The Irish standard., 1888-07-28

1t would be absurd to assume that he
had abandoned his original mission ana
undertaken Oh his own responsibility
the subiugation of Khartoum. Enaln
Pasha. too has been spoken of IN this
connection, but equally strong ob]ec-
tions apply to this assumption NO
reason can be assigned to justify MN
in adopting such measures.
There is, if still. alive, however, as
many of his friends believe, one other
man who may be the leading spirit OF
this new move upon Khartoum; man
who, for the past four years, has been
dead to the European world in which,
in his time, he played a not unlmpor'
tant part; man who once before was
tor over three years believed to be dead,
when he suddenly created intense i'll
terest in scientific and geographical cir
cles by his description OF the govern
ment, customs and political significance
of Merv, the capital of the famed Tur-
conan Oasis.
Edmund O'Donovan, the son OF the
celebrated Irish scholar and antiquarian
who translated the ''Annals OF the
Four Masters" and was Professor OF
the Celtic language and literature III
the University of Dublin, was entered
student at Trinity College at an early
age and rapidly became a noted man
among the many gifted students Of that
famous seat of learning. His career
since leaving college has been singu-
Larry varied and eyentful one. He
served in the Foreign Legion i'll the
French Army during the Franco Ger
man war of 1S7O-7l; was taken prisoner
at the first battle of Orleans, after dis
playing extraordinary bravery, and was
only released OF the termination OF the
war. During the Carlist wax Of '78 in
Spain ne was correspondent Of the
Dublin Freelnan's Journal, and during
the recent Russo-Turkish war he rep
resented in che field the London Daily
News and accompanied Muktar Pasha,
the famous Turkish General, during
the entire campaign. His letters in the
Daily News descriptive Of the events of
the war were eagerly read and sought
for. He Was next appointed by the
Daily News TO accompany the Russian
Army on the eastward march in the
direction OF the British possessions in
India. This did not fall in with the
views of the Russian General, Lazzaref,
and on three different occasions O'Don-
ovan was expelled from the Russian
headquarters, the last time being
clothed only in his night-shirt. On
this occasion he coolly informed Gen.
Lazzaren that if he could not accom-
pany him to Merry he would get there
before him. And he kept his promise.
O'Donovan succeeded in securing the
services of two guides, and all three
turned their horses heads towards the
dreaded Turcoman steppes. After thirty
days Of hard riding, many times sleep.
ing in the saddle and making frequent
detours to avoid the Cossacks of the
Russian Army on the one hand and the
hordes of nomads on the other, he came
in sight of the Turcoman huts which
surround the city of Merry. He was the
first European who ever entered, to
leave alive, the jealous seat of Turcoman
power. ut may be stated that his
guides deserted him On the first sight Of
the city,
The story Of his stay in that city
would seem marvellous in fairy tale
and untruthful in ''Munchausen, but
that truth which is stranger than fic-
ton was well exemplified in him. From
being a prisoner at first he became the
ruler Of the city, having been created
Chief of the Triumvirate. After three
years stay he only succeeded in making
his way again to civilization by repre-
senting to his colleagues on the Council
that he desired to leave for the purpose
Of invoking the aid Of England to stay
the rapidly advancing Russian Army.
Marking his way to England. he was
received as one risen from the dead.
He soon after published book descrip.
tive of his travels and experiences, for
which the Daily News gave him SIS, 1000.
He was lionized by all the scientific So
cieties in London and lectured before
the Royal Geographical Society.
In 1888 he was despatched again by
the Daily News as its war correspond
ent. This time to the Soudan, with
distinct instructions to remain with the
Egyptian Army only until he could get
an opportunity of joining Ell Mahdi,
He accompanied Hicks Pasha's army TO
Kashgate, where on Nov. S, 1888. it was
annihilated. Hicks Pasha and all If
his officers were killed, and it was then
reported that O'Donovan was killed be-.
side Gen. Hicks, but his body was never
recovered although those Of Hicks
Pasha and all his officers were. Since
then many Of O'Donovan's friends re
main under the belief that O'Donoyan