The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-09-03
THE WOMAN spy.

TIE w VIVIAN " IS
Pm now very old man, long ago
superannuated; and the adventure ! am
about to relate occurred wien ] was Il
STRIPPING captain (pr0motion was rapid
then J, many and many a long year ago.
| We we're then at war with the Ottoman
empire.
| 1t was getting late in the spring ofour
campaign, and our trouble with the
Turks was still far from being at close,
that l set out from Miclasvaf, in Tran
sXlyania, 10 conduct number OF re-
cruits to my regiment, which then lay in
the vicinity of Orsown. In a village
near the army lived gypsy, who car
ried on the trade Of a suller. My new
soldiers, who were extremely supersti-
tious, asked her to tell their fortunes. |
laughed at them, and at the same time
held my hand to the gypsy.
"The 2Otn Of Augusta said she, with
very significant air, aud without adding
another syllable.
| / wished to obtain some explanation,
but she repeated the same words; aud,
as was goin. away, she called cut to
| me in tue same tone:
| "rhe Goth of Augustw
| 1t may easily be supposed that this
date remained Impressed upon my mem-
0ry.
| We joined the army, and shared its
| iatigues and danger. 1t is well known
| that i'll this war the Turks gave 10 quar-
| ter, The chiefs offered a premium OF q
ducat for every head that should be
brought into tue camp; anu neither
Janissaries or Spanls neglected any op-
pJrtunity OF earning the reward.
The arrangement was particularly
fatal TO our advance post. There was
| oIxt 81 nj a mi, i,I, +a
| did not come IN superior numbers to
seek our heads; and atidaybreak it was
often found That portion of the camp
| had been guarded by decapitated bod
lies.
| The Prince Of Coburg resolved to send
every night strong plckets of cavalry
| beyond the chain of videttes, for the
purpose or protecting them. These
pickets were composed OF one or two
hundred men; but the Turkish generals.
| finding their troops disturbed il their
retail trade, sent still more numerous
jdetachments against our pickets, which
procured them "a still more considerable
profit. The service OF the plckets was
consequently OF such a nature that
those who were appointed to perform il
always put their affairs in order preyt-
Gus to their departure.
| Things were lnthis state in the month
| of August. Several battles had not
lehansed The position of the army. A
| week before the Goth my fortune
| teller, Of whom frequently purchased
provisions, again maue her appearance.
| She entered my tent, requesting me to
leave her a legacy i'll case | should die
on the day she had predicted, and OF.
tereu, i'll case should not, to make me Il
present Of hamper Of Tokay. This
wine was rarity in the army. The
gypsy appeared not to have common
sense. In he situation in which I"theu
| was speedy death was not improba-
Bile, but had no reason to expect it
precisely on the 20th OF August.
| | aeceded to the proposal, stalking two
horses and fifty ducats against the cid
| woman's Tokay, and the auditor OF the
regiment took down our agreement in
! writing, but not without indulging in
laugh.
The 20th of August came. There was
| no probability OF an engagement. 1t
was indeed the turn of our regiment to
| furnish a picket for the night, but two
of my comrades were 10 60 before me.
In the evening, as the hussars were pre-
pairing 10 set OF, the surgeon Of the regi-
ment came to inform the commander
that the officer named for the picket was
taken dangerously ILL. The one next to
HIM, ana who preceded me, received Of
ders to take his place. He dressed him.
self in haste, and was proceeding to Join
his men, but his horse, generally @ uiet
creature, suddenly began to prance and
caper in suen manner that he at last
threw his rider, who broke his leg in the
lal!. 1t was now my turn. | set OFT.
but, must confess, not in my ordinary
numor.
commanded eighty men, and was
joined Dy one hundred and twenty be-
longing 10 another regiment, making in
the whole two hundred men. Our post
was about a thousand PAGES in font of
the Line OF the right wing, and we were
supported by marsh covered with very
high reeds. We had no advanced senti-
nels, but not man was suffered to leave
The saddle; our orders were to remain
with drawn sabers and loaded carbines
till daybreak. .
Every thing was quiet till quarter be.
lore 10 O'clock, when we heard noise,
which was succeeded by loud shouts OF
"AllahW and In moment all the horses
were thrown to the ground, either by the
fire or tue shock OF seven or eIght hun
dred Turks. An equal number fell Oh
their side from the impetuosity OF the
charge, and the fire OF our carbines.
In the confusion mat succeeded, re-
eelved eight saber wounds, as well from
friends as enemies; my'horse was NOR
tally wounded; he fell upon my right
leg, and pinned me to the ground. :,
The flash of pistols threw Il light upon
the scene OF carnage. raised my eyes
and saw our men defending themselves
with the courage or deSpair; but the
Turks, intoXicated with opium, made
horrible massacre Of Them Very soon
not Il single Austrian was left standing.
The victors seized the horses that were
still hit tor Service, piIlaged the dead and
wounded, and then began to cut oil their
heads and put them into sacks, which
they mad brought expressly tor tAe pur-
pose.
My situation was not very enviable,
In the regiment of Seeker w0ln genural
understood the Turklsl language. IL
AeaI d them encourage each other to tu- |
ish thebusihesS before any help Should
arrive, and not 10 leave a Single dueuL
behind, adding That there ougut to he
two hundred. Hence, it appears thai
their information must have been very |
acGulat9s ..r, ,-. ,a'... - .'''.' 80