The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-23
GREAT RIDES ACROSS ASIA.
Adventures of an Eccentric Russian
Prince-A Ride From Paris TO Psking

Adventures of an Eccentric Russian
Prince-A Ride From Paris TO Psking.
From the NetO York Sun.
SAN FRAN CIsCo, Feb. ga letter from
Raheng, on the Siam Burmese frontier, Of
Dec. z, last. gives some unpublished facts in
regard to the ride of Prince Constantiu
WiasemsEy, the. Russian cavalry officer who
is now in Siam, after having ridden from
Moscow to Picking, and thence through
Tonquin TO the land of the white elephant.
The details OF the Russians journey from
Moscow to Peking have been given, but be-
yond the Chinese capital his adventures
have not been recorded, although his ar
rival in Tonquin was sent by cable.
Wiasemsky was q great traveller before
he entered upon bis horseback ride across
Asia. having penetrated the Soudan to
Darfur and spent two years in Asia Minor.
His travelling companion as far as Peking
was fellow Russian cavalry officer, Capt
Zarembs, and he took with him a doctor,
photographer, cook and several attendants.
The party covered nearly 5000 miles of
thinly-peopled country, which lies between
Tiumen in Siberia ana the great wall of
China. At Peking the travellers we're re-
ceived by the emperor, and are probably
the first unofficial Europeans to have been
80 honored. They received decorations.
When they reached Tientsin Capt. Ear
emba was too sick TO proceed further, so he
was left in charge of the doctor 20 go home
to Russia by sea, while Wiasemsky pushed
on toward the Tonquin frontier. At that
time the anti-foreign agitation was raging
and the prince was warned against attempt
ing TO Dress provinces which we're bitterly
hostile to any foreigners. But he set out
with only one attendant. They safely passed
through the dangerous provinces, and in
Anam and Cambodia were received with
great honors.
From Tonquin the route lay through the
comparatively unknown country of the
Shens and Sedangs, who still worship
devils. Among tue latter people the pI ince
was hailed as Mayrena a French officer,
who in 1888 actually accomplished the feat
undertaken by the nero of Rudyard Kip
ling's story, 1.-THE Man Who Would be
King.n Aayrena was acknowledged as the
ruler of this powerful tribe, bat when he
tried to get the acknowledgement of his
claims by the French he was laughed at
Finally. after many adventures, he was
making his way back to his kingdom when
he was poisoned by follower. The prince
was forced to decline the honors that were
offered him, but in talk with the writer
of this letter from Raheng he suggested
that there was good opening for an Amer
lean or Englishman who yearned to com
mend a savage race.
The prince found little trouble in crossing
Cambodia and Eastern Siam, though he
lost several horses while swimming swollen
streams He was received with honor by
the King Of Siam, and Ia now we'll on in
Burmah. His future plans include a ride
through Maoipur and Assam TO Calcutta
thence to AfRhanistan IL he can secure the
necessary permission. and so on to
Beloochistan, Persia, and the Caucasus.
The prince estimates that when he reaches
home he will have covered 5000 miles and
seen fifty capitals that are very little visited
by Europeans. The prince is extremely
eccentric but he is an accomplished man,
and in this long journey he has made a
large geological collection.
A rival of the Russian prince az a long,
distance rider is Count Fukushima, an at
tachee Of the Japanese legation in Paris,
who has now nearly completed a ride from
Paris TO Peking. The English papers in
Shanghai express some doubts as 20 the
counts itinerary, as they say it would be an
easy matter for a man travelling as the
connt is, without attendants, TO take advan-
tage Of the Russian mail service, and thus
gee rapidly over ground that could be Gov
cred only with much difficulty and danger
by solitary rider. The japanese, how
ever, believe In the reality of Fukushima's
exploit, and already an appeal has been
sent out from Toxic TO patriotic Japanese
to subscribe for a grand reception to the
count when he reaches his native country.