Connecticut western news., 1876-11-03
A Soldier of Fortune.

The Seryian correspondent of the
 Lond lon News writes Exit Protopopof!
 Who, then, is Protopopof2 Protopopof is a Russian soldier of fortune, whose acquaintance l first made during the Spanish war at Bilbao. when he was captain in Loma's division. When ons my first visit to Alexinatz casually met Protopopof in @ coffee house. He was then in command of a couple of battalions of Servian infantry and two batteries of artillery, and he held the post of danger at Supovac, within sight of the Turkish foreposts. He had come back to Alexinatz for orders, for big drink, for money, and for tobacco. He gave me an invitation to come and stay with him on the foreposts at Supovac,
 and went off next morning With rather 8 headache, but with silver medal on his breast. From others I learned something of Protopopof's career in the service of Seryia. He had joined as a volunteer, had got a battalion command,
 and had been out to Saitsck1ar. In one of the early fights there he had dis tinguished himself in a peculiar man. ner. He had gone forward alone, his
 battalion having run away. He had come on 8 hut in which he had found six Turkish soldiers. These he had slain sseriatim. But he desired some evidence of his prowess would he be believed if he recounted this story with out evidence? So he cut off the ears of the six dead Turks, skewered the twelve ears on 8 piece of stick, and brought them back into the Servian camp as | voucher for his valor. Transferred to the army of the Morava, he did good service on the foreposts and gained the silver medal. Later, heard of him as having distinguished himself in the com bat of Mramor, and as having received the gold cross. Some little time after ward met him in Belgrade, limping | from the effect of bullet wound in his | foot, but full of pluck and determine | to return to the front iii a few days.
 When l came to Delgrad on a later visit I met him leaving headquarters | without his sword. He told me that he | was under arrest, but he would not say for what reason. On inquiry learned that he had received 200 ducats for dis tribution among his command at Supovac in recognition of their conduct | in the Mramor affair. One story was that he had retained the whole of this money another, that he had kept back only fifty ducate, and, made himself merry thereon. Anyhow he was under arrest, and then I heard he was a prisoner. The other day was told he had been liberated, but degraded from his rank of officer, and allowed, upon his own earnest solicitation, to serve as volunteer in the capacity of private soldier. One night, when sitting out side the coffee house here, heard a row inside. Going in, because I heard voice familiar to me, I found there Protopopof very drunk indeed, and in the heat of an altercation with the land lord He was on his way to the rear with his arm in sling. In the last skirmish bullet had broken his arm, and gone through into his side, where it had inflicted flesh wound. He was supposed to. be in the hospital, but the reckless, turbulent rascal preferred the wine cup spite of his wound, and it was with difficulty that got him to enter the wagon which was to convey him to Paratjin. If there should be a war in China I should not Ysnder should ] meet him there. or hemay take his nexi service with the king of Dahomey. 5 Ss