New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-13
IN ALBANIA.
zdpentures and Reflections of a
Special Correspondent.
Mitrovitza April .


There is a fascination about wandering over a
.,,,-,hering volcano all day and resting in its
--s+e- by night. II is even more enhancing
xhsn al the world is watching for an upheaval
-,ornentariiy. and when you have in the venture
,he company of one whose death would bring
considerable notoriety. The very football of q
foreigner At this time inspires d renewed erup-
.,cn OF Nitrovitza. but when he strolls a bout
Nth a small army OF roughshod Cossacks and
Kavasses and with Turks who in their hearts
would welcome any harm that might befall him.
n Is tempting Providence. One must not. how
ever be called a coward. for these AIbanians
who are the finder Of this inffammable region
burn more furiously when q foreigner shows
fear and lodges about. I have been linking my
fortunes with those OF the Russian consul dur
ing my stay here, for we are birds OF a feather
the only foreigners in region where danger
makes companions. There Is Turkish hun IN
the town. but had I stopped there the kama
kan would Immediately have cordoned the
house with troops and put pair to watch over
nv door The guards are alleged TO be for your
protection but. suspicious as Turks are, they
watch you more closely than your potential
sasstns- I accepted at once the invitation OF NJ
Nashkof 70 be HIS guest at the consulate dur
ting my stay
DO not know that making the consulate the
crater is using just the proper figure. It is the
centre Of the disturbance. but il is. too. the
safest place IN the volcano The consulate is
situated within a stones throw Of the spot
where the batteries stood in the recent fight
with the Albanians, just between the barracks
and e camp Of Turkish troops, and about the
house is continually a heavy guard Of troops
picked from the men known TO be the least
fanaticaL A tremendous Russian flag hangs
from the second story down before the front of
7f-s--- -Fze
mans, but reminding them that that much hated
foreign power is lodged there Within the house
stands sentinel AZ the main entrance q Cossack
with his bCsbee hat. blue dress with large white
SPOTS on II and brown sleeves and ieggins.
Then there are Kavasses on duty. and two
rusty dragomans, one Of whom is Christian
albanian He is q renegade. according to his
people, for they are united, Catholics and Mus
sulrnans. against all outsiders
This IS his story: The mans cousin muir
dered by one Of the Albanians OF the town. NJ
Mashkoff- insisted that the assassin should be
captured and tried. The Turks protested that
they could not run the man down Ten days
efter the murder the dragoman passed the guilty
nan On the street. The murderer did not see
him for he was in the consulate's covered rig.
He Jumped out after the carriage had passed
the man. and. running up behind him. pinioned
his arms. Both men cried for help. No re-
Spouse came to the enploye Of the Russian con-
Eulace. but another Albanian came UP and
feveIled his gun at the dragonnan, who cleverly
turned his man about SO that the ball would
pierce him first The gun was not fired Sew
e-al times this play was repeated. till the free
Albanian rushed UP with the butt Of his gun
raised. There was no help forthcoming for the
dragomar. so he shouted in the ear Of the man
whom he was holding. stop that man min
77-et Tour life for rlinet'' The two men con-
suited moment and agreed that on the drago-
mans life being spared he should request NJ
Mashkof 20 hold up the prosecution Of the
other N. Mashkof agreed. for the sake Of pro-
vidtng for the future safety OF his dragonaan,
and the authorities OF their own accord did
nothing TO bring the murderer TO justice
The Turks hare added considerably TO the
scheme Of reforms One OF their intentions is
70 establish law courts throughout Old servia
and Albania They are working 81 an impossi-
be task They cannot conduct law courts with
AIbanians al armed. Both parties in acton
would go into court with al their weapons. and
The result would be, matter which way the
verdict went the death q the Judge The dis
srning Of the Albanians is the indispensable
condition Of the establishment Of reforms IN
European Turkey and there is hardly chance
that such 2 thing can be accomplished Inc
Turks are nobilizing an army OF about thirty
thousand men at Verosovich for the declared
purpose o. occupying Albania. capturing and
exrinE the -ingleaders Of resistance TO the re
forms and diszruing the others How the Sui
tsn = going 10 manage with his bodyguard
during this campaign against their people I
have no notion but the success OF the plan is
50 unlikely that Il is the opinion here that the
Turks have no idea Of such move and are
modifying near the Servian and Bulgarian
frontier for another purpose. The trade in arms
zrc ammunition with the AIbanians is q source
Of considerable profit 70 the Austrians and Ital-
Isns and z custom house service and frontier
guard stronger and less subject TO influence
bv bakshist than the Turks have ever had
world be required in order 70 close those two
sources Of supply. The A1banians have one fac
tory in their land. Il is pitched like an Illicit
distiIIery, in an iu1pregnable mountain fastness.
hlIr Il manufactures guns and guns OF no mean
order
The sultan's peace commission Of holy men
has al this writing failed TO conciliate the Al
tznians They cannot be reconciled 10 the loea
~ having been attacked, and OF many Of their
number having been slain by the Sultan's men,
u-hen he has kept them armed for generations
fa- the nurDose OF intiridating the giaour' ana
~ rnzi-tziuing q strong and cheap barrier be-
tween his dorninions and those OF the un0elieV-
a-e ~ .ba west The Sultan has chosen for his
hos--g7,s-d their brothers for their lawlessness
ana -hei- fidelity 10 the Prophet and his repre-
se-4a+ize On earth. Even bakshish in album
dance for their chiefs viii not reconcile them
BIZ the time this letter is printed the comnls-
s]or viii nrobsbl have returned, and the army
nov ~ ve-osov-,h he Turks say, viii marcn
On Pri.rend as soon as diplomatic efforts have
been exhausted. The officers say that II VIII