The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-06-28
THE CosSACKs OF THE DON.
How They Look. How They Ride. aud II o,s
They Are Armed.

THE COSSACKS OF THE DON
How They Look. How They Ride. and How
They Are Armed.
A little way further along the road
we met detachment of Cossacks am
bling along, one of their number max
ing noise on whistle, while the 9TH
ers sang to the not wholly satisfactory
accompaniment which this instru-
ment produced. All the Cossacks
hereabouts are Cossacks OF the Dons,
descendants of the fellows who III the
early years Of the century followed
the white mustaches OF Helman P;a-
toff into Western Europe and hobbied
their shambling ponies in the glades
of the Bois de Boulogne. One Dou
Cossack is so like another that the idea
is hard to get rid of that they have all
been made to order in one mold, and
that, in case of accidents their heads
arms. or legs are interchangeable. The
COssack is not very savOry gentle
man. and Galatz is a fine place for
taking the edge off ones sensibilitics
regarding smells, and we can get TO
the windward of the Cossack we wis b
to inspect, which is more than we eau
do in regard to the Gaiatz drains
Friend Cossack is a little chap, about
five feet five, even on his high heels.
but at once sturdy and wiry. His
weather beaten face is shrewd, know
ing, and merry. His eyes are small
but keen, his mouth large, and be-
tween it and his pug nose-rather red
der than the rest IF hi facets tuft
or wisp of straw colored mustachc.
His long, thick, straight hair, matches
his mustache in color, and is cut sheer
round by the nape OF his neck. He
wears round oilskin, deakless shak o
with knowing cock TO the right, TO
maintain which angle there is q strap
round his chubby chin. Below the
neck the Cossack is all boots and
great-coat eXteriorly. The great coat,
which is of thick blanketing, comes
down below his knees his boots come
up to them. He is more armed than
any man of his inches in Europe, is
our little Cossack friend, and coaltt
afford TO lose weapon or two and ye:
be an averagely dangerous customer
Weapon number one is the long, black
flagless lance, with its venomOus head
that seems itching TO make day ight
through somebody. He carries car
bine slung i'll an oilcloth cover, on his
back, the stock downward. In his
belt is long and well-made revolver
in leather case, and from the belt
hangs a curved sword, with no guard
over its hilt. Through the chinks o.
his great coat are visible glimpses OF q
sheepskin unGercoat with the hair
worn insidc-to- day at noon the ther-
mOmeter was over seventy in the sun.
His whip completes his personal ap
he wears no spurs. lie
rides cooked upon high saddle, with
q lCothCIh StidppCo oNCl Ii. d
wiry little rat of pony, with no mid
die piece to speak of, with an eve
neck and gaunt, projecting head,
with ragged flanks, loose hooks, limp
fetlocks, shelly feet, and general ap
pearance of knackerisin-the sort OF
animal, in fine, for which a coster-
monger would think twice before he
offered .three quid" for it at the north
ern Tattersall's on the outskirts Of the
cattle market on Friday
afternoon. But the screw is of in
gameness aid toughness,
lives where most horses would starve,
is fresh when most other horses arc
knocked up, and is fit 10 carry its rider
across Europe, as Cossack ponies have
done before to-day. The Cossacks
seem to be used indiscriminately for
all kinds OF work. They were the
first to enter Roumania, They ride
about alone with dispatches. they es-
cort suspected spies, keeping the head
of their lance carefully within easy
distance OF the small of the sus-
poets back, to be handy in skcwcring
him if he should attempt to escape ,and
he Cossacks are PLACED on guard over
he ships at the Galatz quay, 10 pre-
vent their attempting departure, Dis
and shackiing his pony by
nnhhlo n naNl, fnrnfa.r tod
! leather strap with another hoEb!c
around the left hind leg, above the
mock, the Cossack takes up position
III the extreme edge OF the jetty, will,
his lance pointed III the direction 0.
Inc ship, as if he would transtix it
should it attempt to escape, and there
be stands, self contained, aiIablc, alert
and with a general aspect conveying
he idea that he is pitronizing that
section of Christendom with his pur-
view. He will accept a cigarette and
tender you light from his in the
most friendly manner, but you viii!
never coax him TO take his eye for d
single minute of the ship which he
has in custody. The Circassian Cos
sacks who marched in to- day differ in
some respects from the Don Cossacks:
They ride larger ponies, they wear
BUSHES of Astrachan fur with a scar
let busby bag, and their great coat is
black. having its bosom slashed with
for cartridges, while they
carry their carbine in cover OF Astra
chan fur.-[ London Daily News.
A YOUNG lady on Embargo street