The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-09-30
An Interesting Ruffian.

On my visit to Batoum, writes a cor
respondent of the Lon,ion NeOs, an in
eident took place which will show how
law and order went on while the Turk
sits gurging the smoke through his
water pipe. On the beach came across
| fellow in a picturesque costume, and
with one of the most fiendish faces it has
ever been my chance to gaze upon. 1t
was Mephistophelian, but then Mephis-
topheles was a gentleman, and there
was nothing of that kind in this case
Pure malignity could be traced in
every line of the yisage had before
me. Being alone, and not knowing .
word of the language. made signs to
him that l wanted to sketch, and he,
like most easterns l have met, had no
| objections, and willingly stood for me.
To be made into a picture seems to
touch whatever vanity there may be,
and this brute had touch of that in
him. While the sketching was going
on, our interpreter came ashore with
some others of our party, and at my re-
quest inquiries were begun as to who
my model might be. He stated that he
| was Kurd, and had come down from
the mountains about some business.
He cracked, picked, and ate walnuts
while the sketching and questioning
went on. He had a small gun which
| rested on his arm. Talking to him
| about it, the interpreter CHANGED to ask
why he had not sword or dagger,
to which he replied that he did not re-
quire them; 1t was not his way of doing
things. What things?" was the nat
ural inquiry. ''Of killing people" .'Oh,
you kill people, do you?'' Yes"
How do you kill themP" 81 stand
concealed behind a rock on the road
and wait till travellers come up, and
when they are close l shoot them"
"Wnat for do you shoot them?" TO
get whatever they have upon them"
''rhen you rob all that you kill?"
Yes" "How many have you killed in
your time?" Thirteen men and three
Russians" Why he placed the Rus
| slams in different classification was,
unfortunately, not cleared up. ! re-
gretted afterward that this point was
left SO, but 1T the moment such trife
did not seem of any importance in
comparison to the astounding disclos-
ures this piece of humanity was max
ing. All the time there was we'll
pleased slmper on his face, while he
nibbled away at the walnuts. The
simper, | supposed. resulted from that
satisfaction he felt that his picture was
being made. where are you going
when you leave Batoum?" "When my
business is finished will return to the
mountains again" What will you do
there?" ''Oh, please God, l hope to
shoot the first traveller l see, and take
whatever he has got" twill be easily
understood that such an incident would
fix itself in ones mind. The sketching
OF the scoundrel, and his remorseleSs
face. all helped to engruve the whole
deep into the memory. l stood on the
same spot last year, where | had
sketched this man, and the recollection
helped ME to give force to the contrast.
This brute's character must have been
known in the place. He did not seem
TO make any secret of his doings, and
yet he walked about free and no one
seemed to think about him. The kadi
of Batoum, no doubt good Turk,
would sit smoking his chibook while
this man walked about and returned to
the mountains, as was his way" to
continue his trade of murder and rob-
berry.