Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-06-07
A Russian Adventure.


A Russian gentleman, travelling in
Italy, arrived one cold, rainy evening
at small roadside inn, in the Appen-
Mines and not being able to get horses,
was obliged to content himself with the |
miserable accommodation it afforded
The landlady came out to welcome
him, decked in rings and jewels-a
contrast, as he thought, to the dirty,
uncared-for house. He was good deal
surprised to hear his hostess order one
of the servants to go to the clergyman's
house to request the loan OF some sheets
| for the strangers bed.
Many little incidents occurred to rem
der the traveller suspicious. The gentle
man had with him fine Russian hound
which he never separated from, and
never permitted to sleep out of his
room. After a supper quite in keeping
with the appearance of the inn, he was
shown up to his bedroom; he ordered
the servant to accompany him, and his
dog followed. This enraged the hostess
who made great demonstrations of
wrath, and declared she would not per
NIT her rooms to be dirted by a dogs
presence. Her rage confirmed the
traveller in his determination not to
allow the dog to leave him. Madame
stormed in vain, and at length was
obliged to yield.
After she was gone, the gentleman by
signs, for he would not speak out, made
his servant to understand he wished
him to take out his pistols.
Over the chimney-piece there was q
very large mirror. The hound soon be-
came very uneasy, whined, walked up
up and down, keeping his eyes fixed on
the mirror; the gentleman looked at
the mirror, but could detect nothing; he
coaxed and by every method endeav-
ored to quiet the dog, and direct his
He then stopped down and brought
r his eyes on a level with those OF the
g dog, when he Immediately discovered
e a space under the frame of the glass,
and saw figures behind. For moment
f he knew not how to act. He did not
! think that the persons concealed had
I seen him looking under the frame.
q So he began a conversation with his
servant, telling him he had all his life
been great wanderer, and had had a
J, great many strange adventures; and
8 kept walking up and down the room,
o stopping from time to time before the
mirror. He continued telling stories of
), different encounters with robbers, his
e pistols in his hands loaded and cooked,
those Ct the servant being also pre-
}, pared, so the two were pretty strongly
;, armed.
During Que of these recitals he,
i laughing at his own stories ana seem
v ingly very merry again stopped be-
b fore tho mirror, and said to his servant:
"When I was at such and slch place,
(! my fellow-traveler and were standing
|, before door, as [ may be now before
this looking-glass, when / fired Off my
g pistols thus, and he did the same;" and
|. suiting the action to the word he, &C
d tually fired at the large glass, which
3 came rafting down, shivered to atoms
Y at his feet, the great chasm revealing
t five men, two of whom his balls had
e killed; the servant instantly fired, and
two more fell, leaving one unhurt.
q They were SO taken by surprise at
q this unexpected attack and discovery,
that they had no time to retreat. The
Y remaining man, seeing pistols in the
t hands Of master and servant, stood ter
rifed; the traveller ordered him to
come out OF his hldlng-place; he DID
i so, and, at the command given, laid
/! down his weapons on the table.
The Russian gentleman took up one
and his servant the other, and
t pointing them at the mans breast, told
Y him that now he was at their mercy; sc
4 he confessed that the house was the re
sort of banditti, and that the clergyman
of the parish was in league with them
. and the signal given to him that assist
t ance was wanted was sending for sheets
t when he invariably sent ruffians who
e feared nothing. He told him that they
q murdered all who fell into their hands
r all carriages were burned, and the bod
o les of the victims were buried in great
It pit.
t Search was made for these bodies
}, and the truth discovered The surviv
ing robber, with the other inhabitants
7, of the inn, were taken to Florence, and
|, there tried and condemned