The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1892-02-04
AN AFRICAN MYSTERY.
The Actions Of Emin Pasha elnce
Stanley's Visit
Turning nis Back Upon Civi1lsatioas he
Has Buried Himself In the 1m- :.
penetrable Wllds Of the
Dark Continent.


The latest African mystery Is Emin
Pasha, says the New York Tribune.
Ever since the time when he 90 ener-
getically protested against being found
and rescued, he has been invested with
romance and shrouded In uncertainty.
When Mr.. Stanley brought him out to
Zanzibar the world was at loss wheth-
er to reckon him peevish migrate or
an ill-used hero, and its doubts regard
ing him have only been intensified by
the course of subsequent events. When
he turned his back on civilization again
most people thought him moved by
anger or chagrin, If not by actual un-
soundness Of mind. Yet, remembering
his former high achievements, there
were those who saw much method In
his madness, and confidently looked for
doings worthy OF his fame. Since the
forest shadows closed behind him we
have had some definite news of him,
and much more that is indefinite.
What he is known to have done Is b
great work. What rumor attributes to
him is colossal. And while it may not
be safe to accept as yet those rumors as
facts, the weight of evidence is 30 far
In their favor, and no explicit denials Of
them or. significant argument against
their truth have been adduced. In
deed, the recapture of Wadelai and
march on Khartoum itself would only
be q natural sequel to what Emin has
already certainly achieved.
It was April 95, 1890, that, having
been landed at Bagamoyo by Mr.. STAN
ley. Emin Pasha set out on his present
expedition. With him were Lieut..
Langheld, DR.. Stuhlmann, Father
Schynse, one hundred soldiers (negroes)
and four hundred porters. August 1
following he occupied Tabora, the head
quarters Of the Arabs in central Africa,
and raised the German flag. Septem-
ber ~ found him at Buhumbi, the
southern shore Of Victoria lake. Thence
he proceeded up the west shore, and
October 81 founded the station Of Bu-
koba, at the mouth Of the river Kagera,
the stream which divides the German
and British territories. There he spent
the winter, building a town and form
ing extensive plantations, founding the
neighboring stations Of Raiagwe and
Moansa, and making treaties with the
native tribes. A copy of the Anglo
German treaty was sent to him there,
and also an official letter of recall. Pos
sibly he did not get them. If he did he
ignored them-to put it mildly. In
stead of being recalled, in February,
1891, he moved forward, and in defiance
Of the treaty marched straight into
British territory. AS soon as this was
known Germany rcpudiated all respon-
aware, and If he were it probably
would not worry him. In March and
April he and DR.. Stuhlmann explored
Mount Mfumbrio, and May IS were at
the southern end Of Albert Edward
lake.
Since that date we have had no definite
news Of his doings. There was report
that he was going to Ruanda, which
seemed reasonable, and another that he
was going to march across the conti-
nent to the Cameroons, which seemed
absurd. Then we were told that he
had reached Wadelai and reoccupied all
his old province, and, though denial
came next day, it was far weaker than
the report, and the impression remained
that the news was probably true. Now
it is repeated with renewed assurances
of its truth. Why not3 The whole
province was garrisoned by only two
hundred and fifty mahdists, whose fort
ress and capital was the old Borden
steamer, now for many years stranded
in the river; while SeIim Bey and five
hundred of Emin's former followers
were at Kavalli's, on Albert lake, only
waiting for Emin's return to redeem
the province. With them Emin could
easily have re-established his govern
ment, especially since the mass Of the
people remained loyal to him. There
has also come vague report that he
Is preparing to march on Khartoum.
This, too, seems not unlikely. It is not
far cry thither from Wadelai. And
matters have been going very badly
with the mahdists. The once powerful
city is now a defenseless ruin, inhabited
by mere handful of people. Most Of
the mahdist army has been called else
where, to support Osman Digna at
Tokar, or to oppose the Senoussi in the
west. Those who remained have been
decimated by disease, and now few
| hundred resolute soldiers could scatter
| them to the sands of the desert. That
Emin will do this is not of course cer-
tain. But it is neither impossible nor i'm
probable. And for Gordon's fall to be
avenged by Gordon's friend and lieu
tenant would only be the most fitting
conclusion possible to the dark drama
of Khartoum. However that may be,
when the mystery that now envelopes
Emin's doings is all swept away we
shall doubtless see that he has written
by his deeds, from first to last, one of
the most heroic and altogether admira-
BILE chapters in the whole history of the
dark continent.