The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1880-08-26
MURDER OF NINE. SKOBELEFF.
Atrocious Ingratitude and Treachery
of a Young Russian officer.

| Atrocious Ingratitude and Treachery
of Young Russian officer.
The London Telegraph gives the fol-
lowing details of the atrocious murder
of Nine. Skobeleff, mother of the dis
| tinguished Russian general: Nine.
| Skobeleff, during her two months stay
| at Bulgaria, had devoted her time,
money and energies to the development
of benevolent institutions in different
parts of the principality, and had made
| numerous excursions with that object,
refusing the escort of gendarmerie Of
fered to her by the local authorities, on
the ground that she was too well known
| throughout the country to run any risk
of molestation. During these expedi-
tions she was only accompanied by
young female attendant, by faithful
and intelligent Russian man-servant
named Ivanoff, and by Captain Uzatis,
| formerly her sons personal aide-de-
camp, who had earned great distinction
| by his splendid gallantry during the
late war, and whom she was accus-
toned to address as "her son." To
this young officer she had upon several
of money for the purpose of enabling
| one of his brothers, n civil engineer, to
| erect mill in Demendere, a village
near Philippopolis, but had recently re-
| fused an application on his part for
| further gift, holding out, however, hopes
that she might grant the asked-for
subsidy at some future period.
Nine. Stobeleff had set her heart upon
establishing model farm in East Rou-
| melia, and started by carriage from
Philippopolis for Tchirpan, with the OBJ
ject OF purchasing piece of land suit
| able to the fulfillment of her project,
| taking with her $4,000 rubles, which
| Captain Uzatis assisted her to pack up
| in valise. The money was destined to
pay for her purchase. To avoid the in
| tolerable heat of the summer sun, she
| commenced her journey at nine O'Clock
p. NJ, accompanied by her usual attend
ants, with the exception of Uzatis, who
excused himself, alleging indisposition
and the necessity OF remaining with his
brother, who was also on the eve of de-
parture from Philippopolis. For about
half an hours drive, after quitting the
town, Nine. Skobeleff's carriage was
closely followed by vehicle containing
Nine. Smolekotf, the directress of the
Philippopolis hospital, and a Russian
officer named Petroff; but the two car
riages separated at Kemer, close to q
stone bridge over the Martha, on the
road to Adrianople. Nine. Skobeleff's
yards further, when Ivanhof, who was
seated on the box by the coachm an, ,espied
Captain Uzatis little distance OFT by
the roadside, and, turning round toward
his mistress, who, in the me antime had
fallen into doze, awoke her with the
announcement that the captain was ap
preaching the carriage on foot. The old
lady ordered the coachman to stop, and, ,
leaning out of the window, was express
ing her thanks to Uzatis for the trouble
he had taken 10 wish her goodspeed on
her journey, when he suddenly drew his
hand jar and cut Ivanoff down. At the
same moment four armed men made
their appearance and fell upon the at
tendants with their yataghans. While
they were slau ghtering the Bulgarian
driver and Nine. Skobeleff's maid
upon the former of whom they inflicted
fourteen wounds, and upon the latter
four terrific slashes, each of which was
sufficient to cause death-UZltis delib-
erately butchered his aged benefactress,
despite her piteous appeals for mercy
and despairing offers of all her money
and va!ulbles if only he would spare her
life. He thrust his broad bladed cimeter
completely through her body, killing
her on the spot, and then proceeded to
plunder the corpse, while his accAm-
plices broke open the trunks and rihed
them of their valuable contents. Mean.
while, Ivanof lay still, feigning death
He had received eight severe wounds
but, when the murderers made off with
.. their booty, he contrived to crawl away
which he lost SO much blooC
that he repeatedly tainted, reached
the Russian consulate at Philippopolis
about midnight, when he related tht
.. horrors of which he had been witness
A detachment of cavalry was ut once
dispatched to Demendere, whithe
, UZatis had betaken himself, having pre-
viously returned to Philippopolis TO
, the purpose OF changing his clothes ant
concealing his weapons. He and one o
his fellow-assassins were in the mil
, belonging 10 his brother when he per
ceived the militia squadron approach
ing. Forthwith they took horse ant
, galloped off toward the Turkish from
!, tier, but found the high road occupie
, by section of infantry, the officer com
, manding which summoned them t
= surrender. Dismounting they fled up
hillside and took refuge in a narroy
glen, where they defended themselve
for some minutes with their revolver
, against the soldiers pursuing them
, Presently. however, seeing himself SUI
q rounded on every side, Uzetis put tn
= muZzle of his pistCl in his mouth an
= blew out his brains, His companio
~ was captured alive, rs were later on th
! | other three rutfians who shared in h
: atrocious enterprise. The valise COZ
!. tanning the stolen money has not as v,
been discovered. Madam Skobelefl
!. body, embalmed by order of the Ru
o sian consul-general, was conveyed
. St. Petersburg via Constantinople an
v Odouca