New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
CHINESE GORDON AS HE Is.
BY HIS Ex-CHIEF OF STAFF.

| In 1874 was and had been since four years, an
officer of the general staff Of the Egyptian Army;
staff it must be confessed, moro ideal than real,
for the hatred of the fanatic fellah as we'll as the
opposition Of both prince and pacha. practically
debarred the American officers from association with
the army and relegated us TO the dusty divans of
the citadel which served as a war department.
Cairo at this time was the gayest capital in the
world, veritable Paris of the East, joined to
city unique and splendid in its varied antique and
Arab architecture. boasting the proud title of
I'll Kahirah, the Victorious. From the gayety and
| dissipation which mado the Court Of ISmail the
Mecca of all Europe was to be eliminated, and
| in a manner wholly unexpected. Colonel Gordon
had como to succeed to Sir Samuel Baker as Gov
ernor-Gcneral of the Provinces Of the Equator. i
chosen rs his chief of staff. 1t may bo inter-
esting to relate in what manner l was chosen and
| to add notes which may shed light upon Chinese
Gordon as he u.s. and not as certain hero-worship-
| pers have portrayed him.
1t was the night of the Goth of February, 1874
| in Cairo, while seated at a festive board amid
sounds of revelry, l suddenly felt the touch of a
hand, and turning behsld an orderly who said,
holding toward me a letter:
'F gorabat atlashanak min Effendinah Ye Saah-
TAX" {" l had letter for you from the Efendinah,
| your Excellency.w
1t was as follows:
My DEAR CHAILLE LONG: Will you go with me
TO Central Africaf Come and see = me oSt at once
| Very truly Z. G GORDON.
Egypt is indeed the land where the unexpected
always happens. 1t Is the land of Kismet. Hastily
| quitting my friends followed the orderly to
| Colonel Gordon's door near by, where man below
! the medium stature advanced to meet me with
| quick bounding step and with extended hands,
cXcaiming in the soft and easy manner peculiar to
| him, How are you old fellow ! Come take
| glass of brandy and soda peg will help US talk
| about Central Africa. The Khedive spoke to me
| about you to-day. You spe TX Arabic and French.
make you Chief of Staff. You shall command the
Soudanieh army. / don't want the bother of
soldiers. This must be your work. You shall have
the rank of Pacha. The Khedivs has given me a
frnan as Governor-General of the Provinces of the
| Equator for three years, Will you got"
Gordon aud discussed the Central African prob
lem over many glasses of "b and 81 until the gray
streaks of morning warned that Imust quit MIN to
employ as best ght the delay of twenty -four hours
accorded me for preparation for a prospective abb
sence of three years Central Africa. On the fol-
lowing morning special train conveyed Gordonmy-
self and Lieutenant Hassan an Arab aide to Suez. In
| advance of all Impedmcnta, without baggage ana
sufficient outfit Gordon rushed Inadly OIL as if the
fate of Africa itself depended upon his arrival. At
| Suez we took the Egyptian vessel of war Latif"
for Suakim. On shipboard began the pleasant rela-
| tions which have always besn maintained between
Gordon and myself. l had occasion to remark,
however for the first time the eccentrlcltles when
| render him hopeless enigma even to his most
| intimate friends. but which in turn have contrib
uted to make him famous and fasten upon him the
character of hero he affects SO much to desplse.
In desultory conversation which took place on
the deck If tho "Latif" few hours after depart
nre he surprised by telling me that the E0glish
Minister at Cairo, General Stanton, had opposed
nv nomination. and urged the inpolicy o.
having any but English officers attached to
him. He said to me: II like Americans.
| served with Ward and Burgsvino in China, and
Was determined not to give up to Stanton. You
| must look out for Stanton"
Pointing in the direction of Massowah he said:
Have you ever seen General hlrkhaln VINO Is In
| the service of King John"
YES" replied he was in Cairo dressed IN a
fantastic costume route to London rs Minister
Extraordinary to the Court. bearing q proposal OF
marriage from Johannes, who signed himself the
Elect of God King of Sion, King If Kings Of Ethi-
opa, to Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of the Eng
lish. Il appears that Stanton got wni of the mat
ter and gave Kirkham the alternative of returning
&c Abyssinia or remaining In Cairo"
Gordon said: 81 first met Kirkham on a z. & 0.
steamer on my way to China. Kirkham was a do
nestle on board, and was accused sf taking piece
of money which belonged to some one else. paid
the money aud took the poor fellow into my SER
vice. He went with ne to China rendered good
service aud was q brave gallant fellow. sent
him to Johannes with a letter of recommendation.
and nov he is q General and an Ambassador 70 tne
Queen. Dear me"
Whilst conyersing Gordon suddenly quilted the
divan and disappeared below. He reappcared
in q few minutes and to nv surprise.
placed at my feet my slippers, saving,
Now, Loug do take off those heavy military
boots You do look uncomfortable"
had great difficulty lnpreventlng him from pull
i,o them off for me- On board the ship there were
OBS mon going to reinforce the garrison at Suakm
under command of an Arab Adjutant-Majsr ms
officer anod Gordon with tho most marvellous
stories # his experience AMI varied service III
the Soulan with Sir Samuel Baker. He asked Cor
don to take him with him to tho Soudan and 1t was
understood that he was to 60. Upon investigation,
however, at Suakm 1t transpired that he had never
been in the Soudan at all. had never seen Sir
samu.l Blker. and the Governor Eliadine Bey-
s,uce become Eiiadine Pacha. who was with Hicks
pacha-s said to him. ''Ene Kaadat, ye iba et heb."
l1bou art liar o son Of dog slapped his face
and kicked him out of tho divan.
Gordon said: Long did you overf MY what
liars these peoople are; ; VINO would have believed
u,"
On the 2sth of February We took the desert for
Berbsr, 2ss miles distant. Gordon's impatlencs
and haste soon broke down our escort OF iifteen
soldiers At Bir Haritree halt was made, Nazzer
and Osman Gordon's servants, were long way IN
the rear and there no one to make coffee. "'r-
don was in great rage, and to my horror discoV-
ered when they came up that both OF them were
very drunk and in endeavorng to dismount teii
xL.,r
rage fell upon them and belabored them
souudly with . stout stuck They suddenly
fouud their legs and pursued by Gordon, striking
atan finally got AWAY