The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-25
THE MACEDONIAN LEADER
A YOUNG MAN WHO HAS GOOD REA-
son FOR HATING THE TURK.
Grandfather Dragged in Chains and
Banished to Asia Minor.

Turks, which has been infiamed by the ar
rest, Imprisonment and Punishment of his
father and grandfather for alleged revolu-
tionary actions, Boris Sarafoff, the young
leader of the Macedonian revolutionary
movement, is a personality of interest at
this time, when the eruption of volcanic
matter from the crater Of the Balkans is
little more menacing than usual In view
of the possibilities OF an overflow his move
ments are of Importance. for it is said that
his rule among his followers is absolute.
Although only thirty years old. he has the
reputation of having more blood on his
hands than any other parsonage in Europe
except the Commander of the Faithful"
Sarafoff was born in the Turkish village
Of Ljubjechovo, the home of his ancestors
for more than 200 years. His parents were
Bulgarians. The hereditary hatred of the
Mahometan religion and the Turks dates
back to 164S, when the Turks endeavored
to compel the Bulgarians Of the district to
become followers of the doctrines of Maho-
met. Damian. one of Sarafoff's ancestors,
persuaded them that death was better than
the remuneration of Christianity and or
ganized a formidable revolt In the eigh-
teenth and nineteenth centuries other an
cestors took a prominent part in anti
Turkish movements.
1t was evident at an early age that Sara
fon had mental powers OF more than the
ordinary caliber, and at the age or ten
years he was sent to Salonica to attend the
Bulgarian High School there. Willie study
ing at his school that which die much to
crystalline his inherent feeling against the
Turks occurred.
PRISONERS IN CHAINS.
One day cavalcade entered the city. Its
fbo oil, inc of
chains The chains were on the limbs of
Macedonian Bulgarians. At the approach
of the slowly moving body of men and their
prisoners, many of the people of the city
could be seen running toward the street
down which it was coming. AS might be
expected, the schoolboys were among the
first at the scene. One of the latter was
Sarafoff, now fourteen years old. Watch
ing the faces of the prisoners as they Were
dragged by, doubtless with sympathetic
emotions, he caught sight of two faces he
recognized. They were the faces of his
father and his grandfather. For taking
part in some supposed revolutionary move
ment they had been arrested. The heredi-
tary hatred Of the Turks instantly bore
fruit in action. He sprang forth from the
crowd of bystanders and dashed himself
against the Gordon of mounted Turkish
guards. AS was to be expected, he did not
succeed in breaking through, and he re-
ceived flashing from the whips of the
guards.
This did not daunt him, and, still smart
ing from the pain, he made his way through
the crowded streets to the gates of the
prison into which his father and grand
father had been committed. OF the sentry
he demanded admission. He was called
a Christian dog but, displaying the stub
born persistence which has brought him
to his present place of command, although
driven away again and again, he as often
returned. His temper was thoroughly
aroused
stones. he pelted the sentry from short
distance This had the effect of bringing
out a number of other sentries, and he
was pursued and captured. To the officer
of the watch before whom he was taken
he is said to have exclaimed in his wrath
May God SO ordain that you yourself will
your children will be driven away from
the prison gates without being permitted to
see you and relieve the sufferings of your
captivity
Rather amused at the fiery utterance of
the boy, and possibly somewhat impressed
with the display of determination, the Off
Ger ordered that the boy be permitted to
visit his father freely. For year Sara
foff's father and grandfather remained In
the prison. This year was one in which
Sarafoff received many impressions In
the methods of cruelty practiced by the
Turks and to learn the political creed OF
the Macedonian Bulgarians.
PREPARING FOR HIS TASK.
At the end of the year his father and
grandfather, without the semblance Of a
trial, were banished to Asia Minor for fif-
teen years. When they sailed away the
Bulgarian colony of Salonica stood on the
quay and watched the vessel pass down
| into the Gulf of Salonica. Sarafoff re-
solved to have revenge, and from that time
/: bent all of his energies to preparing himself
| for the task He studied hard During
| his holidays he made long walking tours
| through the country about Uskub, Salonica
| Monastir and Adrianople- In this way he
| is said to have become acquainted with
| hidden paths and remote byways hundreds
| of miles in extent which he afterward used
| in his raids.
He succeeded in entering the military
| academy at Sofia at the age of eighteen,
and, passing his examinations with honor,
| he received commission as lieutenant of
! the First Bulgarian Infantry Regiment at
lTthe age of twenty. For three years, until
| 1895, when the Macedonian question began
/ to attract the attention of the world. he
retained his commission. Then he became
| restless and resigned to take part in the
| Macedonian movement. Gathering about
| him 100 men of his own age he began to
| drill them. On July he crossed the from
| tier with eighty men on his way to Melnik
He and his followers slaughtered half OF
| the garrison of 100 men. Making a fiery
speech to the inhabitants assembled I'm the
market place he announced a new move
ment against turkey. Inc entire chris
tan population accompanied him to the
local Greek church to give thanks for his
success
| Sarafoff and his following were obliged
| to retreat soon from Menik, for large
| body of Turkish troops was on its way to-
| ward the place. His knowledge of the
country enabled him to escape. Sarafof1
continued his raids over the frontier. cap
| turing garrisons, stirring up the people
| end escaping before an effective pursuit
could be organized. The Turkish govern
| ment set a price of 100000 francs on his
| head He organized the Macedonian COM
mittee which is so well known, with many
| local committees, and an executive head
quarters at Sofia. At the age of thirty
| Sarafoff's ambition is to organize grea,
rebellion, seize Constaintinople. and, after
dethroning the Sultan, establish a new
| Macedonian state, with himself at its head