The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1888-08-18
TEE DARK. CONTINENT T.

! TIE DARK CONTINENT.
An exchange truthfully remarks that
Rider Haggard's ALLAN Quartermain, /"
''she, T" and others, having their scenes
laid in Africa, are 50 varied and im-
probable, that they give no true con-
ception Of life in the Dark Continent.
1t is true they are romances of the
widest description, but for years past
| events have been transporting in that
! dark land which would afford material
! to the novelist for countless thrilling
romances. Stanley has been lost to the
world for nearly year, and his fate is
mere matter OF conjecture. He went
to the rescue Of Emin Bey, the deadly
enemy of the slave trade. and whose
character and ability were recognized
by Gordon, who made him Governor Of
the Soudan. Stanley and Elnin are
both cut off from communication with
the outside world, and civilization
! waits with bated breath for further
news concerning them. The rebellion
of Arab Bey and the jeopardizing Of
British interests in Egypt, turned all
eyes to that land. The bombardment
of Alexandria commenced this hostili
ties. The battle Of Tel-el-Keber, the
defeat of the Arabs and the capture OF
their leader closed that chapter. Soon
came reports of another character al
most as mysterious as ''She." He Was
called the Mahdi, and had proclaimed
holy war, and gathering q large force
of devoted followers together com
menced a descent upon Egypt. The
Egyptian troops proved such arrsnt
towards that they melted like snow be
fore ths fierce followers of the 80 called
successor to Nohammed. Gordon the
suppressor Of the slave trade and the
fermer successful governor OF the Sou
dan, was sent out by the English. gov
eminent. He made Kh&rtoum: his
headquarters and for months SUCCESS
fully beat baek the fanatical hOpdes
which surrounded the ancient town.
His danger became so imminent that
another expedition under command. of
Wolseley was sent out. In the march
towards Kharto,ua there was desperate
fighting, and England lost many CT her
best generals. Ut was in one of these
fierce encounters that Colonel Fred
Burnaby lost his Life. A small force
under Lord Charles Beresford, after
great difficulty and danger of anuihila-
tion, eventually got to Khartoum only
to find that it had fallen to the forces
of the Mahdi three days before and
Gordon and his forces either slain or
prisoners. The expedition, or rather
the remnant OF it,, returned to England,
leaving the Mahdi the master OF the
Soudan. This caused Enaln Bey to fall
back to the equation. News Of his dan
ger came from tirae to tinGe, and 1t was.
arranged chiefly by the Belgian gov
eminent, that Stanley should attempt
his relief. Both are for the present at
least lost to the world, and great fears
are entertained that disaster has hap
pened tc.the Stanley expedition. The
last mystery ia, the reports OF the
"White Pasha,'' who appears 80 be
journeying towards Khartoum. "a he
Stanley, Emin Dey, and SEINE even dare
ask is Es- Gordon The best anthori-
ties canno5 guess, bat perhaps the most
prevailing idea is that he is Emirs Bey,
although it would not surprise usin the
least to,learn any day that Gordon was
still alive. The circumstances sur
rounding his alleged death were never
anything more than the lnsub3tan tia
ted reports OLA couple of fugitives from
the beleagusred caty Of Khartoum-
Theirs is one chance which gives ray
of hope that an expedition even with
limited numbers can get through. The
Mahdi of Gordon's time is dead, and
his successor appears to be- a man Of
less force of character and does not
WELD the same power ovez his people.
Add to this, the Arabs are tired Of
lighting. They have grown poor at it,
and their burdens of taxation are grey
Gus to bear. This may be reaction
against the system Of Mahdism, and if
so the time may not he far off when
civilization can again enter into North.
ern Africa, Notwithstanding England's
desire to keep the country in a state OF
turmoil. Added to this is the fact that
the Arabs are in a condition Of semi
starvation.