The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-23
EMIN PASHA.
A MAN WHO HAS ATTRACTED
WORLDWIDE ATTENTION.
The Remarkable Career or an
Austrian Who Devoted His Life
to African Civilization
Stanley Sent to His Relief

Referring to the report that Emin
Pasha, the courageous Governor OF
Egypt's equatorial provinces, was cap
tive in the hands of Khalifa Abdullah,
the Soudanese insurgent leader, better
known as the Mahdl, Harper's Weekly
says:
Emin Pasha is in many ways a most
remarkable and interesting man, and
even apart from the exciting circum-
stances which have lately concentrated
attention upon him, he would deserve
to be mentioned among the forem ost of
those who have devoted their lives to
African civilization. According to the
accounts given in German geographical
publications, his name Is Edward
Schnitzer, and he was born at Oppeln,
in Silesia, March %, lao. Two years
later his parents removed to Neisse,
where his father died in l943, and his
mother remarked. At the Catholic
school in that town he was taught from
his tenth to his eighteenth year, and
developed strong love for natural his
tory in many of its forms. Thence he
went to the University of Breslau, where
his scientific apt tudes and love of max
ing collections of birds, insects, and so
on, were fostered. lie chose medicine
! as his profession, and from Breslau went
to Berlin. Eager for new scenes and ex-
periences, he established himself in le64
as Turkish government doctor in AL
bania, and six years later was medical
officer IN an expedition to Syria and
Arabia. Other peditions carried him
to various parts of the Ottoman Empire.
When, accordingly, Gordon was in
trusted by the Khedlve with the charge
of Egypt's provinces in the upper Nile
region, it was not strange to find DR..
Emin assigned as member of his staff ;
and when Gordon was called away to
Khartoum, Emin Bey, as his rank was at
that time, had already shown himself so
capable as an administrator that Gordon
placed in his charge, with entire con-
tdence, the province lying near the
equator. ,
OF the progress of events in Central
Africa during the last six years we need
not speak in detail It is sufficient to
say that when Mohammed Ahmed, the
so.called Mahdi, under whom the sue
cessful Soudan insurrection was carried
out, began to extend his sway down the
Nile, he also pressed Em;n Fey in the
equatorial province. The defeat of Hicks
Pasha and the massacre of his command,
Gordon's return up the Nile to Khar.
toum, and Lord Wolseley's campaign in
the Soudan to rescue Gordon, with the
British operations around Suakin, for q
long time diverted general attention
! from Emin. Indeed he was for about
three years shut of from communication
with the outer world. Atlength Rus
sian traveller. DR.. William Junker, brought
through to Zanzibar the news that Emin
had been gradually forced up the Nile,
yielding station after station, and was
established at Wadelai, not far from
Lake Albert Nyauza, where he was
threatened by hostile natives on the
south and by the Madhi's forces on the
north. This news came in the latter
part OF the year 1885, and as soon as
practicable relief expedition was
organized under Henry NJ. Stanley.
Much difference of opinion was ex-
pressed as to the route to be taken,
many persons urging that the start
should be made from Zanzibar. Stan
ley, however, was strongly in favor OF
the Congo route, and that was the one
adopted. Early in June, 1887, Stanley
started up the Aruwimi, an important
branch of the Congo. A reserve camp
at Tambuga was established, and then
with a picked force he plunged into the
wilderness to make his way to Wadelai
and the relief of Emin. From the mid
summer of 1887 to the close of 1888
nothing authentic has been heard from
him, although there has been many dis
ouieting rumors. His reserve force,
under Major Barttelot, followed on his
trail during the past year, but before
much progress had been made Barttelot
was killed by one of the natives in his
command. and the expedition was scat
tered: and soon afterward Jameson. the
second in command, returning to the
Congo for aid, died of fever.
Meanwhile Emin had been repeatedly
heard from. One letter gave the well
come news that the King of Uganda. at
the south, was less hostile to him than
had been feared; other letters showed
that Khalifa Abdullah, the new Mahdi,
was not pressing him, so that he was no
longer between two fires. Still another
letter indicated that King Mwanga had
allowed the Arab Mahomet Biri to carry
goods and provisions to Emin. Ono
letter showed that the negroes, by care.
lessness. had burned the town OF
Wadelai. but Emin was undaunted in
spirit and rebuilt it. Indeed, when he
learned that Stanley was about to sue
cor him. he expressed the greatest de-
termination not to quit his post. Pres.
emily it was learned that he was about
to be absent. from his station to explore
the Kakibbi River.
1t is said that the Mahdi has conquered
all the equatorial province; and there is
no reason why, if Emin was captured al
Lado, the Mahdi's forces should not
march up the Nile and take Wadelai-
unless, indeed. Stanley was left behind
by Emin to hold it. But even if the
success of Arab fanaticism is complete
the Soudanese negroes will not wholly