Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-05-09

Caucasus recalh the most striking
phase Of the continual march for u
hundred years of the Russians 10 the
lands TO the south of them. In this
march the brave and hardy Circassians
have always been the lions in their
path. After a most romantic history,
in which the names of Promethus,
Deucalion, Pyriha, the Argouautus,
Sesostris and he Egyptians, the Scy-
thians, Miibridaies, Pompcy and Ira.
jan, the Arabs, rartars and Turkomans
figure, Circassia in 1905, overthrow the
Khans Of the Crimea and became the
allies of the Turkish Sultan. In 1879
the Circassians were declared indie
pendent, but they have always retain
ed an affection for their old masters
In 1871 Russia acquired the Kuban
border, and for eighty years after
wards waged a warfare OH the bold
mountaineers whose heroic struggles
to maintain their freedom are not ex.
celled in the history of any people. In
1874 the Turks built the fortress Of
Anapa, and thence melted the Clrcas-
slams TO insurrcciion against the Rus
slams in 1907, but five years later, by
the treaty of Bucharest, restored to
the Turks, who availed themselves of
the peace that followed to convert the
Circassians TO lslamism. In 1929
Anapa again fell into the hands of the
Russians, and with 1t the country.
The Circassians, however, refused to
recognize the cession, and then began
the struggle which has made them
famous and gave TO the world one
of its greatest leaders-Shamyl, the
father Of the young man whom the
Turks now propose to send to his ma.
tive land TO stir up his countrymen
against their historic enemies and op.
pressors. Shamyl the elder was born
about 1896 and died at Medina, Arabia.
in 1871. He first appears in 1923 as
subordinate in religious war against
the Northern infidels. In 1894 he be-
came leader and organized his grand
warfare against Russia, which lasted
for nearly thirty years. His first vic.
tory was over General Ivelitch, in
1889, at Aknigo. His forces were sup.
posed to be crushed and himself killed,
but he re.appearcd soon afterwards
and renewed the struggle The fight
ing at Aulgo was of the most desper.
ate character, and for three days the
conflict was hand to hand. After five
years OF guerrilla warfare the Car
Nicholas sent large army into the
country, which Shamyl opposed with
one of equal numbers. The Russian
campaign was foied and new plan OF
action was introduced against the
brave monntaineers. All attempts to
bring them to a pitched battle, in
which they had shown themselves the
equals, if not the superiors, of the
Russians, were abandoned and detacb.
ments sent against isolated spots.
Wherevera footing was obtained, there
a tort was erected. But this plan also
failed. The Circassians kept up their
offensive operations, and in 1876 they
swept the chain of Russian forts and
returned TO their mountains laden with
plunder. This victory was repeated
in 1913 and 1850, and in 1853 they
drove the Russians back from eight
leagues Of territory. During the
Crimean war Russia had her bands
full elsewhere, and Shamyl was com.
parativcly inactive. As soon as the
treaty of Paris was signed the Car
reopened the war. Shamyl held out
heroically for three years, but the cap
turo of Veden in April, 1859, virtually
decided the contest. Shamyl retired
to the mountain fastness of Ghumb.
near the Caspian Sea. Here on Sep
tember 6, after one OF the most des
perate conflicts of history he was fore
cd to surrender and carried prisoner
to Moscow and st Petersburg. With
this battle all active efforts to maintain
the independence of Circassia ceased.
Shamyl was treated with distinguished
courtesy by the Gar, who settled q
pension of 10000 roublcs upon him.
In 1870 the old hero repaired to the
shrine of Mahomet, where he died the
following year. Although subject to
Russia the Circassians have not aban.
doned their hopes of freeing their
country with the assistance of their
old allies, the Turks. In 1856 they
sent deputaiion to ConsiantinopIe
imploring the Sutan's protection in
1862 deputation arrived in London
and presented petition to the Queen
protesting against Russian rule and
the right of Turkey to cedc their
country as she had done nearly thirty
years before and 1868, during a visit
of the Gar Alexander II. to the Cau.
casus, delegation Of Circassians wait.
cd upon him, praying to be left in pos.
session of their country and promising
to live on terms of peace and amiiy
with the Russians. The Emperor re.
fused, and offered them tho alternative
of war or emigration. The mountainecrs
chose the former, but their great lead.
er was sadly missed, and after years
fighting they submitted, and there was
a great emigration of about 200, 900
persons to Turkey. The Circassians
yet remaining in the Caucasus are still
discontented and ripe for revolution,
and if young shamyl has but half
the heart of his father, the Russian
armies now operating in Asia Minor
may suddenly find more formidable
foe in their rear than in front of them.