The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-04 00:00:00

THE LAST MOMENTS OF GENERAL
LAZAREFF.

Newspapers vceived from Russia contain full particulars
of the death of General Luareff. Writing from Duzolum,
August 14-26, the special correspondent of the Gobs with
the Akhal Tekke Expedition says
"On the 12th August General Lazareff, notwith-
standing his intense weakness, arising from a car-
buncle on the spine which had just been operated
upon, arrived at Chat from Chikisliar a distance
of 110 miles, in his calbche,' his desire being to
prevent any delay in the opening of the campaign.
Riding across the sands in the tropical heat caused in.
flammation, and on his arrival at Chat he was unable
to leave the carriage, and had to be carried out by
soldiers. In spite, however, of his weakness he at
once sent off a Cossack to Duz.)lum with the news
that he should arrive at the place (36' miles distant)
the next day. Yesterday, the tents were struck
at Duzolum and preparations were made for the
arrival of the chief. A guard of honour was
formed, and the band of the Shervanski regiment pre-
pared to receive him. The day passed away, but no
general arrived, and at night the soldiers dispersed,
believing that the opening of the campaign had been
deferred. This morning a rumour prevailed that the
general was ' worse '; at ten o'clock the report was circu-
lated that he was dead. The news was soon confirmed,
Cossacks arriving with the intelligence that Lazareff
died in the morning at half-past four."

The narrative is here taken up by the correspondent
of the St. Petersburg Vedoraosti, who says that Lazareff
set but from O'nat but was overtaken with weakness at
a few versts from the camp. "The general was liftod
out of the carriage and placed on a rug on the sands,
and there, on the broad desert, with the convoy gazing
sadly on, the warrior closed his eyes and died."

Tbe Gobs continues :—" Colonel Malaam, with
Colonel Karganoff, Captain Kolishkin, and others at
once set out for Chat. The command of the force
devolved upon General Lomakin. Persons who were
with Lazareff until within a few days of his death,
say that he suffered intense pain from the carbuncle."
Another correspondent of the Gobs, at Baku, writes
that a few minutes before his death Lazareff
begged that he might :be buried at Tiflis.
The body arrived at Baku in a wooden coffin,
from which it was transferred by the orders of
the Grand Duke Michael into one of lead. The
new one was extremely heavy, weighing 60 poods, or
just a ton. Lazareff was a great favourite at Baku.
On his departure for Chikisliar, he said, "I mean to
give up fighting as soon as the Akhal Tekke campaign
is concluded, and settle down 'to a business at Baku.
I shall make myself an American general—a man of
business in time of peace, but ready at any moment
to fight_ for my country when its interests are in
danger?'
Lazardff had a small estate at Dashlagar, in the
province of Daghestan. While he was fighting under
the walla of Kars in 1877, the Lesghians concerned in
the Caucasian revolt burnt his chateau to the ground.
After the war was over, the Emperor made him a
present of 30 acres of naptha springs in the provinces
of Baku, close to the Balachan railway, which, had
he lived, would have brought him in a good income,
Lazareff had no foolish pride, and indulged freely
In the commonest pursuits. At Dashlagar he esta-
blished a tailor's shop in the village for the benefit of
the people, and worked among them asunder foreman.
His en-rgy was unbounded. Proof of this will be
seen in the diary he kept, and which probably,
it is said, contains most interesting particulars
of the varied career of one of Russia's best
and bravest warriors. "Ivan Davidovitch Lazareff,"
says the Rooski Invalid, "was born at Shuski in
Daghestan, 59 years ago. When 18 he became a
private in the Shervanski Regiment, and took part in
numberless expeditions against the Caucasians, receiv•
ing in 1842 a lieutenancy, and in 1850 being made a
captain and the chief of the khanate of Mechtulin. He
took part in the subjugation of Schatnyl, and in 1868,
after 30 years' incessant fighting against the moun-
taineers, be handed over his division to General Radet-
sky and retired to Baku. There he remained until 1877,
when he was ordered to command a column-23 batta-
lions of infantry, 78 guns, and 28 squadrons of cavalry
—operating against blukhtar Pasha. His great day
was the 6th November, when he led the storming of
Kars, at the most critical point, against the Arab
Tabia, Kara Dagh, and other batteries. For this he
received the cross of St. George and several other
decorations."