by frequent Disappearance,
of young gentlemen belonging to Il
best native European families, and the
remained unexplained until the follow
ing incident occurred A young Austi
an doctor named Canelli had been
Cairo about year., He had been mi
itary surgeon in his own country, an
besides being thorough master of b
profession, was handsome, gay and das
/ ing. One evening as he was driving
the Shoubra road, the fashionable pror
enade and driven Cairo, he saw veilt
Turkish lady making signs to him fro
her carriage. He mentioned this to
friend, who told him it must have bee