The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-06-14
DECAPITATION IN BATTLE.

Col. Parsons's Hard Stroke in the
Civil War and His Remarkable Ride.
1t is claimed by authorities on the
art of war that the greatest blow of
the campaign between Greece and
Turkey was struck by Col, Mahmond
Bey, who with one swift stroke of his
sword completely severed Greek Off
GERS head from his body. These same
authorities generously admit that this
trick may have been quite common in
ancient times, when stalwart men
swung heavy battle axes, but they
agree that it is practically unknown
in modern warfare. They point trump
hantly to the fact that there is no re-
cord of any such feat having been per-
formed during the Franco-Prussian
war, though cavalry charges and
fierce hand-to -hand conflicts were fire.
quent; and the Prussian has a reputa-
ton as a sabe swinger Therefore they
are inclined to be skeptlcal on the sub
ject and speak of Mahmoud Bey's feat
as a marvellous example of strength
and deXtority.
History is silent on the subject.
There Is not plethora of literature
bearing on its accomplishment. The
original of all such stories is, of course,
1.-THE Adventures of Jack the Giant
Killer" which, for obvious reasons,
does not help the subject. Scott des-
cribes similar episode in THE Tails
man." but the best decapitation story,
from an artistic point of view, is found
in the memoirs of Capt. John Smith.
The doughty Captain vouches for the
veracity of the details, though that is
no good reason why we should not use
the customary pinch of salt. According
to his truthful chornicle he overcame
in tournament the three champions
of the Turkish army. decapitating each
one with a single blow OF his heavy
sword.
A writer who is evidently informed
on the subject claims that Mahmond
Bey could not have accomplished the
feat of decapitation with an ordinary
sabre, and asserts that the Turk S
yataghan was loaded with quicksil-
YER yataghan, he explains. is short
sword, shaped something like a
butchers clever. with an apparently
hollow tube running along the back
from hilt to point. This tube carries a
charge of quicksilver When the sword
is held upright this quicksilver rests at
the hilt. As blow Is struck the liquid
metal is hurled down the grooved chan
mel, lending deadly additional weight to
the blow. Such a weapon, 1t is claimed
was in Mahmond Bey's hands when he
dashed ahead of his troops and de-
capitated the Greek officer who was
firing at him. .'.
The assertion made that this is the
sole instance of it's Kind in the history
of hundred years is not borne by
facts. The same feat was performed
during the civil war, not with a load
ed" yataghan, but with an ordinary
| United States army sabre. The man
who welded the sword in this episode
Col. E. Bloss Parsons, died two weeks
ago in Rochester, N. Y. Col. Parsons
was one of the wealthiest and best
known men in New York States, and
| though he had never related the story
the details were found among his pri-
waite papers after his death. The In
cideht were illustrated and described
in Harpers Weekly at the time
1t was in 1864. Col. Parson, who was
noted as herseman, was attached tc
Gen. Sheridan's staff While reconnoi.
tering one day with squad of troopers
under Gen. Davis, they We're surprised
by detachment of Confederate cav.
airy. A pitched battle ensued, and par
sons, who was in the rear, saw a rebe
officer level a revolver at Gen. Davis's
head. Jabbing the spurs into his horse
he swung his sabre above his head, and
dashing by just as the officer fired, he
made terrific full-arm sweep The
shoulders as swiftly as if it had beer
severed by guillotine. The feat is
more remarkable when it is considered
that Parsons was a slim, beardless fell
low of 81 In comparison, Mahmond
Bey's single slash with his yataghar
loses much of it's Importance
Colonel Parsons was brevetted gene.
raj for distinguished services during
the war; but characteristic modesty
forbade the use of that title when he re.
turned to civilian life. Not only did he
perform the only authentic feat of de.
capitation during the civil war but hi
was the hero of a remarkable ride. A
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