Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1876-09-27
A STRANGE ADVENTURE.
How a Young Man Was Helped
to a Wife Against His
Will.
From the Boston Journal.

From the Boston Journal
The Rev. Phillip Berry, of Belcher-
town, Mass, will soon publish book
relating a true story of a young mans
experience, which will again prove
stranger than fiction.
About twenty-five years ago com.
pany of young men started out from
Damascus for Jerusalem. They had
not gone far when band of armed
horsemen surrounded them and or.
dercd them to halt. The leader Of the
band said the caravan might move OH
unharmed il they would deliver up
one Of their number, a young man
named Randall, who should not suf-
fer if he would come along with them
peacefully.
After brief consultation the terms
were acceded to, and the last look his
companions had of him was to see
him mounted on fine horse, attended
by the gay horseman of the Bedouin
sheik of the LIE Arish tribe, who usu-
ally winter in the neighborhood of
Damascus, and in the summer move
south and east over the great plain,
seeking pasturage and water for their
flocks and herds. Where the escort
were to convey Randall he had no
conception, but soon he found himself
at the shcik's tent, and to his great
surprise Il magnificent entertainment
awaiting him. With amazement he
exclaimed, "What does all this mean p
Arzalia, the sheik's daughter, had
seen the young man and fallen pas
sionately in love with him, and this
was the wedding feast. The young
man and AHalia were married at
once. There was no escape for RAN
dali, l,for his tent was faithfully guard
ed by night and his person by day,
lest he should escape, and this guard
was kept over him for years.
He seemed happy with his unsought
bride, for Arzalia proved her love for
him was more than real fancy. Chill
dren were born to them,and their do
nestle life was marked by kindness,
courtesy and true affection. Randall
rapidly acquired the Arabic language,
his wife as rapidly mastered the Eng
lish, aud they taught their children
both, which they speak rapidly.
Who was this Randall? In the
State of New York lives his father,
who has never seen the face of his
son. The father is now over years
of age, and has history almost as
romantic as that of his sol, for he was
raised among the Indians, and has
travelled over the Mississippi valley
in search of fish and game.
When he was 81 years of age the
chief advised him to go to the white
men, (he was voluntarily among the
Indiahs) saying:
"You can be more of man among
the white people than the Indians"
He returned and secured Welch la
day for his wife, and while she was
on visit to her relatives in Wales,
this son was born. The mother soon
after dying, the boy remained with
his kindred, awaiting the father from
this country, but the father was un-
able to go after his son,who remained
in Wales till manhood, and was tax
ing a trip through Syria when he was
captured by the sheik.
Young Randall was Baptist, and
through his influence his wife became
of the same faith, and their children
were nurtured in the same way.
Randalfs son had become sheik of the
tribe, the father-in- law having died.
A dervish, zealot of the Moham-
mcdan faith, had for long time been
endeavoring to stir up opposition and
persecution on account ofthis new re-
| Iigion. He strove to have RandalPs
sons thrown out of the employ of the
Turkish Government, and failing in
this, turned his assaults upon daugh-
ter of the foreigner and charged her
with witchcraft. She was brought be-
fore the meglis, composed of venera-
BILE sheiks and eflendis, to answer to
charges which involved her life. The
charges having been presented and
substantiated as besttheycouldb by wit.
nesses, she was called upon TO answer
the charges through her advocate.
She, although but Ia years Of age, re-
spondcd: "Most venerable fathers,
will reply in person. and then hold
ing q Bible in her hand, from which
she frequently read, made defense
worthy of an apostle, and when she
had finished the unanimous verdict
was in her favor. But the old dervish
) breathed revenge, and determined tC
take her life.
The trial was in October, 1872. II
June, 1878, while Keron (for such wa:
her name) was teaching class of lit
tie children in grove, the dervisf
} stealthily approached.and before any
one was aware he had murdered hel
and fed The fieetest horses of thu
tribe, with riders armed, pursued ant
captured him. He was tried and eX.
ecuted. The last letter from Lad,
Arzalia lie Arish Randall gave mos
touching account of the trial ant
: tragic death of her daughter,in whicl
is this sentence: ''Pray for me tina
my piety may be as humble as the vi
olct, as enduring as the olive and a
; fragrant as the ORIENT