The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-05-12
KING MENELEK II.
THE DOUGHTY MONARCH WHO
WIPED OUT AN ITALIAN ARMY.
Striking Peculinrities of the Ruler
OF Abyssinia and His People
Greatest African Warrior
of Modern Times

MIN to submission. This semi-bar
barian who rules large area in Africa
Just to the south of the Soudan and
bordering partly on the Red Sea, is
the first African of modern times to
show fighting qualities OF high order
and true military skill in handling
large masses of men. By wiping out
whole Italian army almost at single
blow, King Menelek has taught les.
son to European Powers.
The Abyssinias have "A curious form
OF civilization which antedates Chris
tlanlty. There is large admixture of
Caucasian blood among them.
King Menelek claims to be descend.
ed from the Queen of Sheba. Abys-
sinia is alleged to he the Sheba of
Scripture, and the blood of King Sol
ONION, it is claimed, runs through the
royal house.
The Queen of Sheba after her visit
to King Solomon was followed by a
large number of Jews upon her return
to Abyssinia. Numerous Greeks and
Portuguese subsequently took up their
residence in the country, and then be-
came absorbed amoug the native pop
ulation.
The characteristic African features
are almost wholly missing among the
Abyssinians. They have intelligence,
stability of character, courage, skill
and qualities of endurance not to be
found in any of the races of more pure
Africans. These perhaps are some of
the reasons why the Abyssinians re-
fuse to give up their country TO for
elgner without n struggle, and why
they have shown soldierly qualities
that will make them everywhere re-
spected because they will be feared.
King Menelek's followers took every
advantage of their Typographical sur
rounding, just as the Indians do in the
West. They hid in the passes and
crevlces OF the mountains, : with
which their country is plentifully sup
piled, and drew the enemy into am
bush by ingenious and plausible
schemes. Then an enormous army,
apparently forInless and ignorant of
tactics, sprang as if out of the ground.
Means of attack that are strikingly
novel were used. Rifles, shot-guns,
spears and sabres were employed by
the half savage hordes Of King Meme
lex and huge boulders were rolled
down from the mountains uDon the
helpless Italian troops below.
This signal victory is the greatest
military event in the history of Abys-
sinia, which stretches far back beyond
the dawn of European civilization.
No African sovereign of modern times
has ever achieved triumph against
European arms comparable to this.
King Nenelek is no old man whose
early death may be looked for to
throw his immense dominions open to
wild scrambling by Europeans. He is
comparatively young man and he
comes from a family of warriors, of
which he is now the greatest.
The King is surrounded by many
emblems of baIbaric splendor. On
either side of King Menelek, when he
goes with his troops to command In
battle, a slave carries an umbrella.
These royal umbrellas are ornament
ed. They are of bright, rich red,
and have heavy fringes of gold and
silver around the edge. A knob of
gold surmounts the top of each UNI
brella. The purpose of these two UNI
brellas, which are carried on either
side of King Menelek in battle, is to
distinguish him, and, incidentally, to
shade him from the fierce African sun.
Menelek in battle wears an enormous
hat. This royal hat is hereditary
among the male descendants of the
Queen of Sheba. IT looks somewhat
like a big sombrero, and is flat
crowned, with wide, stiff brim. No.
BODY bat King Menelek among the
Abyssinian troops is permitted to wear
hat like this. He has frequently
been seen, however, in battle without
this hat but with a barbaric fringe of
feathers, worries aud gold and silver
| pins sticking from his hair.
The Abyssinians are fond of red
black and white. White is a royal
color in Abyssinia, and Menelek's
mantle is big enough TO make two
sheets for the largest bed in the world
This he gathers about him in stately
fashion when he walks. Throwing
aside this glistening mantle, the King
| of Abyssinia reveals himself as n
strong built, powerful savage. One
| Of the most striking characteristics of
| his dress is an enormous silver wristlet
| that reaches from the elbow TO the
wrist OF his right arm. This pro-
| claims him TO his troops rs the slayer
OF many warriors in battle. a similar
wristlet is worn by many of his lead
ing chieftains.
King Monelek rides n horse that is
almost weighted down by an elaborate
harness, oruamented with gold, silver
and precious stones. His horses arc
| the finest Arabian thoroughbreds an d
! he owns hundreds of the best speci.
mems in Africa. These horses can
climb the stoopest and rockiest noun
tains in Abyssinia.
The skin OF the black leopard, rs
well as lion skin, also figures conspicu-
ously in the dress OF King Menelek.
| These he has lined with scarlet cloth
aud fitted with omulets. He has a
! gorgeous cloak made of the skin OF a
blackmaned lion and set with preo.
ious stones, having an immense clasp
| Of gold. The elaborate wardrobe OF
this barbaric cbieftain, whose prowess
has now astonished Europe, likewise
includes a cloak made from the skins
Of the unborn calf, which have q pc.