The People's vindicator., 1881-02-26
SkObelenes Victory.

TtE capture of GoOk-Tepe by General SkO'
bceE. after two weeks siege that was full o.
desperate encounters aud fruitlcss though gal
laut efforts Of the beleagucrcd Turcomans 10
crush the Russian forces, gives the latter
iirm fOothold in Southern Turkcstan and
places the City of Merry at their mercy. Ihey
are now hut 9OO miles distant from that point,
and, although the season is unfavorabc for
an advance upon it, there is no question that
the dashing Skobeleff will make the essay If it
is part of the Russian policy to occupy IT.
Hitherto the Government have discaimed
all intention of doing more than to
punish the Turcomans for their predatory
and have intimated that their
would close with the capture
of Geok-Tepe. The Russians, however, have
never yet conquered any Of the tribes in Tur'
kestan without anneXing some of their terrific
~, and ii they propose to hold Turkcstan or
any part Of it there Is no stronger or more
strateRical point to secure their occupation
thun Merv, which is not only the central point
of the great Asiatic commercial highways
that control the rich trade Of that region, but
is the natural base of operations against Per-
sia and Afyhanistan, and thus Of the highest
Importance from military point Of view. 1t
Is the key to Cabul, and once In possession
of Merv the. Russians would be within
fortnights distance of Herat, and one hum
dred miles nearer to it than the English
would be either at Cabul or Candahar. The
uncasiness of the English War Office is there
fore easily understood, for in case Russia oc-
cupes Merv she is. virtually menacing the
frontiers of Afyhanistan and India. With
such a temptation before Russia, which is all
the stronger because the British troops have
been withdrawn from Afghanstan, it may be
entirely probable that she will continue her
advance until she holds all of Turkestan in her
grasp. If she has been merely bent upon an
errand of revenge and to make good the losses
which the Turcomans of Geok-Tepe have in
tiicted upon her arms, she will return to the
Caspian, but 1t is to be taken into account that
the Turcomans of Merv were assisting their
brethren at Geok-Tepe, and that such pre-
text would justify her in an advance against
the former city.-Chicago Tribune.
A Young Wonan's Fight with Bears.
LovTlE MERRILL, the female hunter ct
Wayne County, Pa, has just had another ad'
vcnt,rc$worthy OF record, and one which came
so near costing her her life that she will prob
ably in the future never resume her masculine
sport. 4 few days ago, just after the great
| sleot storm which swept over the country,
l.ot,ic determined 10 go deerhuliting. Don.
| ming her snow shoes she started to cross Dri I
Swamp, 4 dense mass Of scrub-Oak and aurcl
When she had reached the ccnterof the marsl
she discov cred the footprints OF very large
bear on the crust. She followed the trail Out
Of the swamp for about two miles, when she
discovered the den which. the animal inhab
tied. Entering the cave she found two little
cubs on bed of'leaves in one corner. Tho
cubs were about the size of kittens and were
easily captured.
Lo,tic wus Just emerging from the cave
when she was met by an immense she. bear
The bear had heard the cubs yell and wa!
making all possible speed to rescue them. Be
fore Lotte could draw her rifle to her sLoude
the animal was upon her and, grasping her II
her paws. gave her such terrible squeeze tha
she f,,inted, when the bear, thinking her dead
released her grip. She fortunately regaine(
consciousness quickly, and when the Old bea
was playing with her cubs the plucky hunte
drew her rifle and shot her In tho side. Ih
bullet did not strike the animals heart. and Il
the brute dashed at her again Lottie drew he
hunting knife and with one bold stroke ncarl.
severed the bear head from the body.
Lottie was just congratulating herself o.
her successful escape when the dead bear
mate made his appearance. Lotties rite wa
unlo:,ded and she was totally unprcparcd TO
q second encounter, but determined to hgh
it OUT" The struggle WAS 4 long one. FOl
tula;cly the young lady was not incumbeie
IN her motions by perticoats, for III ali he
hunting expeditions she wear: pantuloons
tloeskin with Il long blouse. When, finally
Lottie thought the bear was dead she s'oope
over to cut his throat, and the animal. wit
one stroke Of bis monstrous paw, tore th
clothing almost completely from her bod!
During the protracted struggle the bear ha
reached the edge Of u clK fully lVo fct
} high and sloping st IN angle OF nor
than 4j degrees down to the WAllinpaupac
, Creek. As the animal grabbed Lottie he con
menccd sliding on the slippery crust dow
this almost perpendicular slope. Lotto WI
carried with him. and every foot OF dist.nc
truVerscd added to their velocity. When tic
reached the foot OF the slope they struc
y against tree, completely killing the bear AL
breaking two OF Lottie's rios, her lett arm all
one Of her limbs, She managed, however,
crawl about mile to 4 house. where she r
ceived medical treatment. The first bei
:. Killed weighed when dressed 4s3 pounds al
the male one ls4 pounds. Lottic, who is in
proving slowly, has the cubs in her possession
but she says it will he some time before st
will take another expedition OF this kind.
Ddnlasc,y (I'u.) Cor. New York Times.
), A LITTLE girl who applied to Quee
, Victoria for her autograph. receive
the following: =" For OF such is tn
kingdom of Heaven. Victoria Regina.
FIvEbrothcrs. Of the name of Br,zzart
le=d q Pennsylvania gang Of thieves.
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