New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-23

a special train.
Midway between the two cities the line
| of rail, as every American tourist 10
Egypt will remember. passes over the Nile
at KATIE Azzyat, where there is a famous
bridge. built by Robert Stephenson, with
drawbridge that opens and shuts. 10
permit the passage Of steamers and other
| craft. As the train bearing its royal
freight came laundering down the slope
that leads on TO this bridge. the English
| engineer who drove il saw to his horror
| that, Notwithstanding the signals had in
dicated that all was safe ahead. the
drawbridge was really open. leaving
yawninG space. fully sixty feet below. He
saw the danger too late to avoid it,
The locomotive and the cars containing
the princes were plunged into the river.
Achmet. the heir apparent. an awkward.
heavy man, being drowned. along with
all his companions save Prince Hahn,
who being skilled in all athletic sports
and manly exercises. had. with great
presence Of mind. opened the door Of the
car in the instant that it hung suspended
over the food. and had plunged headlong
| into the river. swimming safely ashore
on the news of the tragedy becoming
known. it was found that Prince Ismail
| had not been of the party. and that a few
minutes before its departure from Cairo.
he had sent down 10 the railway station
10 announce that he was prevented by
Illness from going TO Alexandria.
Thanks to this timely indisposition he be-
came heir 10 the throne. Immediately on
his succeeding 10 which he appointed as
his Prime Minister the Armenian Bey
who had been managing director OF the
railroad between Alexandria and Cairo
at the time OF the tragedy.
Prince Hahn. who was the Youngest
and favorite brother Of Niceroy Said,
never lost an opportunity Of denouncing
this Armenian as having arranged for
this so fateful accident at Kafiir-Azzyat
at the instgation OF Ismail. and for his
benefit. thus imputng to him the crime
Of fratricide. Under the circumstances It
was only natural that on Ismairs acces-
sion Hahn should have found It prudent
10 leave Egypt and 10 establish himself at
Constantinople: all the more as Oriental
rulers entertain. as a rule. 50 pronounced
prejudice against the heirs 10 their
thrones as 10 place their lives in constant
danger.
Some years later Khediye Ismail. by
means Of enormous brides at Constantine
pie. managed 10 obtain from his suzerain,
the Sultan Abdul ASST. a firman changing
the order Of succession In such way as
TO eliminate Prince Hahn therefrom. in
favor Of his CKhedive Ismails) own sons
in the order Of primogeniture. This was
viewed with marked disfavor by the lead
ing ecclesiastical authorities in Turkey
and In Egypt as being contrary 10 Moslem
custom and traditions. and so long as
Ismail remained on the throne he was
constantly being blackmailed. not only by
his suzerain at Constantnople but also
by the latter's most influential ministers
and dignitaries of the Sublime Porte
under threats that the firman altering the
succession would he rescinded as con-
trary to Islamic law and Hahn restored
TO his place as heir apparent
Hahn was extremely popular al Con-
stantinople. especially AT the foreign en-
bassies. being regarded as one Of the finest
EXAMPLES Of the blend Of an old Albanian
house with a famous Arab tribe. 6oasting
doubt that he would as ruler OF Egypt
have been in every way UNNECESSARILY SUI
nerior 10 both Ismal and the latter's son
and successor. Tewfik. In fact. France as
well as Germany, favored his rights. and
il was England alone which stood py
Isnail and insisted upon the maintenance
Of the frrnan which he had bought at 80
enormous a cost from the sultan II
Hahn had been Khedive there would have
been no Arab rebellion. no bombardmen'
Of Alexandria and no necessity for any
military occupation Of Egypt by Great
Britain.
Hahn died AT ConsiantnopIe without
ever visiting Egypt, where his existence
was considered by the occupants OF the
throne IN the light Of standing menace
"A sort Of sword Of Damocles. HIS SON.
Prince said Hahn. has now become Prime
Minister Of Turkey. and as Grand NizIer
outranks throughout the ottoman Empire
the Khedive. who is regarded as A mere
paernor Of an autonomous province. with
hereditary rights. -.
It is hardly likelt that he can be well
DISPOSED toward Great Britain which pre-
vented his father from obtaining MS
rights, nor toward the Egyptian eo'ei"
ment. which has always refused to re-
store either 10 him or TO his late father
the extensive estates in the land OF the
Nile which had belonged to the late Prince
Hahn. and which were conhscated Oy
Khedive Ismail soon after his accession.
In one word, Prince Halim's appointment
as Grand Vizier does not Indicate any
particular predominance OF British lhlu-
cnce at Constantinople.
Let me add that the late Prince hainh
was a particularly prominent free Maso"
and that some thirty or forty years ago
members OF the craft in this country were
requested by their brethren in the LeVah'
20 lend their support toward the es'do-
lishment Of his rights In Egypt.
NARoIJIsE DE FONTENOY.
m MIIi Ed 0EE TN OMAHA