Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-02-10
The WwldS Oldest Man
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bled and slept. He wasn't heavy, weighing no
more than lis pounds
We sat him on the burro and reached Inc
seacoast highway.
NV attention to the now cOmplet,l Fly helpless
old soldier was not so all-absorbing but that
noticed, walking toward us down the road,
Negro man and woman as black as any ever
seen in Africa. They were dressed in ordinary
shabby Western clothes, such as any Mississippi
country Negro might wear.
What were these American blacks doing over
here in this hidden corner OF the CaucasusY
In English asked them, as we met, just that
question.
They didn't understand one word I said.
They spoke nothing but Georgian, nor had their
ancestors, as learned spoken anything else
for 200 years. Local legend has 1t that they
are the descendants of a shipload Of slaves that
was blown eastward from the Bosporus by
storm about TOO and wrecked on the eastern
coast of the Black Sea. In any case, here they
are, q group of IS, in the midst Of this wild race
of semi Oriental white mountaineers. When
the revolution gave absolute equality to all men,
without regard for race or color, the eight
black bucks in the colony all promptly married
Russian girls. The new generation is entirely
half-caste These, too, will marry whites, SO
that in another 80 years this unique colony
will have disappeared. . 49,. ~
When we got old Zapara to the crude little
hospital, he had sobered up considerably and
demonstrated loudly when we removed his
clothes and put him to bed between the FIRST
sheets that had ever covered him In 152 years.
At the hospital one Of the doctors suggested
that II it were centenarians I was looking
for, should visit q certain eagles nest village
40 miles deeper in the mountains, where, out OF
Q population Of 800 men and women, nearly
half were 100 years old or more, most Of the
younger people having deserted 1t during the
World War.
Much as wanted to 60 to such C. remarkable
village, I could not, for the season was Mid
Winter and the one trail hidden under nee and
snow. But heard fantastic story about this
centenarians' refuge I must tell.
\h/HEN the revolution came the aneients N
w this particular village, feeling themselves
safe from attack in their canyon guarded fort
ress, refused to acknowledge any authority but
the Cars. They even sent defiant messages 10
the Bosheviks and swore they'd hang any
"comrade" that came meddling In their affairs
and "Nquidating' their chiefs.
The Bolsheviks accepted this challenge and
sent small army Of Red soldiers to subdue the
arrogant village.
The Red army never had q more difhcult as-
signment. for the village was stuck on the side
of O canyon and near the summit Of q rocky
pinnacle. The one path to 1t Agzagged up the
face Of the cliff and, just before reaching the
village, they had to cross q deep chasm by
means Of q narrow and rickety bridge. But
to the Red soldiers, flushed with three years Of
victories, nothing seemed impossible.
They started up the cliff trail dragging along
q piece Of field artillery. Boulders began to
shower down upon them. They pushed on.
After ALL they were armed with, modern rifles,
while the defenders had nothing but guns a.
old as themselves and rocks and curses to tight
back with.
There could be only one end for such bat
tie. The Reds, suffering many casualties, but
still undaunted, finally reached the bridge with
their field gun. Across the hundred-foot chasm
the first houses of the village rose up, not 50
yards away.
And across the chasm the strangest collection
of enemies the Red soldiers ever fought lined
the brink Eighty odd Of the Oldest mem tn the
world-men los, ITO, l15-glared at them with
fierce hawklike eyes, brandished their medie-
val swords and blazed away with their ancient
hams. bent, gnarled, wizened and yelling def
ance In shril, cracked voices.
Above, the village had become q roaring mass
of flames The defenders had set fire to 1t
knowing they could not prevent the Reds from
gaining possession. Now, at least, they would
be able to capture only ruins. From every
burning house fled the panic stricken non-com-
batants, driving ahead their cows and sheep
further up the mountainside behind, and carry
ing what possessions they could
Soon the village was clear Of everybody but
the band of embattled antiquities who still held
the bridgehead. In the midst of their tumbling.
burning houses they kept up the defense, their
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