The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-09-09
A Bulgarian Bandit.

The Following interesting story, "hlou
reads like sensational romance, is told IN
the Pail Mall Gazette.
"During the Crimean war body Of
Poles known as the 'Cossacks Of the
Sultan was attached to the Turkish con-
tingent. This corps was retained as part of
the Turkish army after the dissolution Of
the contingent, and has recently been sta
toned in Bulgaria, where it has done good
service in checking the depredations Of a
formidable bandit named koushtchou
Oglou, who has for some time acted in con-
nection with the insurgent agitators on the
other side Of the Danube, and is said to
have taken prominent part in the revolu-
tionary expedition which lately entered
Bulgaria from the Danubian principalities.
An account of the history and adventures
of this bandit, interspersed with valuable
information on Bulgarian life and charac-
ter, has been contributed to the Revue Con-
temporaine by Madame Caroline suchodo-
iska. the wife Of an officer in the 'Cossacks
Of the Sultan.
"Many years ago, when Koushtchou was
q young man, his personal beauty, and skill
in all athletic exercises, made him uni
versal favorite, and the village girls used
all their arts to attract him. His choice
fell on beautiful maiden named Mltza,
whose parents, poor but respectable pea
SAINTS of an adjoining village, fully approved
his suit. All went well for time, and
preparations were made for the betrothal Of
the young couple, but unfortunately kousht-
chou was called away to distant district on
business, and Mitza went with her father
to work in field, belonging to a wealthy
Turkish pasha, in the neighborhood. The
pasha, struck with her beauty and inno-
cence, pursued her with his attentions, and
the unfortunate girl was too dazzled with
his brilliant promises to make much resist
ance. The pasha's passion was short-lived,
and he soon abandoned her. Meanwhile
Koushtchou, having earned a sufficient
sum to enable him to marry, returned to
his village and claimed the hand of his be-
trothed. Mitza, conscious of her guilt, but
dreading to confess II, made no objection to
her lovers proposal, and the ceremony OF
betrothal, which in Bulgaria is held to be
almost as binding as that of marriage, was
performed in the presence of all the princi-
pal people of the village. But she could
not long conceal her disgrace. The conse'
ouences were terrible. Her father died Of
shame and grief; she became maniac
and still wanders about the hills an object
of fear and alteration to the superstition:
peasants, who look upon idiots as sacred
and Koushtchou fled to the hills, vowing
vengeance against the Turks. Since then he
has led the life of sort of Bulgarian Fra Di-
avolo. Accompanied by devoted band Of
followers, he secured the whole country
killing every Turk he met, and imposing
contributions on his countrymen to support
him in his lawless pursuits. His popu,
larity among the women contributed
greatly to the impunity with which he
carried on his depredations. In every
village there was girl who acted as his
accomplice, informing him whenever rich
Turk happened to be passing through, and
warning him against the approach OF the
troops. He soon obtained such reputa-
ton among the villagers that they never
thought of resisting his demands for food
clothing, Or money for his band, especially
As it was known that he appropriated &
considerable proportion Of his booty to tht
maintenance Of churches, the relief of the
poor, and other charitable objects. An at
tempt was once made by the Government
TO capture him through another bandit
named Hussein, who was then confined in a
Turkish prison. Hussein was liberatec
and promised large reward if he woulc
bctray his former chief; but he only joineo
his former ompauions, and being CAPTURE
i second time, was burnt alive by thu
troops.
"'Tne attempts made last year to stir "
an instruction in Bulgaria were to grea
extent carried out with Koushtchou's co
operation. The Polish Cossacks pursued
him for months all over the Balkan, an'
succeeded in breaking up his band and cap
turing its principal chiefs but they failed
to catch Koushtchou himself. On one occa
sion an old Turkish woman came to then
with d Bulgarian priest, saying that Sill
knew the bandits hiding place, and was II
the habit OF bringing him bread and brand.
every day but when the troops came t
the spot the bird had flown. Ii was after
wards found that koushtchou had beer
warned of his danger by the old woman
daughter, who had fallen in love with thu
bandit, and walked several miles over tn
mountains to save him. He then escaped
to Bucharest, where he has since been EN-
ployed with the Bulgarian Committee. "