The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-10-28

soldiers was in 1860. when Sultan
Amurath 1 formed bodyguard from
among the Christian captives Though
in reality they were slaves of the Turk
ish ruler, yet the sultan bestowed
favors upon them such as no other
subjects of his domain received. From
mere bodyguard of 300 men it was
decided to increase the number, so as
to form a standing army for Turkey.
Turks and Kurds We'd with each other
in joining this new army, which was
the first standing army of Europe.
Like most proselytes, the Christians
who formed a part of the Janizaries
became greater fanatics than the
Turks in their warfare against Chris
tians; in fact, they were the scourge
and terror of the bordering Christian
states. AS time went on the number
of the Janizaries had increased to
nearly $4,000. The sultans became mere
puppets to their will. The Turkish
rulers who attempted to thwart the
wishes of their leaders were deposed,
and in many Instances murdered I'M
tremendously. Amurath Tor Murad)
l. was murdered through their agency
in 1889, and Bajaret l. proclaimed sui
tan, but he, like his predecessor, was
dethroned by them and thrown into
prison in 1903, where he died. The next
sultan murdered by the Janizaries was
Musa-Chelebi, who assembled the throne
in 1410 and was killed in 1913 Mus
tapha l. was deposed by them in 1918,
after reign of II years. followed by
the murder of Osnan II. in 1922 when
Mustapha was again placed on the
throne and murdered the following
year Sultan Ibrahim was the next one
to arouse their i'll will. He was put to
death in a cruel manner in 1913, after
a reign of eight years. They deposed
Mahomet ". in 1857 and deposed All
med Cor AchmeD III. in 1870, Selim
Ill was murdered in 1907, and Musta-
pha ". in 1905 This was the last ruler
that met a premature death at their
hands.
In 1926 Sultan Mahmoud H., some
times called Mahomet VI, began to re-
organic the army On June IA, 1925,
Grand Vizier Selim Mehaled Pasha and
the celebrated Aga Pasha Hussein,
commander of the Turkish forces,
called the Janizaries to meeting of
their large square The grand vizier
informed them that a new dress was
to be substituted for the one then used
and that their privileges were to be
restricted. This did not meet with
their approval. No murmur of dis
sent was made at the time. When
the grand vizier dispersed them they
all returned to their kislas quietly. TIL
officials seemed delighted that such an
unpleasant business had passed off so
quietly and without opposition. But
Commander Hussein, who we'll knew
their traits, informed the sultan and
vizier that before the Janizaries would
submit he was afraid that a great deal
of blood would be shed. This prediction
40 yl,:1l
called the next day but a few of the
Janizaries responded to the call.
The great crisis came on June Ia.
1896 The sultan had determined If
possible to end the rapines of the jam 7.
zaries, and that body in turn had de-
cided that the sultan should die and
another ruler be proclaimed. Mahome.
VI had all his forces ready for the ter
rible fray which was soon to take place
on June IA of that year. The Janizar-
les leaders had all in readiness. The
sultan's forces had barricaded the way
entering to the grounds of the palace
at which the ruler resided. On the
Janizaries came, and so great was the
terror of them that the sultan's troops
fled as they came through a narrow
defile which had been protected with
large cannon. Even the gunners had
deserted their guns. One of the Turk
ish soldiers. however, having more
courage than his companions, rushed
to the guns and touched one of them
off when the January column was
within short range. The carnage of
the shells from the guns was terrible.
This brave soldier touched off all the
cannons in succession.
1t was at this juncture that the sui
tan rushed out of his palace, bearing
on high the sacred standard of Ma