Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1845-11-14
MILITARY DRILL IN, RUSSIA.

The following horrible scene is from a
new woik by tnessuthor Revolutions of
Russia and gives an idea, though doub,-
less an exaggerated one, of the relation
which exits between commanders and of
fcers in the Russian army -
Several of the riders were looking anxi-
ously at the leaping-bar and counting The
number of holes at which it was placed
with trepidation when the Grand Duke, to,
their utter discontinue, caused il 10 be
raised several pegs higher.
Now, said the Grand Duke TO one Of
his aides-de-camp, think that will do-go
and try it,
Monsieur replied the colonel aides
de-camp, in an accent of involuntary sup
plication, iii is rather high! 5.
What! dog!' roared Constantine-and
the abide camp, dreadlng more the wrath
of the Prince than the barrier. at once spur
red his horse at it; but, in the first place, it
was too high for his horse to Use to. and,
in the next, he was too nervous to lit hun,
so that the animal turned short round
Tie Grand Duke jumped in an instant on
his charger, which soldier held beside
him. and, leaping backwards and forwards
over the bar, he came up to the colonel
and spat full in his face.
'There,' he roared, us it too high? Go
to the barracks, hound-a months arrest!'
'Ihave erred repeated the colonel with
humility; and watching till the Grand
Dukes head was turned, wiped his face,
and sneaked off to Tie place of arrest.
Constantine now ordered another Of the
riders to take the barrier. who, although
he was tossed about on the saddle, gained
such desperate energy from the terrors oil
,he Grand Duke behind him that he forced
his horse to clear it.
Put up the bar peg higher!
And, on a signal made. another unlor'
tlunate officer advanced 10 attempt the leap
but his hand conveyed tremulous motion
to the rein-once; twice, thrice, his horse
refused it. %
Dash upon it; spur him at il!' thunder
leu lIlS 0ldiiu DuhC'
The terrified rider spurred his horse
and the animal stepped suddenly short
finging him over his head.
oh, the Gool!' said The Grand Duke; 8;
months arrest. Now. get on again
But he could not hold the bride; hi
r. left arm was broken.
: Take. him away, am glad of it; wisl
it was his NECK! Put up the bar pei
, higher. Now, you, sir, get upon tina
horse and take him over And thus hal
a-dozen horseman were forced successive
y TO attempt the leap, till they were throws
or their horses thrown down, or the mel
} jured against the barrier.
AT length it came to the turn Of the tw'
degraded men. The Duke had caused tn
bar to be so constantly raised that Their
seemed no chance oftheir horses being abl'
to Ieapit. But, 1.-THE barrier was BEFORE tn
thunderaof Constaniine's voice was benin
them. The ex-cadet first attempted, O
feigned an attempt, of the lu,lIlty OF whlc
he was beforehand persuaded, for his hors
refused the leap. BY this time the Gran
70 Duke was furious. Take him up to
s with more life, hound; use the spur!-
e Dash him to atoms against it! Break a
5 his cursed bones and your own too, or
will have them broken for you!
: But the rider, smartlng under his deg
radiation to the ranks, had turned dogget
and persisted in bringing his charger at
: safe pace up to the leap
:. : Get off DEVILS head! (Chortova g0l(
co., roared the Grand Duke. 'Begon
to the guard house; I award you five hui
dred lashes! Now YOU he continued
the ex-!eutenant; 'and if you don'ttake i
l. I'll find away to drive you over!-I wi
t e have both men and horse pricked over wit
=. lashes!
J. thus ,admonished, the degraded Office
or who was a good rider and we'll MOUNTED
Is lifted bis horse so energetlcaIIy that he ca
Tried him to the other side of the barrie
Though not, indeed, without grazing it vii
: his feet
He touched-he touched! said Il
" Grand Duke; .bring him back
He ieaped back.
Now again. said Constantine.
This time the horse fell headIong Wi
his rider.
" Put him to i. again!' roared the Grar
e, Duke.
But all the desperate efforts Of the e.
or the blood was streaming the while SCENE
unable TO determine the aArighted and pc
haps injured animal to rise again.
length the rider let the bride reins drop
- ....o. L;rannrn nn,nont on tho hnrcn,c noe