Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-10-25

who feared neither man nor devil.
rode into a town in the Meander val
ley where lived three Turks who mo-
toriously ground the faces of the
poor IL was high noon, and the three
men were In the mosque at prayers.
Tchakirdjali went boldly into the
mosque and, tapping each of the three
on the shoulder, said: Il want to see
you outside" All three came out,
knowing perfectly well who this man
was. He then spoke to No. l, saying
Il want of you six hundred liras, and
/ want them now" To No 2 he said
"Of you | want seven hundred liras.
and want them now" To No. he
said: Il want twelve hundred liras.
and l want them now" No. at once
began to make some excuses, when
the bandit drew his revolver and shot
him on the spot. The other two, see
ing that there was no effective argu-
ment under such conditions, went with
Tchakirdjali and counted out the gold,
This very considerable sum he then
at once proceeded to distribute among
the poor of the vicinity, thus drawing
down on his head thousand heart
felt blessings, SO popular was this
modern Robin Hood among the peas
antry that not one of them would will
ingly betray him to the government
powers.
Missionaries Warned.
Some years ago the government sent
word to missionaries in Smyrna, warn
ing them not to go to their usual sum-
mer resort in the hills, because Tcha-
kirdjali was in the vicinity and it
could not safeguard them On this
account the missionaries remained in
Smyrna that season, though. under
government escort they organized one
picnic up ID the hills. The following
year Tchakirdjali himself called on
one of the missionaries, and said:
why did you not come up to your
summer resort last year," The reply
was that the government had warned
the missionaries against possible dan
ger To this he answered:
you need have no fear; you are
good people. and l shall never harm
hair of your heads. Go up and take
your rest this summer and feel per
fectly safe"
Relying on his word, those con-
cerned went up as usual for their sum
mer rest to their bungalows. Soon
after their arrival this man himself
apparel with some of his followers.
He associated with the missionaries
in most gracious manner, and played
lawn tennis with them, keeping his
guards however always on the alert
against any possible surprise by the
army forces of the government One
day he said: Perhaps you think l
did not know where you went on your
picnic last summer. I knew it very
we'll, however, for while you we're en-
joying yourselves l and my men were
behind the crags on the hills above
you. and we could have shot every
soldier acting as your guard had we
desired to do so.
This Tchakirdjali was only about
thirty-six years of age, and is de-
scribed by an eyewitness as short and
stocky, with his head held high in the
air His features were rugged and
pleasing and he had remarkably ex-
pressive eyes. They were brown In
color. ordinarily gentle and mild. but
when the owner became excited or
startled the pupils dilated and fire
seemed to flash from them. At one
time, when one of the missionaries
was with the brigand at picnic. he
seemed really annoyed when he saw a
camera pointed at him. He at once
lifted his revolver and demonstrated.
OF course, the camera was immediate
lv put away. The brigand then pro-