The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-06-19

Grouped about him W,tS = 'MyzE
were swarthy orr. pN{ MlD
entails, with the OLO MAN OF
wild eyes of fan HE MOUNTAIN
atics. Before him stood the ambassa-
dor Of the Sultan. The ambassador
had been sent to demand tribute and
submission on the part OF the white
haired potentate. In reply the aged
man turned to one Of the soldiers at
his side,
"Stab yourself to the heart" he said
quietly.
The soldier obeyed without mo
ment of hesitation. Turning at ran.
dom TO an attendant, the whitehaired
man said:
"Throw yourself from that window, y
In an instant the attendant had
hurled himself to death on the rocks
far below. Then the white-bearded
man said to the Mortified ambassa.
dor:
Return to your master, the Sultan
Tell him what you have just seen
Tell him also that | have 10000 fol
lowers who are ready to obey me &c
the death. Ask him If he thinks he
can make me pay tribute or own any
sultan as my lord
This is but one Of hundred dra
matte tales told Of -ben-Sa abah
known and dreaded all over the world
as "The Old Man of the Mountains
His title was Sheikal-Jebal, "Sheik'
meaning "chief," boss" or "old man.
(Even in those days the boss" was
apparently called 1.-The old man.D
Hassan was the founder of a strange
fanatical sect, whom he formed into
a sort of mock religious order, ano
whom he controlled with seemingly
supernatural tricks, by hopes of E
gaudy paradise ard by confusing theil
minds with false theology. In this
way he made them his obedien'
slaves, eager to do his bidding and to
die at his command.
AS a lad. in a Persian school, Has
san formed a partnership with two ot
his classmates, Omar and NiZam
They agreed that whichever of then
might in later years rise to power
should befriend the other two. Nizan
became Grand Vizier of Persia. He
gave a court pension to Omar (who ii
best known to posterity as Omar
Khayyam, author of "The Rubaiyat')
and to Hassan he offered high Office
Hassan used Nizam as stepping
stone to his own success, then mur
dered him and his son.
Next he captured series of noun
tain fortresses in Syria, Egypt and
Persia and began his terrible rule
He induced young men to join him by
inviting them to his castle. druggine
them with hashish and letting them
come to their senses in a wonderfully
beautiful garden. There, after .
glimpse Of the places delights they
were again drugged and carried bach
to the castle. On coming to theii
senses they were told they had really
visited Paradise in a vision and that
all its joys should one day be theirs
If they would serve Hassan faithfully
These fanatics were cent forth to
slay all Hassans foes or any other
persons whom he thought 1t best to
get rid of. The Old Mans name be
came horror, everywhere.
The Sultan strove to crush Hassan
and was mysteriously killed. Other
tpotentates sought the assassin's de
struction. Each met with like fate
Armed forces Of the government were
driven back from the strong mountain
castles. Individual foes died, leaving
mo clue to their slayers. No precau
tion could save a victim. From his
-eyrie en- the hilltops the grim old man
of the mountains sent forth his mur
derous emissaries on their fearful mis-
sions. For a man marked by them
flor death there was no hope. Once
the Sultan, Saniar, who had vowed
morning to find dagger sticking in
the floor beside his bed On the
weapon was a scroll to the effect that
next time. the blow would be struck
closer. The Sultan promptly made
peace with Hassan.
Had the old man of the mountains
confined his atrocities to the whole.
sale killing of his own enemies, he
would have passed into history as a
fanatical monster: not as a mere
blackguard. But he is said to have
reaped a very tidy profit from his
crimes. Rulers and men of note paid
him huge sums to buy their own
safety. Others paid him equally
large amounts to murder their private
or political enemies.
Hassan's two sons displeased him
and he killed them with as little re-
greet as though they had been stran-
gers. He also wrought havoc in the
ranks of the Crusaders. At last, in
1924, at the age of 80, he died The
horrible "Order" that he had formed
was later destroyed and its chiefs
were put to death.