The Ordway new era., 1912-10-25
an THE 6OSPHORIS

knowing perfectly well who this man
was. He then spoke to No. I. saying:
Il want OF you six hundred liras. and
want them now" To No. he said:
"Of you I want seven hundred liras.
and l want them now" To No. he
said: Il want twelve hundred liras.
and l want them now" No. 3 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
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.
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 In 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 a
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
did not know where you went on your
picnic last summer. I knew 1t very
we'll. however. for while you we're en-.
5oying yourselves I 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 rs 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 a picnic. he
seemed really annoyed when he saw a
camera pointed at him. He at once
lifted his revolver and demonstrated
or course, the camera was immediate
ly put away. The brlgand then pro
posed target practice with revolvers
An egg was placed against a bank
about thirty yards away. and. with his
revolver, the chief OF the band broke
It at the second shot.
| At last. however. as Is always the
case with men of this type. the gov.
ernment got the better OF him, al
though the peasantry believed that
Tchakirdjali was bullet-proof. The
present governor. Nazim Pasha. deter
mined to round him up. and employed
a large band Of Circassians for this
purpose. The robber band was sur.
rounded and. after a terrific fight
leaving some OF their number dead
they escaped. The headless body OF
Tchakirdjali was found by the Cir
cassians Che having probably killed
HIMSELF. the robbers having removed
his head and arms. as they had marks
on them that would identify them
The body was. however. identified by
his wife, as also by the fact that a
little later on. his head was found
buried in his fathers grave.