The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-24
. OBITUARY

schamy1, TIA sNoted Cure assian Chief.
The latest ma frem E2rep servings intelligence
Of the death schamyl, the celebrated 0lrcassian
chieftain. He was born In the year 1871, at the
Aoul OF Himri, in the northern part OF the Crcas-
sian district Of Daghestan From his earliest years
he displayed much ambition and eagerness to
surpass in athletic sports and trials OF skill.
BIS character appears to have been shaped
by the instruction which he received from teacher
Damed Dscheal- Edin, from whom he imblbed the
doctrines OF Sufeysm, which appeals from the bar
rem letter OF the Koran TO the human consciousness,
and seeks the inculcation OF nobler hopes than
those offered by gross Mohammedan paradise.
In 1924 Schamyl, under the leadership OF Kasi
Moah, nrst took part in the defense OF his country
against the encroachment Of the Russians, and from
that date until his capture in 1859 he was the most
troublesome antagonist encountered by the Russians
during their constant irruptions into Clrcassia-
The exploits attributed to him would nll q
volume. In battle with the Rus
slams in 1881, the Murids under Kasi Mollah, were
slain almost to man, and Schamyl lay at his leaders
feet, pierced by ball. but he escaped in time to be
present at the first meeting held by the discounted
tribes after the encouRter. In 1885, Kasi Moah fell
q victim to q conspiracy, and Sehamyl was chosen
chief in his place. Year after year he continued
the struggle against the Russians, who sent
large forces against him, but did not succeed in
breaking down the Circasslan power until after the
Crimean war. In 1s5T-5S several important victo-
ries were gained over the mountaineers, the Rus
slams becoming masters Of the deflle which cut Off
all communication between vedenl, the re-
sldence OF Schamyl, and the pasture
grounds of the Tchetchenia. On Sep
tember I, 1859, Schamyl and his son were finally
captured the Russians treating their prisoners with
great respect Schamyl was assigned residence
at Moscow, where he maintained an estab-
lshment in keeping with his former station,
| his wives und treasure being spared
| to him by the Gar Alexander II, who did great
honor to himself by his consderate treatment OF the
captive. In 1866 the vanquished chieftan and his
| sons abandoned all show OF opposition to the Rus
sian Government, by taking the oath OF allegiance
| to the Czar and the Grand Duke at Kalouga.
Schamyl, after his capture, made the happest i'm
preston by the tact and spirit which he displayed
| in conversation and social intercourse. Russian
eyewitness has described him tall, broad-shou-
| dered, and haggard, with deep-set eyes and long,
dark red beard His walk was slow and dignined
| his furrowed lineaments revealed great intel
| lectual power, and unnatural paeness
and debitated air bespoke the sorrows which were
hidden under his impressive repose. From early
childhood, his most striking characteristic had been
his religious earnestness. AS a boy he had passed
many days in solitary meditation prayer, aud the
| perusal Of the Koran. Tue system OF
| fervid mysticism which he professed
| was founded on Sufeyism, to which
additional earnestness was impaired by the doc
| trines Of the Koran. The system was known as
| Murioism, and when FIRST preached by Kasl Mollah,
in 1s28 served to unite quickly the native Circassan
tribes which had long been at war with each other,
in a common bond OF hatred against the northern
nndes. Schamyl succeeded Kasi Mollah as the
prophet Of Muridism, as well as military leader OF
the tribes He was gifted with fervid eloquence,
and had the most implicit faith in his prophetic
| mission.