The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1826-06-08
SECRET OF FORTUNE TELLING.

/
An Austrian officer, the Baron Won W.,
who served in 1888 in the war with the
Turks, lived few years at B. He was
fond of relating the various events of his
military life, and among others, the follow
ing, which are given i'll the Baron's own
words.
sin the spring of the year 1888, / set out
| from Miclosvai, in Transy lvania, to conduct
a number of recruits to my regiment, which
then lay in the vicinity of Orsown. In a vii
lage near the camp lived gpsey, who car
ried on the trade of suter. My new SOL
diers, WHO were extremely superstitious
asked her TO tell their fortunes. laughed
at them, and at the same time held my hand
to the gypsy.
"'The goth of August said she, with a
| very significant air, and without adding an
other syllable. WISHED to obtain some ex-
| PLANTATION, but she repeated the same words;
and as was going away, she called ont to
me in the same tone, the Goth of August
1t may easily be supposed that this date re-
NAMED impressed upon my memory.
| We joined the army, and shared its fatigues
and dangers. 1t is we'll known, in this war
the Turks gave no quarters. The chiefs of
| fercd premium of "a ducat for every head
that should be brought into the the camp, SO
that neither Janssaries or Spahies neglected
any opportunity of earning this reward
This arrangement was particularly fatal to
our advanced post. There was scarcely a
night but what the Turks came in superior
numbers to seek for heads, and at daybrrak
it was often found, that part of the camp had
been guarded only by decapitated bodies
| The prince of Coburg resolved to send eve
ry night strong piquets of cavalry beyond the
chain of videttcs, for the purpose Of protect
ing them these piquets were composed of
one or two hundred men but the Turkish
generals finding their troops disturbed in
their retail trade, sent still more numerous
detachments against our piquets, which pro-
cured them a still more considerable profit
The service of the piquets was consequently
of such a nature, that those who were APP
pointed to perform it, always put their af-
fairs in order, previous to their departure.
Things were in this state in the month
of August. Several battles had not changed
the position of the army. A week before
the goth, my fortune teller, of whom | had
frequently purchased provisions, again made
her appearance. She entered my tent, re-
quested me to leave her legacy in case
should die on the dav she had predicted, and
offered, in case ] did not, to make me a
present of a hamper of Tokay. This wine
was rarity in the army; the gypsy appear
ed not to have common sense; i'll the situa-
tion in which | then WAS, speedy death was
not improbable but had no reason to ex-
pect it precisely OH the twentieth of August.
| accedcd to the proposal stalking two horses
and SO ducats against the old wonhn's To-
kay; and the auditor of the regiment took
down cur agreement, but not without laugh
| ing.
".The goth of August came. There was
no probability of an engagement. 1t was
! indeed the turn of our regiment to furnish
piquet for the night, but two of my comrades
were to go out before me. In the evening,
as the huzzars were preparing to set off,
the surgeon OF the regiment came to inform
the commander, that the officer named for
piquet was taken dangerously ill. The one
next to him, and who preceded me. received
orders to take his place he dressed himself
in haste, and was proceeding to join his men,
but his horse, generally quiet creature, sud-
denly began to prance and caper in such a
manner that he at last threw his rider, who
broke his leg in the fall. Itwas now my turn.
set off; but, must confess, not in my ordi-
nary humor.
81 commanded eighty men, and was joined
by one hundred and twenty belonging to a.
mother regiment, making in the whole two
Hunuieu ihCh. oui l,oot was apoul d til9u-
sand PAGES in front OF the line of the right
wing, and we were supported by marsh
covered with very high reeds; we had no adj
vanced sentinels, but not a man was suffered
TO leave his saddle; our orders were to re-
main with drawn sabres and loaded carbnes
till day break. Every thing was quiet till |
a quarter before ten o'clock, Whri we heard
noise, which was succeeded by loud shouts !
of .4Uah.. and in moment all the horses |
were thrown to the ground, eitherb the fire
or the shock Of seven or eight hundred
Turks! An equal number fell on their side,
from the impetuosty Of their charge and
the fire of our carbines. In the CONFUSION
that succeeded, l received eight sabre
wounds, as we'll from friends as enemies /;
ms horse was mortally wounded; he fell on
my right leg, and pinned nc t,,......sc GARTH,