Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-01-09
n.yoIt or yanissaries.


second year Of Murad I, 1857. During
the first two hundred years of their ex.
istence, the Janissaries did not exceed
from ten to fourteen thousand men.
Successive Sultans, from Orkan to
Selim /, we're enabled to restrain them
within the bounds of discipline, but their
numbers doubled by Suleiman the Great,
were progressively tripled and quad
rupled, until at length at latter times
they averaged more than eighty thousand
regular combatants. In order to fiatter
the vanity of the corps, Sultans them
selves were inscribed on the rolls as
priyates of one of the cohorts in garri-
son at Stambol. On the last day in each
quarter the Sultan invariably appeared
in person at the barracks and answered
at the evening roll call to his simple
name, Mohammed, Mustofa, etc. When
the corps was overwhelmed and abol-
ished, it is said that over 5000 of them
persisted on the 25th and Goth of June
by shot and sword within the city, and
by decapitation and strangulation in the
Bosphorous forts and cupboard the fleet.
Fifteen thousand of them were banished,
which left the strength of the force at
10000 men in 1896. A history of the
revolts Of the Janissaries might fill one
or more interesting volumes. Osman
III in 1922, Mustofa in 1923. Ibrahim in
l64s, Achmet III in 1880, Selim III in
1907, Mustofa " in 1908, and other Sui
tans we're either murdered or dethroned
by these troops. The sedition of 1865
shows the. proceedings of these Janis
saries upon these memorable occasions.
In the month of March the whole garri-
son, numbering eighteen thousand men,
showed symptoms of discomfort Having
gained over the artillery bombardiers
and sipahis, they broke out into open
revolt They assembled in front of then
barracks, and having inverted their ket
ties, they placed upon each of them
saber, a loaf of bread, and few ounces
of salt, and after invoking the name Of
the Almighty, they swore by the Koran
that if the Sultan should attempt to lay
hands upon single beard they would
cut off head for every hair. Smut
aneously uttering "Allaht' three times
they formed in close column and marched
10 Al Maidany. Shouldering their ket
lies with loud shouts Of anger, they
marched to Alsi Kioshk, and demanded
an audience With the Sultan. fh'
Sultan had 10 grant the mutineeri
an audience. The leaders of tbs
muiinesrs advanced, and, after hav
iur made obsisance, one Of then
SAID. May the Sultan live Nay hi
sarrgws be 0urs, ana his Joys has own
Nav Gods bsnedieti0n be his lSuP,
The delegate then drew from his bosom
lsnE scroll, and READ aloua the name
Of thirty public funet5OnsrSes- whom h
declared 70 be traitors 10 the Sultan ans
the land, and added that nothing woal'
sssisfr the OdAs BAT the death Of tbesi
men. Mohauned the Sultan shes
tears and implored the J4niszAries Il
snare his friends sud favOritez- The re
ply was deafeuings No, by our beardi
and souls" Fearful, lest resistanc'
would entail upon his own head the fat
Of his predecessor. the Sultan rose anC
exclaimed: Children, it shall be al
YOU wish; withdraw quietly, and sweal
BY the Koran, by my beard, and by the
grave Of my father. that the eulprits vii
be delivered into your hands dead
or alive" As an earnest Of hi
sincerity, the cowardly Sultan whispered
a few words to the bostanjy hashy, Wit
stood near, aud in ten minutes tn
strangled bodies of the Kizlar AM
Kapou Aghassy lchiefs of the black an
white Aghas) we're cast headlong int
the street from the windows of tn
palace. The mutineers Selling the tw'
bodies dragged them to the barracks an'
hung them up in trees before the Mosque
Within twenty-four hours the Muity
Grand Yizir, Captain Pasha, Master o
the Horse, Sword bearer, Minister o
Finance, Grand Master Of Ceremonies
Agha of Janissaries, Director Genera
of Customs and others we're strangle'
by order Of the Sultan, to satisfy tn
mutineers. When the corpses wer
thrown into the streets the Janissarie
rushed forward and wreaked their fur.
upon them. The wife Of the Directo
General, who was known as an opeI
enemy Of the Janissaries, was among
the victims. She was lady Of eminen
beauty and talents, and was suspected
of having drawn up a plan for the tota
destruction of the Janissaries, and thu
closed the eyentful mutiny Of Janissarie
in 1866.
Information Wanted
With regard to one j. G. Hunt late con
tributor to a paper in this city and on
in Chicago. He was in Memphis on an,
before the 23d of November; was sick 0
consumption. We have not heard iron
him since the above date. We fear he !