Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-02-01
2 sSFjR OF CRIME.
...grssgs HISTORY OF A MODERN a'1 c4evALsR DqNDu8TRlE.
an English Adventur-


 nssro has just been lodged in jail the ! A.s a,an who has tasted the sweets of
 eap .r That 6 prime minister wields and
 poTs@ am the gamut of crime that con-
 as .ad with the conviet's stripes. Will
 sau9sH l. HougHton is inc individual to
 lpn lor has fallen thia remarkable expe-
 sno aoo and the distraction is accorded
 1,sa le, If being one of the most brilliant
 p,'r par,fcals and baeksiiders that history l ,coshiaant of.
 .iagnished portion Of which began
 s.itb gs tho year 1878. he has ruled 6 king I aon He was the prime minister Of ssgssinia, tho chief adviser of King
 4J, 1obn His word was law, and he could
 .,dar the execution of the kings im-
 msdjate relatives This height of power
 amehton reached from the plane of
 Tf Qf the ordinary adventurer. For
 veabS he maintained his power, and
 ghaS nslast fortune forsook him he
 tgr6ed 6o the capitals of Europe for
 hssb tributes to his genius as Q swim
 jar.
 Houghton first achieved uotoriety in
 1876. Tn that year he journeyed from England to Egypt, crusader. as much aa Richard tho Lion Hearted, who made iba same journey centuries before, but t5is latter day crusade was for fraud and theft instead of for the cross. A n,eo named Major Barlow, who had hoen an officer of the Yorkshire Eng lapd1 yeomanry, was his companion. Beth had planned out programme Of adventure tbas was as daring as it was dangerous.
 Just at that time the relations be- tween the khodiva and the king of Abys- siaia were very strained. In fact, so slender wa8 the tie that it Eeeded but the weight of 6 diplomatic straw to break it altogether. Eeughton and bis partner made their way into Abyssinia, md in manner that no ono seems to be tbo-azs.ls'-- ea:ailiar with ingratiated themselves 5 u. 3aing John Major Bar low was tho first of the two to gain prominence. for he induced tho king to give him a very excellent appointment in tho military service. King John was nIoro than willing to have his troops re- oeive the benefit CT the military knowl- edge of OH English officer, and it was not long before Barlow was placed at the head of the Abyssinian army. No sooner had ho gained this point than he baean to labor with the king iu the tn- hrosts Of Hoaghton, with such excel lepk results that the English ad7ensuror bee6na King Jahn's political adviser and later on prime minister of Abys- snia.
 By this time Major Barlow had so won the king over that the title of gen. Qral was created for him, and he was formally appointed commander in chief of the Abyssinian forces, with from 10 900 to 80, 000 warriors under hie eom- gSrd Included in this force was the tI,ea5 brigade Of amazons, who were flaoad in such q state Of efficiency by this man that they became tremon- dous power ii themselves and won fame Sat to this day has made them well known.
 While Abyssinia is in a state of semi there IS yet strong lean ing toward the barbario, and at the dno these events occurred that predi- lection was even greater than now. So the two Englishmen, quickly perceiv- ing that to maintain prestige and pow q they must conform to tho native cus- toms. decided to impress the fact of their high power and favor with the king by q series of ceremonies both long and weird. For e week the soldiers Of tho army danced and feasted, the oere- nony being witnessed by the king, Houghton and Barlow, th0 latter two aooked in paint, beads Rnd feathers and portions of uniforms of English officers. This had ell the desired effect, The Gnglishmen found themselves thorough ly established with royalty and people. yPowor WIS not all these gentlemen We're locking for Their mission to Egypt and to Abyssinia was principally io gain tremendous wealth, and this they seemed now in q fair way to ro- anre. They deliberately appropriated gald and silver ard ivory from the stores of the king subjects. sparing nc one but the king himself How much they managed ta secure TO one will ever kaoW, but certain 1t ia that the amount vaa enorlno1s. Wealth aohi0ved, this pair Of adventures tnrRed tiscir atSen- tlon 10 politics, and very soon had the Egyptian govern nten6 and King John y the ears. They atopped at nothing Their daring was sufficient to overcome any obstacle. Their advice, 10 matter how extraordinary, was always taken, ahd tho eoAmotion Ahyssinia created ahder their practical eu2orainty wes anch that ell She nations of Europe had their attention called to the matter. De- pate followed in the various parlia- menta, end it looked for time as if she very peace of Europe had been 3eapardiaea by the marvellous eGeontery U i've English reHPsasies.
 @hlle all this was going CD EIoaghton ana Barlow lived as well as Abyssinia eoaad permit Wien they t.a9eled, 1t