The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-01-10
IVAN S[QIEQNIT.|BH
C .. RES Man A!
Half Robber, Half Patriot,
He is the Scourge of
Bulgaria.

(By Associated Press)
GEvGHELI, Serbia. Nov. 22.-one
Of the most picturesque figures of the
European war is the Serbian "komi-
tadji or guerilla Ivan Stoikovitch,
known to fame as "Babounsky." The
name is drawn from the famous Pass,
where recently the Serbs so long held
the invading Bulgarians at bay. Ivan
1 Stoikovitch comes from that part OF
Serbia and is therefore known to his
followers and to the Serbian popula-
ton at large by a nickname indicat.
ing the fact.
A slight man, tall, with honest
gray-blue eyes and the pale features
of a student, he impresses the strang-
err with anything but the terror which
his name inspires. Nor do his looks
belle his real profession. For tho
redoubtable "Babounsky" was a
school teacher until fired by an ar
dent patriotism he gave UP his class:
es to gather about him 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.
| During the brief periods separating
the first Balkan war from the second
and the second Balkan war from the
present European struggle, the In
ternal administration of Serbia was
| in such q state of disorder that 1t
seemed to "Babounsky" better to re-
tain his bad under arms and to as.
sist i'll the administration OF rough
and ready justice than to send his
followers to their own tiresides. In
this capacity even in the short inter.
walls 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 gov.
lernment to Scutari, has "Babounsky"
become parsonage Of prime import
ance in Serbia. Before the advancing
German and Bulgarian armies, town
after town was evacuated. Some
times the inhabitants were able to
take few OF their belongings with
them; more often they were forced
to leave with the clothes they wore
as their only possessions. But es-
pecialIy in the southern part Of Ser
bia, where the greater part of the In.
habitants are really Of Turkish or
Bulgarian extraction, only the Serbs
fed and the Turks and the Bulgar-
ians remained. While waiting for
the arrival OF the armies Of their
compatriots, they were not aveTse to
going through the deserted Serbian
dwellings and acquiring few useful
articles.
"Babounsky" did not approve of
this. Naturally the deserted DEVIL
| ings and 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 most summary man
ner.
Whoever among the Bulgarians was
suspected Of giving information to
the advancing Bulgar armies also re.
ceived short shift. A story is told
of the first Balkan war when GER
tain Pseudo, Serb known as "kechko"
was suspected OF treason to the Ser
bian cause. "Babounsky's" band ap-
peared upon the scene one night and
'Kechko" and four others were ar
rested, tried in secret by the band
at midnight and sentenced to be sent
to Saloniki"-that is, taken to the
banks of the Vardar river, stabbed
and thrown in, their bodies to drift
down with the current to Salontki. All
five were lined up on the bank. "Ba-
bounsky" gave the signal for the IA
tai blows to be struck. But unfor-
tunately "Kechko's" executioner, r.
lawyer from Belgrade, had never Kill
ed a man before and his hand slipp-
ed a man before and his hand slip.
ped. The five bodies were thrust into
alive.
A week later the Serbian consul at
Saloniki was called to the hospital.
"Kechko" told him the story OF his
escape from death, but begged that it
be kept secret until after his depart.
ure for the United States. ultimate
! " recovered from the unskillful stab
| of the Belgrade lawyer, "Kechko"
quietly departed for America where he
Lives still, unterrified by the famous
guerilla.
When the allied troops have need
of fresh meat or wood or mules one
of the officers acquaints Serbian
with what is required. The next day
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