The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-03-12
COssack ManGuyres.

Writing from st. Petersburg, the
London Times correspondent says
After the review the Princes drove of
to the Michael Manege, where the EN-
peror's Circassian and Cossack body
guard went through their feats. These
wild horsemen gave us some scenes OF
their predatory warfare, exhibiting q
skill and activity perfectly marvellous.
One after another, they galloped by the
Princes, shouting fierce warwhoops and
firing their long pistols and fint-locks
at imaginary foes. They seemed to
discharge their weapons in every posi-.
ton but from the saddle. Hanging on
one side of the horse till the head al
mostrgrazed the ground, and taking 0
leisure aim under the animals belly
seemed the favorite attitude, One cava-
lier went by at speed standing on his
head in his saddle others leaped or
and off their horses with the ease of
circus riders. The manege soon sc
filed with smoke that it might we'll, fol
all we could see, have been some noun
tain defile, and the body-guard a band
of robber knights swooping down OIL
some village or caravan, or on the party
of peaceable travellers represented by
the Grand Duke Nicholas, the Prince ol
Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, and
Prince Arthur. The Czarevna and the
Princess of Wales were there also, an6
altogether the wild riders would have
made good days work of it had they
been brigands Of the Steppe instead Of
the faithful body guard of the Emperor
Admiral Popoff told me it was fine sigh
to see 1,50O of these horsemen play
ing their warlike pranks for miles anc
miles about theimperial cavalcade wher
the Grand Duke Constantine wa'
travelling in the Caucasus. They alway'
turn out in honor of member of the
imperial family, going through ttl tht
whole drama of their wal, along the
road. Once or twice they divided ane
fought battle among themselves. Hal
and crouched behind the animals, The
long barrels of the fint-guns pointing
in the direction of the enemy. Pres
emily the assailants came riding out O
the curtain of smoke with fierce cries
opening glorious fire in all directions
Every one must have been killed, spec
tators included, before the bands dis
entangled themselves from each other
and retired again to opposite ends o
the manege to take breath and measure
powder for another onslaught. It wa
picturesque and inspiring sight, a
utterly opposed to the precision ant
science of modern warfare as anythin,
we'll could could be. The costumes
the arms, the men, and the horses VIII
carried them--aIl were wild and strange
telling us of nation of warriors VIII
knew not barrack yards and schools O
musketry, but who knew right wei
how to fight in their own wild way. L
real fighting these fine fellows, one ma
suppose, are not quite so gamesome a
in the Michael Mdnege. Probably, fo
instance, the trooper who rode with hi
head in his saddle and his feet in tn
air would reserve that attitude till til
day was over, and till he might safel
indulge in the transports of victory
One Of the Circassians, burly man ur
on a white horse, was son of the grea
Schamvl. He was presented to th
Prince of Wales at the conclusion {
spectacle. More than one of the Rus
sian officers present wore decoration
earned in frontier warfare with sue
cavalry as those before us.