The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-09-26
Famous Correspondents AZ
ventures. s

The wear succeeding the declaration
of war between Francs and Germany
MacGahan spent in visiting various pop.
,,lar resorts in southern Russia, and
formed an extensive acquaintance with
prominent and influential attaches OF
the Government. During the summer
of 1879 he was employed in reporting
the conference on the Alabama claims
at Geneva, and in 1873 was directed by
the Herald to accompany the Russian
expedition to Khiya. Going to st.
Petersburg, he found that the .1ov-
eminent had decided not to permit any
newspaper correspondents t go win n
army, nd-therseveral correspondents
with the exceptio moi Mr.. Mactiahan re,
turned home. He alone was resolved
to report the war. Eugene Schuyler,
then secretary of legation at st. Peters-
burp. was about to start on q visit to
Bokhara, and MacGahan accompanied
him as far as Fort Perovsky. FOR
four weeks lie travelled over On almost
trackless desert, Within Thermometer
a part Of the time ranging from 80
deg. to G0deg. below zero. During the
first seventeen days he passed with a
poor guide for companion through the
country of the fierce Ghirghiss arrivln g
at Khala Alta There he expected to find
General Kaugman andthe Russian al
nv, but not only had the army passed
DAYS before, but the stern commander
of the fort prohibited the daring cor
respondent from proceeding farther I'M
til he could. write to the authorities of
st. Petersburg and get tAelrPermlsslon.
The Russian soldiers evidently knew
little or nothing about war correspond
ents, for, very much to his surprise, he
he found the next morning that Mac
Gahan had disappeared; and, though he
chased him for days with o squad of
soldiers, never succeeded catching up
with him. After passing through almost
Uncomfortable dangers, MncGahan, at
the end OF twenty eight days, arrived at
kautfman's camp, and was received by
that aamirer of personal pluck and bra
very with open arms and the declare
ton that he was % brave fellow"
When tho car heard of his exploit, he
sent him the decoration of st. Stanis-
laus, and ever afterward he was the &C.
cepted comrade of tho Russian officers
and soldiers.
Two or three days after MacG ahan met
the army if crossed the Oxus river and
began the assault upon Khiva. which
he Witnessed, and accompanied The vic
tors upon their entry into, the fallen
city. While prosecuting a private and
secret inspection of the lshan's palace,
he met with three adventures, his es-
cape from death through any n of
which was almost miraculous. While
feeling his way through the dungeon
dark passages, he noticed suddenly that
the ground under his feet was soggy as
though it was wet, and STOPPING down,
found that he was standingon the brink
of u curbless well, into which another
step or two would have carried him to
certain death. Alarmed Ivy his narrow
escape he determined to carry O lighted
match. Entering a room, he saw the
floor covered with what seemed to be
black earth. Curious to know what it
was, he picked up q handful, and was
Mortified to find it to be gunpowder,
the robu. being the palace magazine.
Proceeding still farther, his attention
was attracted by the sound Of human
voices, Knocking at q door it was
opened, and he found himself in the
kahn's harem. Notwithstanding he
knew it would be certain death to be
caught there, he remained, and by signs
and broken Russian, carried on a long
conversation with the queen of the ha-
rem, whom he described as a remark
ably intelligent woman. While at
khiva, MacGalian formed that friend
ship with General Skobeleff which was
likened unto that of David and john
athan, and ended only with the death
of the former.