The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-04
THE AFGHAN THRONE.
A Russian Agent Finds the Key to the So.
lution of a Complicated Question.

"A Russian agent ElndS the hey to the So
luton of Complicated Question.
Galveston (Tex.) Special.
A consular agent of the Russian government
made discovery in this city. recently. which
may lead to a settlement of the Afghan question
IN manner by no means advantageous to En-
glish interests in central Asia. In 1888 England
declared war against Afghanistan, and sent an
reigning Prince, Dost Mohammed who had un-
fortunately incurred the displeasure of the En-
glish by waging war against Runjet Sing, who
was their ally. Candahar, Ghuzeni and Kaboo
surrendered to the English. Dost Mohammed
was deposed, and Shah Shuhjah whom the En-
glish claimed to be the lawful heir to the throne
was installed King, and the dethroned Prince
was sent to India. The conquest of the country
seemed accomplished and Shah Shuhiah was
recognized by the natives as worthy of the
crown. ne being, as they believed. true Dorrani.
Dost Mohammed was of the Ghelzas, an infe
rior tribe to the Dorranis In November
1841, an insurrection, said to have been inspired
by Dost Mohammed through his emissaries,
broke out in Kabool, and the English garrison
of the city was forced to capitulate Jan. l. 1872
The terms of capitulation were that the English
should leave the country and the fifth day after
the surrender they marched out of Kabool en-
route to India having received a promise from
the Afghan chiefs of safe conduct. During the
march the English became dsorganized mob
and while in that condition were set upon by the
mountain tribes and destroyed, but one man of
the 16, 500 English and their allies who left
Kabool under that safe conduct, reaching the
frontier to tell of the massacre. Shah Shuiah
was assasirated some time before the insurrec-
ton. and his son, Fetch Jung, succeeded him.
but, despairing of being able to hold
his position. fled to India in disguise.
where he died in extreme poverty in
1855 leaving son of tender years, who is now
to be brought forward heir apparent to the
throne of Afghanistan. The lad, being without
money or friends, adopted the lite of tramp
and in his wanderngs reached the city of Cal
cutta, where he shipped on board an English
East Indiaman bound for Liverpool. He was
then traced back to India, and again left that
country in 1861 for New York. where he arrived
just as the civil war broke out. He at once
enlisted in New York regiment composed of
Turks, Greeks, Italians, and waits from all
lands He was captured at the battle of Seven
Pines and confined in Libby prison until the
close of the war. After his release he resumed
the life of sailor, visiting all quarters of the
central Africa when he went to the
relief of Livingstone. He went thence
to Zanzibar, and entered the military
service of the Sultan in that country. remaining
until 1875, when he was compelled to fly to
escape being bowstringed fer expressing views
summary departure from Zanzibar all traces of
the of Fettah Jung were lost and for a
time 1T was thought he had persisted of African
fever or been drowned at sea. Search was, how
still survived Russian agents searched every part
of the Union, arriving in this city en- route to
Mexico One explored 1t thoroughly for the
rightful heir to the throne of Afghanistan, and
| when about to embark for Vera Cruz
discovered man of Oriental appear
ance employed at fruit stand who
| answered the description. The agent
engaged the man in conversation. and found
| that he had the accent of the natives of Turk
estan. The agent invited the man to call upon
him at his hotel where he quickly satisfied him
self that he had found the true heir to the throne
| of Afghanistan. The agent at cabled the
| facts to the Russian government and asked for
| instructions, which he received last Saturday.
| Sunday he left for st. Petersburg via New York,
| and it is expected this heir to the throne of
| Afghanistan will soon be with Alikanof at
| Penjdeh, awaiting the command of the Gear for
| the Russian columns to move upon Herat and
place him in the rightful possession of the throne
| from which his father driven forty-three
| years ago These facts were obtained from a
| detective from Scotland Yard London, who has
| Swallowed the Russian agent and followed him
| to this CITY,