Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-08-16
,1rp,aazrTTEA Av1RaINIA ADVERTISE


through Bulgaria aud has written severa
graphic letters to that journal, in which he de-
scribes the atrocities committed by the Turks.
The following extracts will be found extremely
interesting. He thus describes bis experience:
90 the first morning of his visit to Adrlanople
At the first street corner after leaving my
hotel found myself opposite man hanging
whose legs were still kicking convulsively He
was suspended from the door OF shop. The
feet were fastened and the hands tied behind
his back, but the face was uncovered and the
Tongue hung from the mouth. The feet were
scratching the side wall of the door in vain
eDdeavor to fud resting place. The shop.
keeper, furious that his house should have
been chosen for the execution, was abusing the
''zapties," who went away laughing and drlV-
ing before them TWO other wretches whom they
were ordered to hang 10 different parts OF the
town. The evening before, the tribunal, which
was composed of the Turks and ''choseu
Christians, had condemned Zen Bulsarlans
to death on account of the revolt which took
place three months ago. 1t was decided that
three of them should be executed in Adrianople
and the other nine scattered through the coun.
try, one at each crossroads. | followed the
soldiers who were driving these unfortunates
b.tore them with the butt ends of their guns,
while crowds Of boys threw stones at them aud
shouted "Gia,ur." We soon came to gal
lows constructed Of three pieces of wood. the
upright and arm being held in their places by
IA support from one TO the other. This priml-
tive galows was erected under lamp which
had been pulled down the night before by the
weight of another man executed there; for
they hang them here every day. In few
miuutes everything was ready. The cord rolled
round the arm cf the galiows, ended 10 run
ming knot which tell down to meet its victim.
Ooc soldier placed it round the neck OF the
shorter of the two condemned men and then,
upon remark made by one Of the comrades,
took it off and adjusted it on the taller. The
reason given by the second soldier for this
change was that it was difficult to hang tall
met from the shops, which are generally low.
The man was then placed on the scattold, where
he was kept in position with blows from the
butts OF the soldiers Runs until the rope was
fiually adjusted, when the soatfod was kicked
from under him. They had not even taken
the trouble to fasten his legs, which kicked
convulsvey in bis agony, while the ill.con
structed galloWs groaDed. The crowd was al
ready far distant. AT the coroer of the street
the cortege seemed to be in doubt as to which
route they should take, and the soldiers en-
gagged 10 discussion. 1t appears that although
they had been ordered to hang one OF the pris-
oncrs at the gallows, yet they were free to
slrangle the others where they pleased. They
advanced towards coDtectioner's shop, which
WAS somewhat larger than The others, but the
proprietor, guessing their Intentions, ran ln
front of the troops and put something into the
commanders hand who, changing his dlrec-
ton, went to a cafe Here the same scene en-
sued, the owner of the Gale took. the sergeant s
hand, who turned to cafe opposite with the
same result All the shopkeepers not caring
to uave i mau hanging at their door all day
pay the zapties to 60 farther on, and the VIC
tim meanwhile has to follow their zikzsg march
under an inccssaut raiD OF abuse and stones.
At last the cortege stopped. The Bulgarian
had tainted. | went away, for had seen LOO
much.
"Bashi' means in Turkish "head," and
''Bazouk' spoiled or damaged, so that
bashl-bazouk is bad head This otlolal
uame given to these irregular troops show that
the government has allowed them t, take the
initiative. The population OF Turkish villages,
like those Of villages everywhere else, are com.
posed OF men and women, but with this differ.
ence, that whereas with us the men are willing
TO work, here they do nothing and are content
to seud their women into the fields, as have
frequently seen them from the top OF my wagon
IN the vicinity of the Turkish villages, and
when leaving their work they must 90 home
with their faces veiled. While the women
work the men sit at the door of their cabins
smoking the excellent, tobacco which their
country affords. This is kept up during the
4. .l q
winter the women work 10 the barns and farm
everything changes face.
Immediately an old flag is brought out from
The mosqu", borne by fellow who, 10 view OF
sumo past exploits bears the title OF chief, &C
c'mpanied by priests reoiting short verses OF
the Koran, the religious sentiments of which are
Down with the in6del," and the real meaning
au ucitem Mt to plunder and destruction. The
village is at once full of life aud activity. Old guns
are returbished; the old flint locks are repaired
and rehlted; the broad blades OF their knives
rem all take hand at the work. They are think
ing of the spoils. and the great thing is to be
ready first. 1t is also question OF Staying the
rlaourS Tor he wEo shall shed the most blood
will be able to aspire to the first place or chief
'aioship of the village. Vanity governs amid
savages, it seems, as it does amid the civiliz ID.
The same day the suo.preiect, of kaiuakam
makes his appeal to these patriotic n souls,
every available man is en- route for the place
namcd for the men of the different villages te
met, followed by old men and children, the
lVrmer going to teach the young how to tor
ture the wounded and get fro to vacated dwell
lngS.
These reunions last several days, for it il
,he villagers furthest of that receive the notice
las and who have the greatest distance t
make. These latter. on arriving at the towI
"i meetlug, 6nd the others gorged with booty
and' !rrltated by jealousy, attack the Chris
aans IN the streets, where they are supposed
% be protected. Among these bandits tht
ntaVest or most brutal are the Circassans
whose whose costumes | skctched in my last letter
me others wear the red blouse and spatter
t,ash-shoes they take from the peasants-th
usIt Is hled with long knives and long bar
,slsa .n pistols, and their linen. when they hav
y, "A lDn k,,, p,,kt, kl,,1 frar