Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-05
SERB FOLK HAVE
REAL ROBIN HOOD
In the Person of Ivan Stoikoyitch Lies
Twentieth Century Book Hero
Of Early Ages.
Is THE FEAR OF ALL ENIL-D0ERS
Little Man With LawlPss Band Pro-
tects the Weak and Furnishes
the Ruffians.
Is THE FEAR OF ALL EvM.D0ERS

Gevgheli, Serbia, Dec. lS.-(Corres-
pondence of The Associated Press -
One of the most picturesque figures
Of the European war is the Serbian
"komitadji" or guerilla Ivan Stoiko-
witch. known to fame as "Babounsky.
The name is drawn from the famous
Bahouna pass, where recently the
Serbs so long held the invading Bull
garians at bay Ivan Stoikovitch comes
from that part of Serbia and is there
fore known to his followers and to the
Serbian population at large by a nick
name indicating the fact.
A slight man, tall, with honest
gray-blue eyes and the pale features of
a student. he impresses the stranger
with anything but the terror which his
name inspires. Nor do his looks belle
his real profession. For the redoubt-
able "Babounsky" was a school teach
er until fired by an ardent patriotism
he gave up his classes to gather about
him a band of intrepid spirits in the
fight for the release of the Turkish
part Of Serbia from the Ottoman yoke
Ever since the first Balkan war he
and his followers have been under
arms. Unrecognized by the laws of
war, they have taken their own risks
OF capture and instant execution.
Their refuge is in the Serbian noun
tains. and they have been willing to
trust their security to their own as
tuteness and the impregnability of
their numerous hiding places.
Is Modern Robin Hood.
During the brief periods separating
the first Balkan war from the sec
Ond and the second Balkan war from
the present European struggle, the
internal administration of Serbia was
in such 4 state of disorder that it
seemed TO "Babounsky' better TO re
tain his band under arms and to as
sist in the administration Of a rough
and ready justice than to send his fol-
lowers to their own firesides. In this
capacity even in the short intervals
of peace he kept his name as kind of
modern Robin Hood-the friend of the
weak and the terror of the evil doer.
Especially since the complete
breakdown of the Serbian administra-
ton following the flight of the govern
ment to Scutari. has "Babounsky" be-
come a parsonage Of prime Importance
in Serbia. Before the advancing Ger
man and Bulgarian armies, town af-
ter town was evacuated. Sometimes
the inhabitants were able to take a
few OF their belongings with them
more often they were forced to leave
with the clothing they wore as their
only possessions. But especially in the
southern part of Serbia, where the
greater part of the inhabitants are
really of Turkish or Bulgarian extrac-
ton, only the Serbs fed and the Turks
and the Bulgarians remained. While
waiting for the arrival of the armies
Of their cOmpatriOts. they were moi
aVerse to going through the deserted
Serbian dwellings and acquiring few
useful articles
"Babounsky" did not approve of this
Naturally the deserted dwellings ant
all in them would fall into the hands
of the conquerors. That was all right
the chance of war But that former
neighbors should do the looting was
not in BabOunsky's" code. And those
who tried it were dealt with in a mos
summary manner.
ExecutiOner Had Weak Hand.
Whoever among the Bulgarians was
suspected of giving information to the
advancing Bulgarian armies also re.
ceived short shift. A story is told OF
the first Balkan war when a certain
psuedo-Serb known as "KechkO" was
suspected Of treason TO the Serbian
cause "Babounsky's" band appeared
upon the scene one night and "Kechko'
and four others were arrested tried
IN secret by the band at midnight ant
sentenced to be sent to Saloniki"-
that is, taken to the banks of the Var
dar river, stabbed and thrown in
their bodies to drift down with tn,
current 10 Saloniki. All five were linet
up on the bank. "Babounsky" gave tn,
signal for the fatal blows TO be struck
But unfortunately "Kechko's' exc
cutioner. a lawyer from Belgrade, hat