Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-25
NOTEDBR|GANDDEAD
Name of TchakirdiaIi a Terror
Throughout Turkey.
SLAIN BY HIS FOLLOWERS
Preferred Death to Captivity in
Hands of Government.
REVENGE STARTED CAREER
Killed Murderer of His Father and
Thus Acquired an Unsuitable
Thirst for Blood.
SLAIN BY HIS FOLLOWERS
REVENGE STARTED CAREER
oreign Correspondence Of The Star.

December 16, 1911.
The famous terrOr-inspiring brigand
Tchakirdali, the king Of the Anato
liam mountains" the ferocious. blood
thirsty Fra Diavolo of Asia Minor has
ceased to exist He fell, with a few
of his faithful followers in a desper-
ate struggle with a large military de-
tachment headed by Capt. Rushdi Bey.
This struggle was fought on very un-
equal terms-four brigands against
more than a hundred well armed SOL
diers.
TchakirdjaliS career, which has eX-
ercised over many a mysterious fasci
nation, was full of thrilling incidents.
1t was a career of sword and fire, Of
blood and murder. of unspeakable
cruelty and boundless reckIessoess,
coupled with chivalrous hardihood.
Tchakirdjali was very often exceed
ingly compassionate and generous.
His death was encompassed in a
thrilling manner There is custom
among the brigands Of the near east
to kill themselves or to be killed by
a acknowledged rather than fall into
the hands Of the authorities alive.
had a special bosom friend,
Mehmed by name, who followed him
in all his dangerous, bloody exploits.
like a slave When both were cap
tured by Capt Rushdi, the Ottoman
Fra Diavolo reminded Mehmed of the
custom, sanctioned by tradition and
usage, and Of the mutual vows. Meh
with a sturdy. We'll balanced blow Of
the Damascus blade, cut off the head
of his leader, whom he had loved more
than his own self, and then pierced
his own heart with a dagger. The
dead bodies of the brigands We're
brought in triumph, with song and
dancing, to the Governor of Smyrna.
Devoted to His Father.
Young Mehmed tTchakirdjali's
christian" name) had a father Of ex-
traordinary piety. named Ahmed, whom
he loved with the passionate devotion
of a violent, impetuous nature. Once
upon a time Ahmed quarreled with
an Ottoman official, an Albanian by ma
tionality. and was killed by him. This
cruel loss filled the youth with an ar
dent thirst for revenge. His merci-
less arm of retribution was first of all
directed against Albanians. He began
to hate them with a fierce hatred. The
mere sight of an Albanian was suffi-
Client to put him into uncomfortable
rage.
His first victim was the murderer of
his father. He saw now for the first time
The scent of 1t begat ferocity, which
knew no bounds. no restraint no mercy.
1t was the beginning of atrocities that
eclipsed all the previous terrible records
of brigandage by their unheard-of cruelty
and recklessness, and this in Turkey,
which is the country Of brigandage par
excellence.
After his first murder he flew into the
mountains. and soon began his regular.
formidable highwayman career. At that
GOVarnnr
Smyrna, the brigand hero's birthplace.
True to his vows, he shortly afterward
commenced to kill the Albanians where
ever and whenever he met them. More
to his ever-increasing bloodthirstiness at
that time alone.
Name Became a Terror.
Soon the news of his terrible exploits
spread throughout the whole Of the Otto
man empire. People began to tremble
at his name. and those in authority who
had spurned his appeal to avenge his IA
ther fled before the news of his approach
He was pious withal All the brigands
of the near east are pious. Fra Diavolo
never omitted to visit his mosque to per-
form every day the Ave additions pre-
scribed by the Koran and to pray with
all the fervor OF a true, believing Islam
ite. On one occasion he worshiped
with clots Of human blood cIinging to his
brigand cloak, which he had no time to
wash off in his eager desire to please
Allah. The Creator of the world, the
brigand thought, would disregard the
spilled blood Of a hateful enemy but
would never forgive the omission of
prayer
His attitude toward women was of a
chivalrous character He Is said never to
have In any way molested representatives
of the fair sex. His politeness and gal
lantry toward them were genuine, and
were supposed to have been due to the in
huence OF his sister. a quiet, gentle
countryWoman. In all quarters Of the
near east he had women who We're de-
voted to him in the highest degree and
were always ready to serve him, however
dangerous might be the task 1t was
mostly due to these self-sacrificing serv-
ices of women that Tchakirdjali was able
TO elude for so many. years all the at
tempts of the authorities to capture him.
Women used to hide him for weeks i'm
their houses, supply him with food keep
him we'll Informed Of all the movements
or his numerous prosecutors and guide
him through secret paths near dangerous
neighborhoods.
Repaid Them Royalty.
He always repaid them royalty. Many
peasant girl owes her rich dowry ex-
clusively to his generosity, and many q
Turkish rake lies prematurely buried in
forlorn places of the Anatolian forests,
death being due to the brigandss indig-
nation at their outrages committed on
innocent women.
A rich notable of Smyrna, Abdurrai1-
man Bey by name, giant in stature and
strength, had once boosted that If he
could meet Tchakirdjali face to face he
would bind him, bring him on a special
steamer to Constantinople and put him
in iron letters at the very feet of the
sultan. The same night Fra Diavolo
appeared in the bedroom of the notable
and quietly said. Il have heard Of your
boast, and I have come to punish you
for your 1mpudence." The utter discom-
future of Abdurrahman can easily be
imagined. The sudden mysterious ap-
peaarnce Of the brigand completely par
alyzed him and he forgot his intention
You need not fear. however. for your
life," continued Tchakirdjali, 81 shall not
kill you. / intend only taking away a
little memento in proof Of my having
my fellow-companions to bring them your
right ear, upon which you carry such a
beautiful and costly ring, as they thought
it would be quite impossible for me to
penetrate into your sleeping chamber If
you please, them" Whereupon Tchakird-
jail produced a huge revolver and tiny
lancet. He had no difficulty in perform
ing the little. cruel operation. and was
able to show the CHASTITY trophy of his
extraordinary hardihood to his comrades
the very same night.
The Ottoman Fra Diavolo was an in
dividual of very small stature. but with
a powerful chest and arm muscles. He
played golf and enjoyed a game of foot
ball. He had small, piercing eyes and
ried a Martini rife, which he held be-
his legs when taking his Ynoole