The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-07-03
AVICTORIOUS
BULGAR
By F. A. mitchell

Eight years ago l. globe trotter,
having visited every other known part
of the globe, concluded to have look
at the Balkans. The Balkan peninsula
| Is seldom visited by tourists, so found
| 1t difficult to secure informa tion how
| to get there, but persevered and final
ly reached Sofia, the capital of Bulga-
ria. From there l made excursions
| through the country, famillarizing my
self with the people.
1 found the feud between Moham-
medan and Christian the same as it
had been for so many generations. The
Bulgarians were then getting ready to
rise against their masters, and the
spirit Of resistance was rife.
l was one evening at a small inn,
where there were number of Turks
and Bulgarians in the same room play
ing cards, though the two races did
| not mingle in the same game. A con-
versation occurred in the Turkish lam
guage between a Bulgarian and Turk
sitting at different tables, which did
not understand, though l could see by
their demeanor that they were at en-
game he left the inn accompanied by
the other Turks. The Bulgarian went
on playing for awhile; then he, too left
| Curious to know what had been GO
ing on between these two, each of
whom was a fine specimen of a man,
l asked the host in German. since he
spoke that language. He told me that
the Turk was at the head Of a band
who had for some time made their
headquarters in the town, terrorizing
everybody in 1t and in the vicinity.
They would make raids and return
laden with plunder. Thus far no force
of Christians had dared to drive them
out. 1t seems that the Bulgarian had
challenged the Turk to fight him sin
gle handed. The Turk had at first de-
clined, but the Bulgarian had so goad-
ed him that he had consented.
1t had been agreed between them
that they should meet the next morn
ing. There was one main street in
the place, running north and south.
The Bulgarian was to start at a GER
tain hour at one end of the street and
the Turk at the other end. Each was
to be armed with the short rifle used
in the country, but which in this coun-
try would be called carbine. Either
could fire at the other on sight or
whenever he pleased.
There was a feature Of the affair Of
which was not informed at the time
A number of Bulgarians had bound
themselves to expel the Turkish rob-
bers. 1t would be a great advantage
to them to get rid Of their leader be-
fore beginning the attack. The Bull
garian who had been selected to at
tempt this was famous for his marks
manshtp. 1t was hoped that he would
succeed, and If he did there would be
little difficulty in annihilating his men.
In the morning l arose at daylight
and put my head out Of the window.
So far as I could see, the houses on
either side of the street were lined
with heads at the windows TO see the
fight. 1t was not long before 1 saw
at either end, a distance of a mile
apart, a single man in the middle of
the street carrying his weapon. AS
soon as they saw each other they be-
gan to advance slowly, holding their
weapons so as to bring the butt to the
shoulder quickly. The Bulgarian wore
the costume of his country, while the
Turk wore the baggy trousers and
sleeveless jacket In which he is usual
ly pictured.
While the two men were drawing
within range Of each other I cast an
occasional glance into the faces of
those who were leaning out Of the
windows beside and opposite me.
They were all Christians and on every
face was intense anxiety. 1t was plain
to see that their hope was In the man
who was about to do battle for them.
If he killed the other their oppressors
might be exterminated; If the other
killed him the yoke would be fastened
on them frmer than ever. The issue
might be decided by a single shot.
Before It seemed that they were
within range the Bulgarian raised his
rifle to his shoulder If it was Il ruse
to induce his enemy to waste a shot it
failed, for the Turk did not change
the position of his gun, which he held
close under his chin. The Christian,
however, held his rife at his shoul-
der, and as he now was much nearer
to me than the Turk l could see by
his face that he was calculating dis
tance. But he was so far from his
enemy that no one supposed that a
bullet could be relied on to do its work
at such a distance.
But suddenly his rifle cracked and a
puff of smoke emanated from it's muz-
zle When l looked away from him to
his enemy l saw him lying in the
street. A Turk was running toward
him. In a moment he or his lifeless
body (for he had been shot through the
head was encircled by every member
of his band. From up the street near
the fallen Turk came whistle, and I
saw shots fired from the windows at
the robbers. The victorious Bulga-
rian ran by ike a shot, and from
hOuSaS olonu tha Straat nourad maD