The Portland daily press., 1872-12-06
A Story from Russian History.

A Story from Russian History.
For a dozen years Northern Europe had
been ravaged by the war which the combined
powers OF Denmark, Poland, and Russia de-
clared against the youthful Charles XII, in
order to abate the dominant influence of
Sweden and to wrest from her certain yalua-
pie territorial possessions.
Sv eden had by the Thirty Years. War and
the peace of Westphalia been raised to the
rank OF irst-class power, much to the dis
pleasure of the enyious King of Denmark, az
well as of Gar Peter of Russia, who, being
ambitious to increase his naval strength, COW
eted portion of the Baltic coast that be-
longed to his Swedish neighbor And could
better opportunity have occurred to obtain
the object of his desires than apparently pre-
sented itself in the year 1922 Charles XII
was dead, and bis son, hardly fifteen years
old, had assembled the throne To wrest the
coveted provinces from boy seemed an easy
task; nevertheless, in 1898, to insure success.
Russia formed powerful league with Dem
marx and Poland against the youthful sover-
elgn, and from every side the allied armies
invaded the provinces they hoped to make
their booty. t7'do
But the royal boy with whom they thought
10 nave light work was genuine Northern
non, who lost no time in counting his enc
niles, but employed it in making ready to de-
iend his territory and maintain his dignity.
With wonderful celebrity he defeated. one
after the other, the Danes and Russians, and
the Saxons OF the King of Poland; he forced
denmark 10 conclude peace; marched on
Warsaw, dethroned King August of Poland
and followed him inio his native country. SAY
ony, where he compelled him to accede to che
most Illuminating conditions, and thus this
boy quickly became the terror of Northern
Europe. Now he.marched again against the
russians, but, having become over-confident
ana daring, he lost the decisive battle of Pull
iowa, Iio9, and was forced to fly to Turkey.
while his enemies redoubled their exertions
against him in the north All negotiation,
and propositions for peace were fruitless.
Onaries rejected them all, swearing that he
would punish and destroy his enemies. His
generals were compelled to continue the con-
test with all the resources at their command
and there was no end to the suffering in the
provinces for the possession of which the
rival powers were contending. This was es-
ed in persuading the Sultan to espouse his
cause and declare war against the Gar. and
when ne himself, with his unyieldng obstina-
cy ana wild courage, reappearedin the threat
ened provinces, which Lieutenant General
Reenbeck defended with the skill and bravery
OF nero, against a much more numerous
force. Ff.sa , ----- NUMEROUS
Thus, then, for dozen long years, this
murderous war devastated the German nrov-
inces of Sweden, and still there was no nros-
pect OF an early peace. Another year had
passed, yet the new year 1713 brought with it
nothlng to inspire hope, but only the old
woes, and when the spring came the horrors
OF the contest were even increa sed by the per-
soma enmity and the thirst for revenge of the
respective princes. In those days the unfor-
tuhate people too frequently served as COM
Pfaceht football for the passions and caprices
OF rulers, who often redressed. as thew
thought, their individual grievances by mum
rivals. u 'nen
The Swedes took the Danish CITY of Altoona.
and being exasperated by the faithlessne,s Of
the Danes In keeping their treaties they
sacked and burned it. =
Whlle this useless cruelty and barbarous
mode OF carrying on war was universally con-
demned throughout all Europe. If aroused din in
Peter the Great, the ruler of the semi-civI-
1zed russians, determination to avenge his
DANISH ally by perpetrating still greater hor-
rors on the subjects of Charles XII. : :.
Peter followed his determination by an i'm
mediate order to destroy by fire and sword
the tour Swedish cities in Pomerania, Carr.
Wolgast, Griefswald and Ankam, in retalia,
60 " Ni'OAa. 1He Iour cities were to be
nrst sacked by the Russian soldiery. the in
habitants to be driven destitute BEYOND the
walls, there to witness the destruction of their
MONIES, and then to be allowed to wander
where they would. '''''eA
Inc citlZens of the old commercial town of
Anklam had known for several DAYS the fate
that nad been decreed them, and awaited IL
III sorrow and despair. Judica Sunday had
never oeen spent IN such wailing and praying
10ll0WlnD
BILE day on which the Russian soldiers exnect-
Gu one colonel Staff, who had been commits
stoned with the execution of the immortal
order. p0i-"'
The soldiery, in their wild JOY at the pros
pect OF gathering rich booty from the doomed
city, spent the night in carousing. repding
with their barbarous merry-making the hearts
Q! sne unfortunate inhabitants. who on this
night looked with envy on their .leenino
papes all unconscious of the approaching
calamity. - ~ "f RI 0''0Ais
OH Inc morrow the sun rose red and bloody
from out thick fog that hung heavy over
the distant landscape. AT early dawn. sad
trembling figures, that fear and despair bur,
ried forward, might have been seen vending
lnelr way from every direction toward the
market-place, where the unfortunata. Goth
cred around their venerable pastor HsvSa-
mann, who had, although the same fate
awaited him and his only daughter a word Of
consolation for all N VI
ms was the day Staff was expected. and
the order was to be carried into execution
Immediately on his arrival The good peone
OF Ankiam had, therefore, lost almost The
l"s. lay ar nope mat their city and their
a-shiy effects would be spared. They had
sent deputation to Prince Menzikow. tbe
ah-powerful fayoiite of the Gar, to implore
Tor mercy, but the result of the mission coujd
not be known under at least a week. when
there would be nothing remaining of Anklarh
but heap of smoking ashes. = = :
closer and closer in their despair the peo-
PIE crowded around the venerable pastor.
wine parties OF intoxicated Russian soldiers
staggered through the streets. halIooino and
singing, and in their barbarous iox
the people that they only awaited the orderss
OF their colonel to begin their bejIisb ugorl
OF reducing their homes to ashes and If NJ
ing them out into the wide world 70 hoo ~. ~
starve. u W oeS VI
The mists of morning still huno owe, a rolf.
wald when a party OF cavalrymen entered H.
town and halted before an inn on tbo I'le
place. -e "iarhet
The corpulent, fierce-looLing officer ,rh,
rode in advance, dismounted with aston;sI,
ing ease for one of his appearance, threw tbo
relns OF his horse to soldier who burriad
forward to take them, and said in rough
mere will breakfast. Send the garrison
3 WN OF the day, that he may take my orders
m me 80 &c on a. IN an hour: by midday Anklam
back here to send this quiet nest to the Sa' devil
with the others.'' 4"i'' nest W the desii
.na LAYING delivered himself of this brutal
speech, ne entered the public room Of tho ; uun
held u oOen OF fa which the landlord obsequously
o,o Inc Oh oncer tossed his hat and long riding-
chair an oag Gi the tables threw himself into
table near him, cried OUT IT, o0"n heavliy on
Wine here, old fellow: vour bes+ H..
hear?-if you know what's eood I'6 eou you
ana breakfast tor Colonel Staff ou ic you to