Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-01-03
Why midas
Fighting Eakir
Is Furious


Gandh as ne frequently does the MaiRtma surrenders
! voluntarily to the police obhgng is another
troublesome siXfoot turbaned giant named
MIRA Ali Khan, better known as the Fakir OF Ipi
80 years the British have been trying to eaten
this redbearded Hindu mystic to put an end to hs'Tr
beos activities the4raggy. wild tribal area OF Noi
western India He has been bombed shelled and shot
at but the elusive Fakir still is free
doughty fanatcal hrebrand the Fal<ir of Ipi has
carrying his against the Britis.
deeades-firs leading Wild tribe, then AN
other in raids midas Army outposts in the vicinity
of the famed Khyber Pass.
While Gandhi has been fighting for the freedom of
India, elusive Scarlet Pmpemel of the Norul"es
country has ideals, He is just c-bentortrouDe
leader who hates the Brtshor anybody else VINO ul,'
with the kidnapping and punderng expeditions
Of his followers
The favorte trick Of this uncomfortable rebel 20
poison wells lure unsuspectng and Indian troops
into ambushes plant bombs British Army parade
grounds and generally raise Cain by footing outposs
villages for about year or two and then
completely disappear thereby arousng the hopes OF The
British that he been killed in OF his bloody
And just when they sure they have heard
the last of the Fakr of Ipi up he pops
news dispatches from New Delhi indicate that
Mira Ali Khan is the loose agan-a after silence OF
several years The last time he went on rampage me
British RAJ expensive expedition Of
10000 men to hunt down Falir and his followers
The British secured the mountainous crags months
and finally located bomb proof headquarters OF the
Hindu mystic. When the British Tommes, armed with
machine guns, advanced the hdeou they found that
the elusive Fallr had again escaped
After losing dozens officers. and of men.
the British finally called hunt The Fakir, know
Is
with several border tribes That ended all word of
the Far until recent reports Of the outbreak Of trouble
with the ferce-fghtng Wazrisan tribesmen indicated
that again the warpath.
The Fakir, who always goes into battle wearing
flowing baggy trousers, with his
beard perfumed with incense is mystery Only once
the British close to seeing him, and that
when he agreed years ago to hold Parey with the
British Resident General of Waziristan.
The British kept their word that he would be
touched if he came to the conference The Fair was
friendly enough but he refused to meet British terms
a settlement When he had gone the British discovered
his encourage had been busy ooting the Resident
General Headquarters all during the parey.
Major William Gatacre, late of the Bengal Lancers
queer story his experience with red-bearded
mystic many years before 10 power The Major
and dozen companions sitting in the
hall of a frontier post when the Falr appeared AZ tho
door soliciting aims. He then nothing than
Of the thousands Of other beggaTs.
Several of the newy-fledged officers Eng
land however promised him liberal If ne
would give them novel exhibition of black art and
Oriental magic.
Without word the Fakir entered the hall lifted
his right hand and pointed his index finger at gas
burners that lighted the AS he pointed at them
by one, they went out until the was in tota
darkness. manner relghted all 20 OF them
The officers mystified but they feigned indf
ference, and refused to pay for the exhibition The
Faltir beside himself with rage One by one he
looked at every in the Then he IN slow
deliberate tones mo sahb present shall leave his chair"
and walked out OF the hall
The Englshmen burst into laughter. Thirty minute.
later however when the first of the officers started
to his quarters, he found that he couldn't from hi,
chair. Major Gatacre reports that not in tn,
could
The mystic then reappeared at the door.
do the Sahibs desire any other experiments? no
asked mockngy. FTen rupees for those who wish
TO rise"
The discounted officers paid up and the FaISr went IN
the door and just he slipped out into the night he
turned and said: The Sahibs may get up
According TO Major Gatacre, the then abb.
The British officer admits that he baffol
by the Hindus magic
course the thing explained on the theorr
Of hypnotsm he said but whatever 1t was 1t certainly
was impressive"