Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1892-01-02 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

INSURRECTION IN PERSIA.  An insurrection has broken out in the district of Kellar Dasht, in the province of Alazandaran, and is threatening to spread far and wide. A Sayeed (a descendant of the Prophet), it is reported, used to live some years ago at Sahna, a small town near Kermanshah. After reaching to manhood he got into his head that the teachings of the established religion had become corrupt, and his fellow-countrymen were being led astray; that the religion required to be reformed and men guided into the true path of Islamism. Ile became convinced that he had been called upon by the Almighty to sweep away the existing corruptions and to reform Islamism. Starting from this point he tried to propagate his ideas, but, meeting with no success, he left Sahna and betook himself to Mazandaran. Here keeping his doctrines to himself he took the frock as well as the habits of a true saint. Untiring at daily devotions his words breathed but piety and virtue. After thus making for himself a reputation for sanctity, he began secretly, says the Tabreez correspondent of the Daily News, to preach against the corruptions which Islamism has undergone, and soon had a number of staunch supporters in the propagandism of the new doctrines. The man from Sahna, followed by those acolytes, then entered Kellar-Dasht and commenced to preach openly. In a short time the whole tribe of Khajavend dwelling in the above district became converted to the doctrines of the Sayeed, who now assumed the title of "the Last Vicegerent of the Prophet." It appears that the man aims not only at a religious supremacy but even at a temporal sovereignty. Like the founder of Islamism the new Vicegerent, whilst on the one hand he propagates his doctrines, on the other carries the sword. He has till now put to death more than 40 persons who have dared to question his authority or argued against his vicegerency. To shew with what readiness his proselytes obey him it will suffice to cite the following incident: Azdan Run Khan, ordered by the Sayeed, made repeated raids into the villages of his brother general, Subhan Kuli Khan. The latter, on hearing of this whilst in Asterabad, hastened with a body of horsemen to one of his villages, and prepared to protect them against further inroads. Azdan Kuli Khan then invited the general to tender his submission to the Vicegerent, and be converted to his doctrines. On the general's refusal he attacked him in force, and after defeating him put him to death with bis own hand. By the murder of Subhan Kuli Khan his villages pass under the rule of the Sayeed. The Governor of Asterabad, finding his forces inadequate to make head against the Sayeed, has applied to Teheran for succour. The central government despatched 300 foot, 200 horse, and two field-pieces under the command of the Field Marshal Habibullah Khan, the Saidud-Dowleh. If the Persian commander succeeds in defeating the pretender and in capturing him, the insurrection will be crushed in its bud, and the so-called Vicegerent with his doctrines will be buried among the many past impostors; but if, unhappily, the Government troops suffer a defeat at the hand of the Sayeed and Azdan Kuli Khan, then a new Mandi will rise to power and cause much harm to the country for a long time to come.  The Grand Ducal Castle at Walferdange has been the scene of a disastrous accident. A waterpipe had burst during the severe frost, and a thaw having set in during the night the whole castle at daylight was found to be flooded. The ceilings have fallen In, and the furniture is irretrievably damaged. Intelligence calculated to rake glad the hearts of all lovers of high art has lately been received from Rishineff, in the South of Russia, where it is reported, says the Daily Teleyraph,that a well-preserved highrelief representation of the "Last Supper." by Leonardo da Vinci, has been discovered. It appears that many years ago this masterpiece was purchased in Italy by M. Monferrant, the architect of St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg, who took it with him to the Russian capital, where he then resided. Later on his property was sold by auction, and this art treasure fell into the hands of the kpeper of an old curiosity shop in the Apraxin Market. Here it was seen admired, and purchased ftr £6 by General Slioomansky, of Kishineff, during one of his eying visits to St. Petersburg. Le has now refused 2.5.000 roubles for it.