Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-11-07
A COWARD BECOMES COURAGEOUS.
How Mahometan Was Led to Believe in
the Prophet.
-, Ner Iork Yfi6aRl


Nelr YORK. Tribune.
Yes, I'll tell you yarn, bows said
4 gray haired club man the other day 10
a crowd Of kindred spirits around the
nay window OF 4 comfortable but quiet
uptown club.
"N on know | held a commission as
captain in an Infantry regiment under
Osman Pacha during the Russo-Turkish
war. The regiment TO which was at
tached was the Thirteenth Guards of the
sultan ana was composed almost entire
~ OF ArnautS, a race of MahometanS
lnhablting what was ancient Macedonia.
\ queer lot they We're, and deuce of a
lot of trouble We had with them. Some
OF these fellows were the most devilish
towards, and had to be dragged into
battle with rope around their necks
and bayonetS behind them. One of
them especially, who had been farmer
IN tho interior, was the worst coward
ever heard of. His name was Achmet
Khan, and a typical-looking Oriental he
was. Small glittering eyes, fierce,
buShy, black beard and turban as big
rs a horSe-collar, he was very warrior
to look at
lone day he had Signally diSgraced
himself, for while out foraging with the
sergeant, big Kurd named Ben Esner,
and another private, the party had met
a couple of CoSsackS. As soon as Ach-
met saw the Russians he dropped two
geese and 4 sack of corn and cut for
home, leaving Ben ESncr and his COM
rade TO do the fighting. This they did
very thoroughly, leaving one rascal for
dead and bringing in the other
prisoner. We were then two miles
from Pleyna, and all knew that both
the White General (Skobeleh) and
CSman had determined to force the
issue at this point, and we knew our
work was cut out for us. So, while |
Charlie EdwardSon, of the Roumanian |
Light Horse (two-thirdS OF the officers |
were French or men of EngliSh-Speak |
ing nationS), Dick Willis, of my own |
corps and l were chatting in my tent, |
and my orderly. Pat O'Neill Che was
killed at Belgrade, poor chap, was pol
ishiug up our kit. sent for Achmet. |
There is only one way to deal with these |
people, and | started right of.
"'Come in, you jackal, | shouted as
the rascal entered.
"IIe gave the military salute, and as
soon as he saw us he began TO grOvel on |
the floor.
'Achmct.' said |. You are coward. |
Captain. he answered, with that |
Slight Eastern eXagseration and inn
agcry which is SO delightful. Captain,
great leader from the West, am dog |
and the child of many generations of
dogs. but tomorrow will fight even as
lighteth the wild ass of Arabia Pctrca |
when her young are slain
See that you do | said. for If you |
don't. by the Lord Harry, I'll shoot you.
You see this piStol?'
1t was one of those vile Turkish |
things which you can buy in the bazarS
i'm ConStantinoplc. about foot aud a |
half long, muzzle-loading and Is heavy !
as Greeks conscience is light.
"Achmet acknowledged that he OBJ
served the weapon referred To.
"'Well, said |, ! shall keep that for
you. II you run away tomorrow I'll |
kill You with il. II you behave like a
man I'll give it to YOU
"Achmet's eyes Sparkled rs he looked |
at the gold iulaid work on the stock,
and he said; Thou shalt see. then, how
| will fight
eco. then
Pat said /, load the thing up
with paSteboard and powder and to-
morrow We'll have some fun
Pat obcycd orders, and next day our
Colonel got orders from Osman 70 hold
a certain position OF importance, and
later TO move forward. 1t was irkSomo
enough standing there with nothing to
do but receive the Russian fire, and the
order TO advance was a relief. As the
brigade moved forward glanced around
at Achmet. He was white aS a sheet,
but he kept his eye on the pistol in my
left hand and he moved on in step with
his comrades. But when he reached
the brow Of hill and saw body OF i'm
perial grenadierS at the base among the
trees. the stout heart of the Arnaut
gave way. and with shrek OF 'BiSmil-
lah. he rushed to the rear amid the
jcers of the command.
AS he passed me i discharged the
pistol full ~ his breast. He fell down
and rolled; then finding that he wasn't
dead he rose and let out Il perfect howl
OF JOY and triumph.
1.-The prophet is even with his poo
pie he Shriekcd. 'Mahomet hath
turned the bullet of the Giaour from the
heart of the faithful. Blessed be the
name of the prophet. And no one ever
saw him run away again. Superstition
did what shame could not, and two
weeks later he was promoted for con
Spicuous gallantry on the field"