New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-05-11
THE PRINCE OF KNAVES.
MOrSsA-EL-AKKAD Gagged AT LAST-AN
AMAZON QUEEN.

Rome, April 20
Among the most notable persorages who nave
rccently come 10 the Eternal City is the ho'ori-
ous Moussa-el-Akkad. who is as we'll known Oh
the boulevards at Paris and on the fInclo al
Rome as he is in the northeastern portion OF inc
African Continent Strikingly handsome rehneu
and highly educated he is as much at nome III o'o
sada of French grand dame. the boudoir o'
dcmi-monde, or the smoking room OF an en-
elusive metropolitan club, as he Is III Inc 'cho
of desert chief in the mud hut OF an Aoy sSii'iah
general, on in the imposing Sultan-el-tasSeih
mosque at Cairo. HIS knowledge OF ue "orio
may be gagged by the fact that Tor nl'eon years
hc has been accustomed to transmit all of his ILL.,
gotten wealth to England. and that the "hoie
of his large fortune is in the safe keeping OF mo
RaN, of ENGLAND. II is extremely doubtful, how
ever. whether he will ever be able 10 derive any
r,rsonaI benefit from the result of his foresight
in money matters for he arrived here heavily
chained ON board an Italian man-of-war, and now
lies in one of the terrible circular cells of the
great San Stcfano Prison, where he Is to spend
the remainder of his life IN solitary confinement.
There are many who freely wager that within
few years he will find some means or other to
recover his liberty. and they base their opinion
in the matter on the wonderful manner in which
he has always until now been able to wrigglc out
Of difficulties even of a more serious nature
than those in which he now finds himself
Born about fcrty-three years ago at
Alexandria, the son of a wealthy Egyptian land
owner and merchant. and nurturcd in all
The vice of that most wicked of Levantine cities, he
first attracted public attention in 1878, when he
was accused of having poisoned his rich uncle, with
the assistance of the latters wife, whom he subsc
quentlv married. and of having, after few months
of welded life, put his fair confederate TO death
also. The evidence against him ovcrwhelm-
ing. and he condemned 10 death. iudcious
use of backshcesh among the authorities led 10 his
sentence being committed TO Punishment 10
Fosanghl. on the frontiers of the Soudan. Two
years later Nubar Pacha. with whom he had been
ON terms of intimacy became Prime Minister. and
was impcllcd 10 interest himself in the young
prisoners behalf Nubar pointed out to the khe
dive Ismail that Moussa was far too clever a vii
lain TO be permitted TO waste his energies and
talents at Fosanghli. and that he might be far
more proftabv employed at Cairo or Alexandra.
Khedive Ismail could naturally AFFORD TO regard
with indulgence the offence Of young Moussa.
The latter was therefore quietly pardoned and re-
called to the north, where he was at once en-
ployed by both Nubar and the khedive on missions
of the nature most likely to be intrusted TO a man
of Moussa's record. So great was the satisfaction
which he gave TO his masters that by 1879, when
Nubar was dismissed and lsmail deposed Moussa
had risen TO the rank of Bey of the first class. and
was entitled TO he addressed as Your EXcellency.
During the years which followed ne continued in
the service of khcdive Tewfk, but at the same
time drew pay from the deposed ruler lsmail at
Paris and also from the pretendcr, Prince Hahn
at ConstantnOple. for advancing their interests
against those of Tewfks Government. He like
d., 10 lin
uing on most friendly terms with all the European
element in Egypt. Indeed he played his cards
so clevery that on the of the bombardment
of Alexandra in 1852. he was regarded by the
foreign consuls and merchants as the principal
native parsonage on whom they could entirely rely
and to whom they could confde both their prop
erty and the safety of their lives; while. on the
other nd Arab and his followers were convinced
that Moussa devoted heart and soul TO their
cause The latter superstition proved TO he cor
rect. for IL he who melted and directed the
massacre OF the Europeans which marked the
Arab rebellion Moreover IL was he who led the
mob of fanatics that looted Alexandria, the knowl
edge Of the various hidlng-places in which his
European friends had concealed their treasure
serving him we'll After the capture OF Alex
andria and the restoration of order in Egypt he
fed into the Lybian Desert intending 10 make his
way 10 Tripoli. But being pursued, he boarded
q fishing boat and went 10 Crete. where he was
handed over 10 the British authorities. lie was
tried with his friend and confederate. Soliman
Pacha. and both were sentenced TO death. But
wien the day set for their execution arrived only
Soliman appeared on the scaliod. IL was then
learned that Moussa had obtained a communication
of his sentence 10 Punishment 10 Massowah. in
consideration of his having turned States evil
dence and betrayed the names of all other lead
ing native pcrsonages who had taken part in the
For three years Moussa lived quietly at AIasso-
yah, undisturbed by the excavations of the rela-
tves of those who had been sent to the gallows in
consequence of his treachcry. When the Italians
esta blished themselves at Massowah in 1885, he
al once became a man of great Importance. The
Italian authorities repoSed the blindest confidence
IA his integrity They awarded TO him the con-
tract for the supplies of their troops, they en-
trusted TO him all negotiations with friendly
tribes, and they went 50 far as 10 appoint
him nudge of the local supreme Court. Al
the time OF the DOngaI massacre, when req,
mcnt OF Italian troops Tell ini~ an ambush ana
were slaughtered To the last man by the Abys-
snans, lac opened with contribution OF $500
public subscription for the erection OF "A memorial!
10 Inc victims, although IL has been demonstrated
sn nee that IL be who furnished the ADys-
slnlans with the information that enabled them
to surprise the unfortunate Italians.
short time after this he visited Europe ana
while al Rome was entertained at dinner both
by the King and by the Prime Minister. Signor
Crispi. and was also invested with the cross OF
the ROYAL Order Of -. Maurice and ~. Lazarus.
On his return 10 Massowah his position was
stronger than ever, and II is difficult 10 Imagine
how much longer his villany might not have con
tinucd had not the Italians arranged 10 march
IL Adowah the ancient capital Of 1Igre, and 10
eifcct a meeting there with the Emperor Menclrk.
The latter 10 arrive there at the same time
aud was 10 be solcmnly crowned with the mag
nifceut jewclled gold regalia presented for the
purpose by King lIumbcrt. The Italian army
reached Adowah in safety, but found that Mcnclck
and his army were stin two days march from
the place. Within twenty -four hours, however.
the Italians left the city without waiting for
his arrival and were scurrying back as fast as
they could 10 Massowah The cause Of this sud
den and neNpecied retreat was message which
had been received Ia the effect that conspiracy