The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-05
ghe aaaithta 1ay eagle Enesday or1o Eebrnar 1885,

sent in front fired OF a bomb, the ex-
plosion of which told as it echoed along
the pass that all was well.
Capt Blatsky, who was going south
with small escort of mounted Cos
sacks, wholly ignoring this precaution,
said to his guide:
There are no soldiers coming this
way. The only party we can meet Is
some Jewish peddlers, and ii they get
/ In nv way will hurl them over the
cliffs
There was nothing left for the sol
diers but to obey, SO they rode on and at
! length entered the pass, Capt Blatsky
bringing up the rear.
The setting sun was pouring his level
rays through the defile, when the Rus
slams reached the highest and narrow
est point, and here they were brought
face to face with the Jewish traders,
who, by the custom of the place, had
the right of way.
When Capt. Blatsky saw the party
that opposed him, he drew his sword
and shouted out:
1 Nurse Tie OOyS. huS1 tuCAb OvCA WV
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, as the russians were their
horses.
.'We have the right Of way" replied
| the foremost jew, whose only weapon
was q stout staff
"You have no rights!" roared the
Russian.
mo rights in the valleys and towns"
replied the jew, resolutely, but up
here, nearer to God, and man to man,
We are equal"
"Pitch him over and stop his talk
ing" yelled the officers.
TRY it and take tho consequences"
was the spirited response.
The guide leaped forward with drawn
sword, and the merchant, stalwart,
young man, raised his staff and stood
on the defensive.
After fencing for few seconds the
Jews staff was cut in two, but before
his assailant could strike him with the
sword he leaped forward, 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, and
then stood face to face with another
resolute man armed only with stout
stick.
The Russian lost precious second Of
time in trying to draw his pistol, for
! the staff whistled above his head, and
unconscious and never to be conscious
again, he tumbled into the depths
Then the Jew sent the Russians horse
after him and came face to face with a
/ second man.
| Seeing the fate of his companion, the
third Russian leaped forward, like an
/ enraged animal, and caught his oppo-
| nent 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
a FRENZY that blinded them of all con-
sideration of life.
The Russians were like bloodthirsty
! savares who find their slaves rising
! against them in revolt.
The Jews lost their habitual prudence
| and were stung to desperate resist
ance by the memory OF generations Of
outrage and rapine.
In the dense settlements the Rus
slams might be masters; here they were
] Al Ill Al q
arms on the side of the transgressors.
The fourth jew picked up a sword
that Russian had dropped before he
went over and down to death. He was
a young man, unskilled in the use of
| such q weapon, but even if he had
been the wall of rock TO the left would
have baked all sword play.
With the fury of tiger he hurled
over his opponent and sent his horse
after him. The Jew had lost brother
and his gray-haired father was behind
| him.
With such a war cry as never burst
| from Jewish lips since the Maccabees
led Israel to victory, the young man
swept every living thing from his path
| until he came face to face with the last
man, Capt. Blatzky.
The Russian fred his pistol straight
into the young mans face, making
serious but not fatal wound Certain
it is it did not stay the irresistible
onset.
The officers sword leaped up. but it
was too late. He felt the wet blade at
his throat, and the next instant he had
joined the men he had so ignominiously
led to death
The surviving merchants hastily
| made their way into Turkish territory.
where they were safe, leaving behind
them = name and a memory that will
last as long as the mountains