Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-03-18

III Mahdi commands experienced European
aid in his insurrection against the Egyptian
Government, in the person of "a versatile and
adventurous spirit whose fayorite element Is
the atmosphere of revolution and bloody strife.
This interesting alventurer is known as OIL
vier Pain. He Is of mixed French and Spanish
blood, and was born in Paris about forty three
years ago, After receiving a thorough education
at one of the high schools of the French capital,
while stu a yonth he employed his considerable
abilities with the lea against the Government
OF Napoleon III. He married In 1868, or the
year after. His children are believed to be still
living. Whether or not his wife lives is not
known.
The terrible reverses of the French army in
Is7e. aud the collapse OF the empire in conse-
quence, was succaededin Paris by a Government
which succnmbed TO the This
brought Pain, who hal been an agitator for
wears. into great prominence. rs a leader.
When. in the spring of 1871, the forces of
Marshal MacMahon forced their way into
the rcbellious capital, Pain fought in the
ranks of the Commune. Previously to the
short-lved supremacy of the Communists he
had taken par In the war against Prussia, as a
journalist and soldier.
He survived the horrors which accompanied
the suppression of the revolution he had as
sisted to bring about, but was taken prisoner
and sentenced with Rochetort, Louise Michel,
and other no orious persons, TO the penal colony
at New Caledonia. This was in 1873. He es-
cape / to Aust, ALA in the early part of 1875, with
Rochefort aad four others. The ~fugitives then
made heir way TO this continent, landing in
San Francisco. He and Rochefort crossed the
= Nv Ef@CNiitt. aiAu III Ia NlIihE ol
1873 $ he'd from New York TO England, While
residing in London Immediately subsequent to
this time, the friends engaged In journalism tor
a period They then made their way to Gene
va. y here LfntFaHsjgedHt was edited for circ1-
lation in Paris.
When next heard of NJ. Pain was acting as
Osman Iashas p ivate secretary at the siege
OF Plevna, in the war of iSif-IS. between Tur-
KEY and Russia, and which proved so disastrous
to the Mohammedan power, He wrote the an
swer returned to the Russian commander by
Osman Pasha, when the sui render OF fievna
was demanted by the besieging force. His intiu-
euce over the illustrious Turkish officer who de-
tended the city WAS as remarkable rs that he now
Yields In the tent of the Mahdi, 1t began when
he was acting as a newspaper correspondent
there, and. resulted in his beng permitted to re-
main with the Turkish army after all other for
eign Journalists had been excluded from it, and
then in his acceptance of a private secretary
ship, as before stated.
When Plevna fell, after a vain attempt at es-
cape, Fain was offered by the Russians to the
French Embassy. He was recognized as an ex-
convict, aud the French Government ccnse-
Guentiy refused him its protection. His eN-
perience1 as a pris oner of war IN Russia seem Il
to have stimulated rather than to have uencEed
his ardent love of adventure. Nhrn liberated
he went TO Paris, from whence he embraced the
first opportunity of once more engaging in feats
of broh and battle. This was the insurrection
led by FL Mtndi. whom he determined to reach
il possible. After he had gained the borders o1
the desert. his escort abandoned him. Pushing
on alone he was nearly Killed by wandering
Arabs and thrown into prison at Emeh. After
three days he escaped ffom the Anglo-Egyptian
officials and once more set out to aycomp lisa bis
intention. With two BedouinS as companions
he crossed the desert in thirty days. was ar.
rested at the Mahdi's outpost and once more
underwent Imprisonment tor a few days. He
succeeded in sat styling the Mahdi as to his
friendliness, and was ther after treated with the
greatest considerable Whei her or not he viii
Escape the skill of British marksmen IN comma
engagements with the troops OF Egypt $ ally
and virtual master is a matter which probably
trouble him less than his friends.
NJ. Pain il a tall, 1.-the, and handsome soldier
His complexion Is dark. and his countenanct
expresses intellectual force and superior will
He is said to be able in counsel and gay anc
pleaSaut in dispoSitipn.