Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-13

CORRESPONDENT DURING THE ABYssINIAN CAM
| PAIGN.
New York Correspondence Philadelphia Press.
'Of course have left my card upon STAN
ley," said Mr.. Stephen Fiske, pushing the
cigars across the table in one Of the gorgeously
decorated reception rooms at the Manhattan
! Club, ''but did not wait to see him. He be-
longs to the public now, and there will be
chance enough to talk over old times with old
comrades when he has become accustomed to
his work as lecturer. He will find quite a
small crowd Of US here, headed by Finley An
derson and Joseph Hatton, and there will be
no welcome more hearty. for nobody can know
Stanley without respecting his virility and
liking his sincerity. If, instead of his charges
against the rear guard at Yambula, he had ac-
cused Iarttelot and Jameson of roasting and
eating each other, should have believed him.
| when l first knew Stanley was on the
Herald staff, stationed ut the old Queens Hotel,
| London. and Stanley was sent out from New
York to report the British invasion of Abys-
sinia. He then looked, dressed and talked like
Welsh workingman. His speech had a de-
ciueu DuTT. HIS manner was rough and sus-
picious. He seemed to me like a man who had
seen hard times and fought through them and
| trusted nobody. He talked little and appeared
70 be more Interested in an Arab horse which he
was commissioned to purchase for Mr.. Bennett.
| than in his correspondence He and Col
Anderson would discuss how they we're to get
| the horse safely to London. while was WON
derinS how he would get his letters through.
HIS Outht for the campaign plain and
| simple as his manner. Evidently he knew
nothing about campaigning with the British
ARM, and expected to rough it in Abyssinia as
he had on the confederate side during the civil
| war.
sTANLEY's EARLY sNUBs.
'At last he started for the front. almost as
sullen and reticent as ever and the first letters
received from him were full of grumbles about
the GOODNESS with which he was treated by the
British officers. and the difficulties thrown in his
way by the officials. BY the same mail came
letters from friends OF mine in the army, askDlg
what sort of n fellow-the word was rather
! stronger-the Herald had sent as its representa-
tive 1 did not wonder at these complaints.
Stanley was never companionable. At that
time, and until long after. politeness and he
were total strangers. He was so completely
engrossed in his work that he cared for moth
ing else, and he despised those amenities which
make up what the English call gentleman
The officers made his stay in camp as uncom-
Portable as possible. They could not under
stand this rough diamond, ard Stanley grew to
hate them for what he called their arrogant
pretensiOns.
These early experiences with British officers
throw some light upon the story of the rear
guard Maj. Barttelot underestimate Stan
ley, and Stanley cordially disliked the major
do no: mean that they were jealous of each
other The feeling was deeper than that
Those OF our lighting volunteers who were
brought In contact with subordinate officers of
the regular array during the war will compre-
hend the situation. Maj. Barttelot wanted to
have good time. win promotion and make a
name for himself as African explorer
Stanley, his reputation already made. wanted
to find Emin and get back to England. The
two men could not work together. Their diff
1erences were inevitable.
A JOURNALISTIC HIT.
But, to return to Abyssinia. When Stanley
sent the news of his first battle Col Anderson
took it to the foreign Office in London to verify
it and obtain further details The foreign Of
flee officials knew nothing of any battle. and
received Stanleys news with open incredulity.
Yes, they had heard such rumor3 before. Oh
dear, no: they put no faith in the information
1t would be impossible to get news in advance of
the government: dispatches. Col. Anderson was
SO annoyed at this reception that he brought
back the copy of Stanleys news which he had
intended to leave with the British officials. His
cablegram to the Herald was cabled back to the
London papers the next day. Then the foreign
ONCE sent for him; but they were still doubtful.
Three days later the official news arrived, con-
frming Stanley's report i'll every respect After
that he was never again doubted. and the
officials were constantly sending to the Queens
Hotel to ask whether there was any news from
Mr. Stanley. Although handicapped in every
possible way by the officers ut headquarters he
continued to beat all other correspondents and
the official dispatches until the close of the war
STANLEY returned to London with the Arab
horse for Mr.. Bennett, a feZ worn by King
theodore Tor me and a number Of presents for
Col. Anderson. He did not appear to think
that he had done anything very wonderful. and
talked Over his adventures in the same rough.
gruif style. was sent off to Naples to report
an eruption Of Mount Vesuvius and did not see
Stanley again until after he had discovered
Livingstone.
The news of this exploit preceded Stanlev's
arrival III London, but very few persons be-
heved II: The papers printed number of
communications from more or less eminent
scientists and philosophers. demonstrating
automatically that Livingstone had been dead
for several years: that. ii alive he was certainly
IN an entirely different part of Africa; and that
dead or alive. it was physically impossible that
such an inexperienced explorer as Stanley
could have discovered him The discussion
was very learned. one sided and conclusive
I'm the midst of it / wrote letter to the
London Times recIting the facts about Stanley
and the foreign office during the Abvssinia az
fair. and concluding that if he said he had dis
covered Livingstone l would believe him, al
though Livingstone himself denied the story.
Ss'inley read this letter on his way to London.
and his heart warmed tOwar, his old comrades
Before calling upon anybody else or writing
line OF the book for which he was under con-
tract he devoted a day and night to Col. Auder.
son and myself.
THE PEOPLE BELIEVED IN HIM.
'The English scientists and editors we're in
credUlous but the people were with Stanley.
found him on a Saturday afternoon in his
room near Portland place. He was in his shirt
sleeves, unpacking his luggage. A little negro
boy sat about and grinned Stanley welcomed
me like long-lost brother. His first words
were: ! have seen your letter in the Times
When asked whether he would go with me to
an early dinner at the Savage Club, he said
Il will so anywhere with you. tell you that
have read your letter i'll the Times
I'VE arrived at the Savage Club unannounced.
but Stanley was recognized he took his seat
and the room rang with cheers He looked at
me inquiringlv as if to ask. what must dol?
and then nodded his head and began his dinner
Andrew Halliday in the chair. and after the
cloth was cleared away proposed .Stanley's
health. In reply, instead of speaking about
himself or Livingstone, Stanley rested his hand
upon my shoulder and talked about me- Il
don't know anything about the Savage Club
he said; Il never heard of the Savage Club
You don't look very savage. Ny old friend,
Fiske, asked me to come somewhere with him
and l came right along. That's how l am
here. His manner was needlessly aggressive
and even offensive. His eyes were bloodshot
and he rolled them about angrily, AZ il the kind
words said by him were covert insults. He
supposed that all the Savage Club members
were English newspaper men, and he did not
like English newspapers any better than he did
English officers
A BURLESOE ADyrNTrpp