The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-01-04
THE JEWS LEAP.


NAL can turn on and no two animals can
pass each other on. Below the trail there
b chasm 700 feet deep, and this place
within the last few years has come to be
known as 1.-THE Jews Leap" This Is the
reason:
In the spring of 1873 party Of Jews,
ten ia number, were on their way with q
pack Of heavily laden mules to the Don
country, where they were to attend a fair.
It was ever the custom for parties coming
over from the north to send a man ahead
On foot to see if the road was clear, par
ties from Circassia having the right Of
way.
II the road was all right the man sent
In front fired off bomb, the explosion of
which told as it echoed along the pass that
all was well.
Captain Blatzky, who was going south
with small escort of mounted Cossacks,
wholly ignoring this precaution, said to
his guide:
NThere are no soldiers coming this way.
The only party we can meet is some jew
lsh peddlers, and If they get in my way I
will hurl them over the cliffs"
There was nothing left for the soldiers
but to obey, so they rode on, and at length
entered the pass, Captain Blatzky bring
ing up the rear.
The setting sun was pouring his level
rays through the defile when the Russian
reached the highest and narrowest point,
and here they were brought face TO face
with the Jewish traders, who, by the Gus
tom of the place, had the right of way.
When Captain Blatzky saw the party
that opposed him, he drew his swora and
shouted out:
Course the dogsl Hurl them over the
cliffs and ride on"
The Jews heard the savage order and
held short consultation. To go back
was impossible. for all were leading their
mules, rs the Russians were their horses.
1--WE have the right of way" replied the
foremost Jew, whose only weapon was a
stout staff.
"You have no rights, - roared the Rus
dan.
mo rights in the valleys and towns"
nearer to God and man to man, we are
equal"
"Pitch him over and stop his talking"
yelled the officer.
"Try it and take the consequences,
was the spirited response.
The guide leaped forward with drawn
sword, and the merchants, stalwart
young man, raised his staff and st"od On
the defensive.
After fencing for a few seconds the
jews staff was cut in two, but before his
assailant could strike him with his sword
be leaped forward and caught him in his
arms, and the two fell over the cliff and
dashed in bleeding mass on the rocks
below. The second Russian sent the
Jews burdened mule after his master I'D
then stood face to face with another reso-
lutte man armed only with a stout stick.
The Russian lost precious second of time
in trying to draw his pistol, for the staff
whistled above bis head, and unconscious
and never to be conscious again he tum-
bled into the depths. Then the Jew sent
the Russians horse after him and and
came face to face with a second man.
Seeing the fate of his companion, the
third Russian caught his opponent in his
arms. The struggle was brief and fierce
The issue would have been doubtful had
not the Cossack's horse plunged forward
In its fright and dashed against the men,
hurting them and itself into the awful
abyss
Both parties were now wrought up to
frenzy that blinded them to all considera-
tons of life.
The Russians were like bloodthirsty
savages who find their slaves rising against
them in revolt.
The Jews lost their habitual prudence
and were stung to desperate resistance
by the memory of generations of outrage
and rapine
In the dense settlements the Russians
might be masters. Here they were man
20 man, with all the advantage of arms
on the side of the transgressors.
The fourth Jew picked up sword that
. Russian had dropped before he went
over and down to death He was young
man, unskilled in the use Of such a weap-
on, but even If he had been the wall OF
rock to the left would have baked all
sword play.
With the fury Of q tige. he hurled over
bis opponent and sent his horse after him.
yhe jew had lost brother, and his gray
haired father was behind him.
With such a warcry as never burst from
Jewish lips since the Maccabees led Israel
10 victory the young man swept every liv-
Ing thing from his path until he came
face to face with the last man, Captain
Blatzky.
The Russian fired his pistol straight
into the young mans face, making a So
eious but not fatal wound. Certain it Is
1t did not stay the irresistible onset.
The officers sword leaped up but 4,
was too late. He felt the wet blade at
his throat, and the next instant he had
Joined the men he had so ANONYMOUSLY
led to death.
The surviving merchants hastily made
their way into Turkish territory, where
they were safe, leaving behind them a
name and n memory that will last as long
as the mountains The Jews Leap. -