New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-10-21
A Soldier Of Fortune.
The Servian correspondent Of the London

Nears writes:
Exit Protopopof! Who. then, il Proto
popoi? Protopopof 10 Q Russian soldier Of
fortune, whose acquaintance first made
during the SpaDish war 1T Bilboa, whom he
was . captain in Tomas division. When
ON my first visit to Alsxinsfz I casually met
Protopopof in 6eehouse.v He vas theu
Servian infantry and two batteries of artil.
lery, and he held the post Of danger ct So.
povac, Within sight Of the Turkish fore
posts. He had como back to Alexinatz fol
orders, for big drink, for money and fol
tobacco. He gave me, an invitation to come
and stay with him on the foreposts ct Supo
vac, and went Of next morning with rather
= hesdache, but with silver medal on hi
From others learned something Of Pro
topopofss career in tho service Of Servis
He had Joined - . volunteer, had got bat
TALON command, and had been ont 10 Salts.
char. InTons of the early Aghis there he
had distinguished himself in . peculiar
manner. He had gone forward alone, his
battalion having run away. He had come
on . hut in which he had found six Turkish
soldiers. These he had SLAIN seristim. But
he desired some evidences OF his prowess
Would he be believed if he rec0unted this
story without evidence3 So he cut off the
ears of the six dead Turks, skewered the
twelve ears on . piece of stick. and brought
them bsck into the Servian camp ~ vouch-
or for his val0r.
Transferred to the army Of the Morava,
received the silver medal. Later, heard of
him - having distinguished himself 1T the
com bat of Miramor, and - having
received the gold cross. Some little time
afterward met him in Belgrade, limping
from the effect Of bullet wound in his foot,
but full of pluck and determined to return
to the front in few days. When came
to belgrade on later visit met him leav-
ing headquarters without his sword. He
told me that he was under arrest, but
would not say for what reason. On inquiry
| learned that he had received 200 ducats |
for distribution among his command at |
Sup0vac in recognition of their conduct in |
the Miramor affair. One story was that he |
had retained the whole of this money; an
other, that he kept back only fifty ducate,
and made himself merry thereon. Anyhow,
he was under arrest, and then l heard he |
was . prisoner. The other day was told |
he had been liberated, but degraded from |
his rank of officer, and allowed, upon
Luis own earnest solicitation, to serve
as volunteer in the capacity of |
private soldier. Last night, while sitting
outside the coffeehouse mere, / heard 9 row
inside Going in because I heard q voice
that seemed familiar to me, l found here |
very drunk indeed, and in the
heat of an alteration with the landlord.
He was ON his way to the rear with his arm
in q sling. In the laAt skirmish bullet
had broken his arm and gone through into
bis side, where it had inflicted 8 flesh
wound: He was supposed to be in the hos
pltal, but the reckless, turbulent rascal
preferred the wine cup. spite Of his wound,
and 1t was with difficulty that I got him to
,nIer tne wagon which was to convey them
o Paratjin. If there should be q war in
China should not wonder should meet
nm there. or he may take his next service
With the King of Dshomey.