New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-04
THREE ADVENTURES.
oLusEREr, osMAN pIGNA AND o'DANNE.

NEXT rising takes placelp Such is the opening
paragraph Of the code of instructions issued to
the Revolutionary and Communist associations OF
France, in the form of o widely circulated PAM
phlet by the extraordinary man whom the electors
Of the Department of the Var have Just returned
by an overwhelming majority to represent their
interests IN the Chamber Of Deputies. lhe re-
mainder of this precious document. which accord
inr 10 the assertion of its author General Cuseret,
is based on personal experience OF practical
natare," is devoted to dissertation on the most
expeditious and effective manner of wreaking
Wholesale destruction of life and property by
means of fire. dynamite, bombs aud other explo-
sive contriyances Nor is it possible TO regard
tho contents OF the pamphlet in question Us the
moro vaporings of an ovcrheatcd brain and badly
balanced mind For Ciuseret is ordinary
persopage Frenchman by birth, he fought
under the orders OF Marshal PehSSier in the
Crimean war, and displayed such conspicuous
galIantry at the siege OF Sebastopol that he was
not only promoted TO the rank OF captain, but
rewarded with the Cross of the Legion OF Honor
with tho Turkish order of the Medjidieh, and
with tho British war medal in 1857 no resigned
his commission in the Imperial army, and three
years later joined the insurrcctionary force OF
Garibaldi, at whose side no rode into Naples after
tho overthrow OF the Bourbon regime. His most
trusted friend and crOny at that time was
Signor Crispi the present Prime Minister OF italy
few years later he was III the United States
holding the brcvet rank of Maior-General in the
Union Army on the stan OF General Mcclellan
and on terms of great intimacy with the Orleans
Princes then in camp the Comte dc Paris and
the Duo de Charities. After taking part in the
1aribaidiau campaign OF 1867, in the Fenian
rising in Ireland, and in the Cretan Instruction
10 ix,od in, DnriS fcNv dat FER hat
OF Sedan and placed his sword at the disposal
OF General Trochu. asking for command. Both
his offer and his request were disccurteouSly
ignored by the narrow-mnded Governor Of the
beleaguered city, and deeply offended, Cluseret
vowed TO take early revenge for the slight TO
which he had been subjected. The opportunity
desired soon presented itself, aud few months
later as generahssimo Of the insurgent forces
and Minister of War 10 the Commune he caused
General Trochu 20 regret bitterly the short
sighted refusal OF his proiIered sword. IL is
needless to add that Cluseret is one of the men
primarily responsible for the destruction OF the
Tuileries and other public buildings durlng the
reign OF tho Commune, and have before me an
order bearing his signature and dated April H.
1871, which reads as follows; Take all the
necessary steps to destroy the Vendome Column
without delay. As soon as everything is ready
N-N~-
that the members Of the Commune and the Le-
rions may be able to attend the ceremony"
When the Versailles troops at length recovered
possession OF the capital Cluseret made his escape
10 Switzerland and took up his residence on the
shores of the Lake OF Geneva in a villa known
a. tho Chateau Trompette. While there he was
frequently visited by well-known American
picture dealer, from whom he received large sans
for alleged masterpieces. which according TO his
own account hc had " removed from Government
picture galleries in the Luxembourg and the
Louvre. There is every reason, however, 10
suppose that the works of art in question were
duo TO Cluserets own clever brush, and that he
was merely taking advantage OF the credulity
OF the dealer For in the first place, the pictures
which he claims to have stolen still figure on the
walls OF the Luxen bourg and the Louvre; and
secondly, tho General is renowned as being an
nrfiyt Of great talent. One of his paintings in
uarioulas. an Oriental landscape. attracted great
ettention at the last Salon. It would be interest
inc 10 discover the fate of these pscudo-master-
,ieces and the prices for which they were sold
10 their present possesSors BIZ Clusercts American
dealer. The story, however, may in certain
measure serve 70 explain the peculiar fact that
certain famous pictures figure simultaneously on
tho walls of the French state galleries and among
collections in tho United States
Osrnan Dgna. the rebel leader who during the
last four years has kept the English troops at
hay around Suskim causing an immense expend-
iture OF British blood and treasure, is renegade
Frenchman native of Rouen- The authenticity
of this strange story is vouched for by the famous
African traveller Dr. Schweiniurth, by DR.. Felllin,
and by several other equally renowned authon-
ties on questions relating to the Soudan Osman
Digna was born on the banks Of the Seine in $50,
and was christened at the cathedral at Rouen,
under the name of George. When about eleven
wears old his father, certain Joseph Nisbet,
failed In business and betook himself with his
wife and child to Egypt, where he died short
time afterward lis widow, who found herself
almost penniless, contracted few months later
a marriage with a well-known Mahometan mer-
chant. Of Alexandria, osman Digna by name.
Having no children of his own, he became ex-
ceedingly fond of young George Nisbot, insisted
ON his becoming converted to the Mahometan
faith. and entered him under the name OF Osman
Diena Junior, at the military school at Cairo,
whore the lad received careful training at the
hands of the distinguished French, German and
British officers attached 10 the college as professors
In 1880 the whole family took up their residence
at Sualdm, where old Osman Digna soon became
known as the leading merchant and principal
slave dealer OF the whole Red sea coast On his
death, five years afterward, his stepson, George
Nisbet, inherited his fortune and his business,
and under the name of Osman Digna soon acquired
even greater wealth, power and influence When
the instruction broke out at Cairo in 1882, he
warmly espoused the cause of Arab pacha, the
rebel leader, who was an old clasSmate and friend
Of his 1t was on this occasion thai he was
elected chief by the Sheils of the Eastern Soudan
So great was his power that both the Madhi and
his successor were forced to treat the French
Arab with extreme consideration and to defer to
his wishes.
Osman Digna Is of hereulean stature, with eyes
of piercing biaclness, shaggy eyebrows aud an