The morning call., 1891-07-12
G0RD0N-CUMhING,


A acknowledgements RecoIlections OF
Him.
In the spring of 1888, says w. R. Great
house in the New Orleans Times-Democrat
while returning on the English steamer
Costa RicaD, Captain Watson. from Mexico
to the United States, ON an official
leave of absence, he encountered among
his fellow-passengers, Lieutenant Colonel
Sir William Gordon Cumming, who, dur
ing the past week, has been the object
Oh SO much controversy in the social
world. The passengers consisted of a party
Oh English gentlemen, among them lord OF
Two, an American gentleman and his wife,.
VINO were returning from bridal tour
In the West Indies, and myself.
Among my commissariats was a young
tiger which l had secured in the
Mexican mountains, and which soon be-
came an object OF interest to the passengers
and OF some anxiety to the crew. Upon
iberating the animal from its cage. by
permission OF the captain. a tall, SOL
dierly looking gentleman. with sandy
hair and clean-shaven face, bearing
the impress OF exposure to tropical sun,
approached me and desired to know
how, when and where the animal was
captured This led to an informal ar
quaintance, he introducing himself simply
as Gordon Cumming. and gave me his card,
upon which was written Lieutenant
Colonel Sir William Gordon Cumming. At
that time l was not informed of the signifi-
canoe OF this name in the military and So
cial world.
During the voyage was considerably in
inns gentleman's society. and more affable
and Interesting travelling acquaintance l
have rarely met. The other passengers
formed quite staid and methodical party.
and usually retired early, while Cumming
insisted nn0O sharing Tho q q hin and hia
companions ship usually until midnight, sip
ping huge tumblers of brandy and soda, an
intrinsically English decoetion, to the yir-
tues of which orgame gradually Injured.
tie proved a delightful racoHteur, and in-
duiSed In graphic deScrlptlO Us OF incidents
relating to W0lseey's campaign in the Sou
dan, and only incidentally and with sx-
treme modesty told-of MS own personal con-
nectlon Herewith, emitting entirely any ref
erences to the dash and intrepidity dis
PLAYED by MIN in that historic campaign
and which made him an idol OF the English
army. He was present at the conflict in
which the heroic soldier, traveller and
author, Captain Burnaby, lost his life, and
it was reserved for the Colonel of a crack
English regiment Zone OF the pasSengers) 10
describe how Cumming, With his own
sword, cut down one Of Burnaby's 6ercest
ASSISTANTS.
Gordon Cumming is one of the most thor
oughly traveled of Englishmen, and his ac-
COuHl VI tHt hu5Siuils HI lilB gates Vi I1eTdb
and his description of Russian and Afghan
methods of warfare eviuced thorough diplo-
matte as we'll as military knowledge of a
strategic situation that may again attract
universal attention. As Taconteur Cum
ming was facile princeps the leader
of the company. IL seemed that all
insular prejudices common to English
men had been elimination by the con-
tact of travel. aHd in all essentials lie was
thorough ''hpmme du monde" There was
an ease, dash. and bonpehomme about him
that sayored more of the adventurous SOL
der than the exclusive and al istocratie Eag-
lishmen. He was frank, jovial and maaly and
was evidently an ardent admirer of women
and yet in the light Of his present misfor-
tunes it occurs to me that with all his sayoir
faire and knowledge of the world ne would
have been an easy victim TO any concerted
conspiracy that might have been formed
against him. but that this Scottish baranet,
hero of the S0udan. and who like his ia
nous uncle has hunted African jungles,
this man OF almost regal station and the
possessor of abundant wealth should have
descended 10 the role of common cheat
il so widely divergent from the course of
human action as to be almost impossible of
belief.