New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-18
THE CHAFFERING TURK.
TIE UIRSCII CLAIN1S-TIIE WRONG MEliMED
MUCH ADO ABOUT DIME.


IRon THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE 'RInuNEl
CoNsTANTINorLE, Feb. 20.
The Oriental love for chancrng over bar
gain and for getting reduction without ref
crence to the subject of the bargain, has had an
amusing illustration in the course of the recent
negotiations for the settlement Of the IIrsch
claims Baron Hrsch built the Rumean rail
ways and received from the Government a
promise of n certain sum per annum for every
mile built The subsidy was not paid, and for
security quantity of Ottoman bonds were put
in the hands OF the Baron by the Porte Then
arose quarrel as to the fidelity with which the
Baron had carried out his share of the contract
and in the end the Turks presenting claims on
the Baron instead Of giving him funds the Baron
sold ont the Ottoman bonds left in his hands as
security and went on his way rejoicing.
1t is now to the interest of the Turkish Govern
mcnt to settle the Hirsch claims in order to avoid
any disturbance as to the conclusion of the new
line to Vienna Baron Hhsch has been in the
city, and the negotiations have been going on
for some months The first demand Of the Turks
that the Baron should pay the Ottoman
Treasury ss0.0OO.O0O This was offset by n de
mand of the Baron for an amount nearly as
large. After infinite discussion the Turks re-
duced their demand to the more moderate amount
of Sc, 900. The Baron, on the other hand
let 1t be understood that, for the sake of peace,
be would pay the Government So, 600 600 and
call it square The Turks could not hear of such
thing, and, as in the bazars in such emergen-
cies, the Baron to go. He had put his
goods the steamer and the hour OF sailing had
nearly arrived, when the Grand Nner sent to
beg him to remain After some further chatter
ing. the Baron agreed TO stay on condition that
his offer be taken into consideration. This was
promised and the Baron's luggage was
ashore and the steamer had gone. the Bsron's
offer was taken into consideration: and rejected.
Then new preparations fer departure on the
part of the Baron ensucd, followed by new en-
treaties on the part Of the officials that he would
delay and come TO some settlement. Two or
three feints on the part Of the Baron at length
brought from the Turks the offer TO call il square
If the Baron would pay 81 600 600 TO the Treas
ury This WAS the amount which the Govern
ment felt the Baron ought 70 be willing to give
without regard to the question Of old dues, and
for this amount the Government held out to the
last. The Baron stood firm on his declaration
that he would not pay cent more than So 600 600,
and left the city. Perhaps may suppose that
there is end to negotiation when the matter is
left at such pass after such course Of bargain
ing. Not at all. 1t is still a matter Of bargain
ing and it is currently reported that the final
agreement between the Porte and the Baron may
take the form Of splitting the difference
1t is not always that the victim of a mistake Of
the police has good reason to rejoice AS GER
tain Mehned. of Sparta, in Asia Minor. who
brought up here in irons the other day. Some
four or five years ago celebrated hfisand named
pehlivan Mchmcd was brought out from the crmi-
nal court in this city TO be carried back to the
prison in the Black Maria prison The
man was handcufcd and surrounded by police
with loaded carbincs The door Of the van was
opened for him TO pass in, and be stepped forward
do So bat instead Of entering the van hc sprdng
-.
box, and drove off at full speed. leaving the 10
lice opcn-iOouthcd in amdzcmcnt at what had
taken place. Since the prison always goes
through the streets at a hrc1inccli speed. nobody
was surprised at its doing so on this OCCASION.
Before the police had recovered their wits enough
70 cast about for some means Of pursuit, the van
driven by Mehmcd had disappeared. In due
time the van was OyoItaken and brought back
empty. ana from that day t. this the famous
brigand Pchlivan Mchmed has pursued his avo-
cation on the road between Constaninoplc ana
Nicomedia with GOODNESS and a success that
tave been ast onishing
Within the last two or three months the Gov
eminent has been making efforts 10 capture the
most notable among the brigandS Of the country,
and among others Prhlyan Inclined was hoEorrd
With special mention and a special prizc al
fixed to his name a. the reward Of him who should
capture so rcdoubtable criminal Notices OF
the reward sent to all parts Of the country
and were not altogether clear to the description
81 the ii.and's person since tho man was to.er-
ably well known. The promise Of s. q reward
for the person of Pchivan Mcimed cam" into the
hands Of police commander in village near
Cuarta at tie other end Of Asia Minor and AT
the same time he remembered that one OF the
people in the village named Pch'ivan Mch-
med So this wise policeman arrests the Vlager
ana telegfaphs to ConstaDtinoplc that he has ar
rested the man and wishes to know what he -
a do with him. The answer comes that II hc
Is sure the prisoner IS Pchlivan Mchmcd, he IS
IN send him in irons 10 the capital. This was
done. and poor Pohlivan Inclined. Of Sparta
without the least idea Of what one OF his SINS
had mnrtcd such treatment. was heavily lronrd
and dragged to Constantin0pe in the d'ad Of
E-inter.
The papers Of the city were loud in their jubi-
iations over the capture, and IT was announced
for the encouragement Of the police that Inc
man who had captured Inclined had been pro-
noted and given the 1925 reward linen iIIr
prisoner arrived and was at once declared oY
The officials at the prison not to be IrhiiNah NIGH
med. The prisoner stouty declared that he was
pehlivan Melmed the iailers denied it, and
finally kilograms were sent TO Sparta demanding
nm exclamation The authorities replied that the
man was we'll known in that rcgion-" IN Ihct
all the people knew him TO be Pci'an Mrimed
f,r he had never been absent from the village
dav in all his life" This settled Tie matter
The police commander seeing the reward oherca
for Pchliyan Mehmcd, had taken the first Penn
van Nehyned who came TO hand ana had cauA1i
nil the excitement by his lack Of discrimination
AZ IA tLe reasons which led 10 the oher OF Ic"'
ward The affair 50 disturbed the Sultan that nc
had the IucLess prisoner released and gave MN
pension of ten pounds month Since inc
peassnt Of Sparta has never had more than one
ar. at most, two pounds month OF income up
10 this time the mistake Of the police commander
which took him in irons TO Constan'inoMc y
probably regarded by him as the happieSo oAPc-