The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-19

Constantin0Pis, March s.-'Ths sultan
aid the Pasta, who has had him under
bservation for the last ten years, soc:
not know the meaning OF Office hours
He works OF iOafS as the spirit moves
him. Current events. Just demands upon his
time. the exigenciss or dangers of the h0uI
have not the slightest influence, or ever
bearing. upon his business methods
You ask Why the United States Minis
ter cannot get any satisfaction from his
MaiestyI viii introduce you to the palace
officials. and you shall see
The hour?
1T may be II g. m. or Il p. m.-ene would
be as likely TO be chosen for an a~udienes
as the other.
When you are invited for a certain date,
make up your mind that il will not be kept.
"A conspiracy. or plot, might be Arranged
for the given moment, and Abdul Hsmid
takes no chances.
Neither the Grand yIzier noF the An
bassadOrs OF the Powers, neithsr the lstest
chief f~avoFite, nor his AsjestE's sons and
daughters, ever know when the Shadow OF
God may bs pleased 10 'cemmRRA' them
there is only one regular aHdlsaes day,
Friday. after the Selaniik. and that Is too
general to be Of much use TO anybody IN
particular.
As to a dignitary Of the crown submit
ting that the necessities of the moment
make an audience imperative at a certain
hour or day. Turks love officehoiding too
well 10 even Suggest SuCn n lalHS-
Endless business delays. broken prom
Uses and engagements. all kinds OF embar-
rassments. Increasing the general contempt
for the Ottoman Empire, result from this
policy. or lack of policy.
The Turkish is a Government by fits
and starts: events are not taken up as they
come. or are expected TO happen. They are
ignored. forsstalled or precipitsted accord
ing to the wavering moods OF one man.
whose chief motive OF action Is fear and
whose domineering passion is thirst for
blood.
Il am not talking out of school" added
the Pasha. every diplomat in Constanti-
nople will tell you the Same
ARMED GUARD
AT THE PALACE GATE
The person commanded TO an audience
with the Sultan, or Grand NizteF, meets Al
the palace gate an armed force Of hundreds
OF picked msH. the various efleeFs OF snieh
pass upon his papers, his dress, ana ms
general attitude. before admission Is grant
ed.
Woe TO the man whose pockets seem to
indicate the presence OF . revolver or
knife.
He viii not only be turned back, inps-
rial command Notwithstanding, but at the
same time becomes the prey and quarry OF
the secret police. and IL he escapes with
his life he may deem hiElseif e4tFaSFal-
narily lucky.
IL nvlnmg suspicious is found, ons Is al
lowed to enter, but only to be folioged by Q
dozen or more 'shsdoweFs' who gsteh ef=
cry action and motion ct their man
such internal guards are armsd with
ionE-bladed knives, carried naked up theiF
right sleeves They also have q siiken
lassO handy to drag away and strange
suspicious persons.
The cord is employed whenever more
strenuous methods do net seem imperative
and the detective who arrests his man
without injuTing him Is sure of promotion
or considerable backshsesh.
Victims are conducted 20 the police
palace In a clussd carriage, and without de-
lay placed into the hands OF an examining
judge. aided by expert t9TtureTs- The rule
IS that operations Immediately follow ar
rest so as to pront by the VICTIMS surprise,
idignation and fear.
SULTAN ATTENDS FORTUNES
IN sUBTERRANEAN VAULTS.
The preliminary hearing lmRiesting 9TH
ers. their arrest fellows il at all possible
Only then the Sultan Is informed, and in
nine out Of ten cases he orders q session
OF the court for the following night
His Majesty makes it a point TO attend
this examination, which takes place in the
subterranean vaults Of the pslsce, the dis
guised ABDUL Hamid sitting behind q screen
OF iron gilt lattice work, where he eaR hear
every word spoken and see everything So
ing on.
This imperial bax sverioaks a white
marble ratuHda, containing all sorts Of In
struments Of torture fran thumhseFsRs
and Spanish boots to the rack and iron
monster. The latter 10 a metal figure, renTe-
senting the devil. This figure opsHs and
shuts by sPrIngL
"A person placed into II Is pierced by a
hundred needles on AT parts Of the body.
except the heart and brain-he Is not sup
posed TO die IN a hurry the Sultan wants
to enjoy his yietim's agony Is long as pas
sible. TO which ead the head Of the iFsn |
monster ID Of glass In front.
Very few suspects thai enter tha palica
palace leays It alive" eanttKaed the PaEhs, |
Unless they have powerful friends IN |
the SultaH's oEn h1usehele, who immedi-
ately rush to their rescue and digpfeYe the
charges made, they are doomed to . heF-
rfble and most agonizlng assthT
And their bodies are thFaEH Into tbs /
Bosphorus. are they Hots' asked yeuF ear
respondent.
You refer 10 the eaFpses sewn IN sacks
occasionally found IN the haTbor?'' replied
the Pasha, ITO put them to the Sultan's
credit weuld be an injustice. The major
ity. certainly, belong to victims Of high and
powerful officials or very rich men. who
can afforE 70 buy on justice and hire as
eassinR |
FEEDS BODIES OF VICTIMS
10 TIE FISH
-As TO his Majesty, the corpses of all of
his victims from the police palace and the
haren alike are fed 20 the FISH in the vari-
lakes within Yildiz walls. Nero already
Draw that the nsh called mursena improves