A MYSTERIOUS MISSION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2156, 24 June 1889, Page 2

A MYSTERIOUS MISSION.

There Is excitement la New York news, paper circles, says a despatch of May 17, over a report that James Gordon Bennett, of the " Herald," had gone to Kbartoum on an important mission. JB« left Paris three weeks previously, went to Marseilles, then to Alexandria, and during the week ending May 18 to Cairo, There are. two stories m explanation of this singular journey. One Is that at the Club More* ton, In Paris, »n officer who had seen •ervjoe In the Egyptian Army aald It was impoeslble for a foreigner to enter Eh irtoum and return alive. Bennett offered a heavy w«ger that he would do it within six months. The bet was aooepted, aad accompanied by a friend he started. The other story Is that Bennett received a despatch from his O«tro correspondent, stating that he had had a visit from an envoy of the Mabdi with Important newa regarding Ohlnese Gordon ', that the latter was still alive and kept a olose prisoner j that the new Mahdl, by reason of his reverses at Kordofan and Bahr-elGbizol, and the Io:s of the great Province of Darfor, was willing to ransom Gorion for one million franca, The next day Bennett made all arrangements for (he journey, tod for the paymont of the vast aam mentioned, and with » friend let out for Egypt,