The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-08-30
Horrors of Turkish Rule.

tCorrespondenee Paris Morning News
 His excellency. Osman Bey. is seated sn the divan of large room of cold and sinister aspect, the floor covered with large slabs and lighted by high windows looking on the street. His face, of a light olive tint, is adorned with scanty black beard and whiskezs the nose is strong. the lips arc thick, the eyes dark and deep. Though rather stout he is well formed and above middle height. When Osman Bey smiles his countenance becomes pleasing and amiable, but when the smile is absent his regard is cold and stern. Near him, before a little table covered with green baize, sits his secre- tary. A negro, clad in long white robe and wearing on his head an enormous yellow turbAn, brings me little cup of coffee and bundle of cigarettes As hand back my cup to this imposing servi- tor three Arabs, escorted by two guards, arc led before the prefect. These un. fortunates seem to belong to the poorest of the people their feet are bare, their clothing is worn and ragged, their hands uemble convulsiveiy, their eyes arc hag- gard, and their faces twitch in apprehen-
 
 the words addressed to them by the pre-. feet. But they answer his questions with teverish vvacity, and after the exchange of few words two of the prisoners are led from the room.
 Then five men entered These are the torturers, and nothing more tell or hang dog than their looks can be imagined. Fsur of them seized the Arab who is stiil standing before the prefect, and the poor wretch, as he IS cast on the ground. throws at him glance eloquent with agony and fear but the great mans eountenance remains fixed and impassiye. and he makes no sign of grace. The victim vas then placed oa one of the slabs with his chest resting on the stone, in which position he vas held by two of the executionera Two others next raised his legs until his feet were in horizontal position, in which they were retained by means of cord fastened to either cad of| a stick. Each man held the stick wish enc hand while with the othsr he kspt fast hold of one of the Arab's len. h the gvip of these four powerful snd ex- pert men it vas impos1fble for him to move, and almost impossible foe him to vrithe. On this the iikh tortursr, who had taken no part in the pssliminaEy pro- eeedings, came forward, .holdin9 in his hand . sort of Iash, cooaisinG of Eve strands of twisted gut CT hide. The face ef this man was singuiaxiy hideous and Sepulsive-the yellow and tawny slrin. the low forehead, tha round eves. duli and fixed, the thick, hlack syshsows. the unbearded chin rsnoakinG hon coerse. thick Gps, the creased and furowed cheeks imparted to the counsenance of the chief executioner ., air of ferocious and bestial stupidity.
 The tormentor raised his arm and struck with the regularity of pendulum the upturued feet of his helpless vic6m. At tho fourth stroke the Arab uttered cry of pain, and at every fresh stroke the cry vas repeated. But soon the cry be- came a scream, the aagellated flesh visibly sAuddsEsd and the soles were scanned with rcd and livid streaks. Sit- ting sibnty on my cushion, chewing nechaeically tAs tobacco of my extin. gsishsd cigarsste, could not help shiv- sEing with honor at the sight of SO much suffering. fslt as if 1 were under the influence of same terrible nightmare. Csmaa By, his secretary, the five execu- eouess, with their stszn and sinister fea- s9res, looking yunmoved on 90 cruel ssgha, seemed for a moment rather the creaeioas of . disocdered imaeinatioo sAan beings of flesh and blood.