The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-06-14
HOW SIMON
HELD THE PASS
A STORY OF ARnENIA.
The Fierce Ixurds Were Met One
Small Boy Armed With His Fa-
Tiers Musl1et.
BY GERALD Brennan.

Copyright, 1896, by S. S. Mcclure Coz
All day long the hamlet of Argadoun
had remained in a fever of unrest
News came from the north and south
news from the east and the west
that the terrible Kurds were up in
arms, and that the Christians in Asia
Minor might look forward to torture
and death. In this small village, perch
ing among the mountain spurs, the
Armenians knew that they need ex-
pect no quarter Had they not, only
twelvemonth before, headed by Yussuf,
the old soldier of the Greek war, beat
en- back a plundering body of Kurd-
ish brigands? Had they not steadily
refused to pay more than their just
taxes TO the hey who governed that
province for Sultan Abdul-Hamid?
Well they knew that, despite the fine
promises of the Turkish governor. and
the supposed protection extended to
them, they would stand no chance
against their bloodthirsty Mahomme-
dan foes. Already far across the
plains, they could see the smoke rise
from burning villages. Already stray
Cling fugitives had reached their noun
tain home, carrying awful tales of ra-
pine and slaughter. The venerable
village priest, Isaac Zabreez, called
council under the cypress tree before
his low rooted house; and thither came
the men of Argadoun, the women, and
even the children. Thither, among the
rest came Simon, the little dark-eyed
son of old YuSSuf, with something of
his Staunch old father in his earnest
brown face and erect figure. Most Ar
menfan Christians walk, or rather, shut
f1e to and fro in a timid, deDrecating
manner. The habit comes to them be-
cause they are practically a race of
bondsmen-subject to the lawless will
of Turk and Kurd. But old Yussuf, as
hath been said, was a veteran of the
Greek wars, and bore himself Ibravely
as one should do who had battled with
the Maihommedan on equal grounds.
This independence of bearing he had
striven to teach his only child, so that
the boy became easily the champion
among the village youth-first climber
of mountain peaks, first runner, and
first wrestler Of his years. Moreover
(and this was whispered with awe
among the timorouS folk of Argadoun)
old Yussuf had, only last Christmas,
explained to the boy all the splendid
mysteries surrounding a certain long
barreled bright, shining rife (gift of
an American traveler), which lay hid
den in his hut Little Simon had even
been allowed to fire five shots from
the wonderful rifle; and with one of
! them he had triumphantly brought
down a blackbird on the neighboring
! peak.
That smooth bore rife was much
talked of among the mountains, and
more than one Kurdish spy had
brought news of it to the brigands'
/ camps. Indeed the attack upon Ar
gadoun, year before, had been main
! ly prompted by a desire to seize the
! famous weapon; which still. however,
remained in its hiding place.
At the council Simon held a tight
grip upon his fathers flowing gar
ments, and listened eagerly to all that
was said. Some of the villagers, Yus-
suf, of course, among them, advised
resistance to the advancing Kurds.
I'VE beat them back before" they
said. We can beat them back again.
Let us stay in Argadoun, and preserve
our homes"
But the majority was opposed to re-
1 sistance. The Kurds were coming in
overwhelming numbers. To stay would
mean death for themselves, and slav-
cry for their children Flight to the
mountain Businesses, cried these fright
ened people, was the only plan of safe
ty. Reluctantly, at last, the priest
Isaac was driven to admit that the
force of opinion called for fight
Then it was that old Yussuf arose
from the stone seat he had occupied,
his stern, War-scarred face set and
firm Eye can do as we will, my
brethren" he said: but I-even l.
shall stay here in Argadoun, and guard
my hearth against the marauders. I
! have spoken"