New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-22
YANKEE RAILS FOR MECCA
4rab Claimant to the Dukedom of
MOntmOrency.


Sultan Abdul HamId Is employing American steel
rails purchased from the Pennsylvania Steel
Company for the construction OF that won
derful raflroad from Damascus 20 Medina and
Mecca which IS 10 constitute the most glorious
feature OF his reign and which ought. from hnan-
cial point OF view, 90 prove great success. For
MaEOmctaDs from all ever the world. including
China the Philippines and Java. India, Persia and
Turkestan. 90 che vcsterumost portions OF Morocco
from Tim5ucto0 and Central Africa, Will all prefer
70 make the pilgrimage 10 Mecca by rail. In lieu OF
by caravan the latter method being terribly costly
dangerous and wearIsorre.
The freight traffic Of this new line will consist
largely OF corpses For In the same way that every
devout Mahometan considers Il TO be HIS duty 10
make the pilgrimage 70 Mecca at least during
HIS lifetime 50 Is each one Of them convinced that
81 his remains are conveyed to Mecca for final IN
termert. De is assured Of eternal salvation and OF
Paradise-accordiug to the Mahometan idea
The consequence IS that nowadays there are con-
stantly huge caravans crossing the desert OF Arabia
10 Mecca, the canels being fre.ghted with the
bodies OF rich Indians Perslans Turks Egyptians,
and even Chinese Each body is rolled UP like a
mummy IN the very costest and most valuable
rug OF the dead mans family. These rugs become
after the funeral al Mecca the perQuisites OF the
camel drivers % the so-caIed Caravan OF the
Dead" and they End their way in this manner
ir;o the bazaars OF Cairo Alexandria. Smyrna.
Constsntinoule etc. where they are picked up for
large sums by American and European collectors In
happy ignorance OF the fact that Tor weeks they
deyout Nahometan. who may possibly have died OF
smallpox or some equally agreeable and contagious
malady.
While the Turkish treasury IS IN a constant state
OF insolvency when it comes 70 the payment Of the
expenses OF the administration OF the government
there are 10 difficulties with regard 20 the funds
required for the DamascGs-Mecca Railroad. Fol
lowers OF tie Prophet from all parts o. the Ma
hometan world have subscribed 20 tho project IN
Tho most liberal manner. All the money needed Is
already on deposit IN the Ottoman Bank and In the
Agricultural Bank at Coustanurople.
Several regiments OF Turkish troops are employed
90 assist the .ahorers IN the construction OF the
road. and. while more than hair Of Il has already
been built a third q the line IS now in working
order. and earning returns. The railroad IS re
rrarsa1lo 81 this respect-that only Mahometaus
employed in its construction and no unbeliever has
been permitted 20 take part therein not even IN
any of the survey work For the presence Of
Christian at Mecca would 10 regarded by the de-
won't as a rrofanation O.: the hollest OF all holy
places in the Mah0metaH world.
IN reply % inquiries which have reached me from
several quarters. 7 would say that Frederick
Ad-.ahus Womhwe1. who Is now n this country.
where 20 a great extent no makes his home. IS the
second heir 20 the baronetcy and estates of HIS
uncle Sir George WombweIl who lost both his
sons in tho South African war. Sir George. who
took part as Officer Of the 18th LauCers IN the
famous charge OF the light Brigade az Ealaklava.
has un only surviving brother. Captain Henry
who although long regarded rs a confirmed
bachelor. married "a Jew years ago. az the age OF
sixty-throc the Hou. Myrtle Nostyu sister OF Lord
Naux az EarrowGcn Captain Henry Wombwcu
was fo- many years theatrical impresario and
owner OF one Of tho Liverpool theatres. and IS now
secretary of Boobies Club in London
Frederick Adol0hus Womhwcu Is the only o;
q younger brother q Sir George and Captain Henry
WombWcu. and his only sister Is married 10 the
present Earl OF Carnarvon- Their mother was
French woman Mile Boyer. and Alfred R0thschud.
the bachelor brother % Lord RothschId, has from
their childhood taken very pronounced interest IN
their welfare Indeed. Il IL said that Lady Car
uarvon viii come IN for large share OF his
fortune at his death
The wombweu family IS one OF the Oldest IN
Yorkshire and az the same time. OF the most
interesting. for not only have the wombwelIs
owned land IN the county ever since the reign OF
King Stephen, but they likewise claim 20 enjoy the
custody o. the remains Of Oliver Cromwell az SIR
I Georges country scat, Newhurg Priory. Il may
/ be remembered that after the Restoration King
Charles Il revcnged himself upon Oliver Cromwell
by causing his body TO he exhumed and sending Il
70 Tyburn 10 be hanged and TO he burned at the
foot Of the Eall0ws. Cromwelvs daughter Lady
Fauc0uberg whose husband az that time owned
Ncwhurg Priory. IS asserted TO have secured. by
means Of hribiug the guards the substitution OF
another corpse Tor taat % her father and TO have
obtained possession OF the Iatters body. which she
conveyed 70 the prory. At any rate, at the top Of
Newburg Pri5ry, al the end % a small chamber.
there IS grand mass OF stone built into the wall
with inscription setting forth that the Lord
Protectors body lies behind s.
Sir George WombweIs grandfather married Lady
Ann BeIasis. the daughter and heiress OF the last
Lord Fauconberg. ana thus brought both Newburg
Trtory and the lands IN connection herewith into
the W0mbwell family.
The original rrio-y was occupied by the Au-
gustinian monks and was founded IN 1li5 by Roger
de Mowbray. At the time OF the Reformation
King Henry VII gave Il 10 Anthony Bellasis, one
% his chaulains who succeeded by his nephew,
the latters grandson being the first Lord Faucon-
berg. The house - fun OF treasures and relics.
among the latter being the bride. saddle holsters.
pistols sword and watch OF Oliver Cromwell
Sterne was for many years rector OF CoXwold.
parish which Is comprised IN the Newburg Priory
estates and Sir George has carefully restored
sternes residence. shandy Hall
President Loubets grant O: free pardon 10 the
celebrated Arab chieftain. Ahmed Ben Mokrani
who for the last thirty years has been confined as
q lie convict In the penal colony OF New-Caledonia
has spread Consideration among certain families
q the French aristocracy, including the house o.;
s-aflevrard -P6rigord. and IS likely 10 be followed
by some sensational developments OF very
romantic character. IN fact, y the late Duke
6A,.r3a,e the most learned of the princes Of the
French royal house o. Bourbon-orleans. Is 20 be
believed tho Arab chieftain just pardoned by
President Loubet Is the riEhttul Duke Of Mont
norency and the lawful owner of ute now
to--o ~, the Younger brother OF the Duke OF
r-.,7ra,-var5 -Io6rfeord- Saran and Of Nalencay.
Afol,raui was during the reign q Napoleon III one
% the v-armest and most loyal friends OF France.
his cordially toward the latter being OF the utmost
,-,-,~ta-,re IN view OF the immense prestige, power
ana influence that he possessed throughout the
leurtb and breadth OF Northern Africa 50 greatly
ala tba EMPEROR value his good VIII that he con-
fe-red upon him the collar and cross OF CON-
rnander OF the Legion OF Honor.