The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-12-08
WHOLE No. 2,139

avoid surprise.
$50 far water has been found mostly
on the surface in the ground depres-
sions. 1t is hoped for throughout.
There will be no communication
with the external world for the next few
weeks, as for the moment we practically
burn our ships"
Edmund O'Oonovan was one of the
most famous war correspondents OF
modern times, sharing the honors with
Forbes and McGahan. His experiences
are among the most astonishing adven-
tnres in the literature of travel. He
was born in Ireland and studied medi-
cine at Trinity College, Dublin, and was
for long time sub-librarian there. His
father, DR.. John O'Donovan, was we'll
known Celtic scholar, and from him Ed
mund inherited a taste for antiquarian
research and philology. He gave up
medicine for a more adventurous ca
reer. He enlisted in the French army
at the time of the Franco Prussian war,
where he was wounded and made pris.
oner at Orleans. His first experiences
as war correspondent were in Spain, ,
where, as the representative of an Irish
paper, lie followed the operations of the
Carlist war from beginning to end. He
was taken prisoner on both sides, and
narrowly escaped being put to death as
spy. lie was in San Sebastian during
the bombardment of the town and wrote
home graphic letters describing the
whole campaigc. The manager of the
Daily Ns9s, with keen eye for rising
young men, read his correspondence and
recognized his talent. He engaged Mr..
ODonovan to go to Herzegovina and
afterward to the scene of the Russo
Turkish war. When the campaign was
over he received cablegram from the
Daily Nens ordering him to explore
Central Asia. Learning of the Russian
expedition against the Turcomans, he
arranged to accompany it across the Cas-
bian Sea. When General Tergoukasoff
succeeded Lazarotf Mr.. O'DOnovan was
ordered to quit the Russian lines, which
he did.
Merv, the sacred city of the rurco.
mans, had higherto been impenetrable,
though enterprising explorers had at
tempted many times to enter its gates.
From Teheran Mr.. O'Donovan made his
way, sometimes with his own followers
alone. sometimes in company with
pilgrim caravan, to the Akhal Tekke
country. Having established friendly
relations with the Akhai Tekke leaders,
he proceeded into the Attok as far as
the Markow mountain, overhanging the
beleaguered fortress of Geek Tepe.
Thence he watched the Russian opera
lions with his field glass, and actually
saw the fall of the Tekke stronghold.
Clearly it was all over with the Akhal
tribe, and the only thing left to do was
to 60 on across the desert to Merv.
With Cossacks behind him and Turco-
mans before him, he managed to get rid
of his Persian escort, and rode straight
over the face of the desolate, waterless
country towards the famous oasis. MIR.
O'Donovan reached the Merv district.
but was treated forthwith by the Mervli
authorities as sort of dubious prisoner.
Reassurances from the British consular
agent at Meshed secured Mr.. O'Donovan
a somewhat larger range of liberty, and
he was now enabled to look around and
make notes on the circumstances of the
oasis. He visited the ruins of old Merv,
the Queen of the World, now utterly
waste, for Merv is at the present day
mail ly geographical name for the coun-
try as whole, its present centre being
at the rude town of Kushid Kan Kala.
He also inspected the water supply of
the oasis and collected much valuable
information on the clan system and
other peculiarities of the Mervli govern
ment.
At the same time revolution was
brewing at Merv, and Mr.. O'Donovan
turned the occasion to his own best ad-
vantage. The head of the government
for the time being was quietly deposed
and triumvirate, consisting of Mr.. o.
Donovan and two native chiefs, was
placed at the helm of affairs. As trium-
vir special fortified residence was con-
structed for him within a wall seventy
yards square. Into this residence he was
solemnly indicted amid a salute of
twenty-one guns. The crimson silk flag
was then hoisted and power of life and
death was granted to him. For six
months he helped to govern the country.
His administrative cares were real
enough to cause him much annoyance
his subjects inspected every action of his
life all day long, and his fame as a ply
sician kept his tent filled with all the
halt and manned of Central Asia. More
over, his hosts began to suggest the pro-
priety of his accepting the faith of
Islam, together with the four wives per-
mitted by the Koran to true believer.
| Mr.. O'Donovans estimate of the per-
sonal attractions of Turcoman ladies did
not lead him to embrace this proposition
with that gallantry which his advisers
evidently expected of him. Most serious
of all were the persistent attempts of
the Merv people to obtain guarantee of
English assistance by proffering their
allegiance by the British crown. At last,
however, after nearly six months resi-
dence at Merv, in daily danger of his
life, Mr.. O'Donovan managed to per-
suade his loving subjects that he could
be of more use to them in London than
in Central ASA, and succeeded in re-
tracing his steps to Meshed and Teheran.
On his way home he was arrested at
Constantinople for using disrespectful
language to the Sultan and the Turkish
nation, and was sentenced on Christmas
Day to six months imprisonment. This
sentence was committed to perpetual
Punishment from Ottoman's dominions.
Mr.. O'Donovan recently wrote priv
ate letter, in which he said he had sad
misgivings as to the result of the Seudan
expedition.
A ROMANCE OF MARYLAND.
in England and Finds Husband
| in Maryland.
|