Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-16
The Renowned Russian Soldier Whom
the Late Emperor Always Spoke Of
as "The Bravest Of the Brave"
What One OF His Staff Officers Says About
Him-Story of His FerYid Paris
Speech and the Recall.

at that Servian students banquet that has
caused 90 much comment ever since. Like
| Skobslef, Zackerof was too free with his
tongue on that occasion, as well as all along
| the time OF their return to Moscow. The
consequence was that when he arrived in
Russia, and the Germsn-Russian question
began 10 be discussed, with Skobeleff's fiery
speech az the text for savage criti-
cisms upon RussiA's attitude as against
| Germany, he, as well as General Sko-
belief, fouHd himself the fit subject
OF a government reprimand. The general
was mildly censured by the car, and had his
headquarters changed by imperial order
Zackerof, who like his general is fiery
young officer of some three and thirty years
and who for the past FIVE years has been
attached 10 Skobeleff7s staff as an aide-de-
camp-Zackerof was informed that he could
have his choice-either to go to a post on the
| frontier (Which would be extremely distaste-
ful under the circumstances) or else take
two years vacation on half pay. He ac-
| cepted the latter alternative, came TO New
York, and has since resided at No. AIS West
Twenty Third street.
| COUNT zAcKERoFF,
as stated above. is young man, but one who
has seen hard fighting and distinguished
himself under the leadership of his gallant
| general, whose untimely death he now SO
deeply mourns. His tall figure, penetrating
| duu NOuiu COM
| mand attention anywhere. Speaking En-
glish fuently (having spent two years at
Woolwicb, Eng land, in pursuing his military
studies), and being thoroughly conversant
with the bearings of European international
| questions, 1t is pleasure TO engage the
young man in conversation, az his convic-
| tions are positive and his prejudices most
| distinctly defined. The news OF the death of
| General Skobeleff was a severe blow to the
| young officer, not alone on occouut of his
| deep love for his superior, but also because
| 1t will no doubt serve as a bar to his speedy
recall, which event heIsou every reason 10
bstteve WIS recEoned among the possibilities.
sit was only Tuesday last" said The leuten-
ant TO me yesterday when I called upon him
| to.talk over the affair of Friday; "it was only
Tuesday last that j had letter from Gen.
eral Skobeleff informing me that he would
| see the car at once in my behalf and
SECURE MY RECALL.
And now to think that the gallant fellow is
deadi l cannot believe it; and yet here is
message from Moscow that came to me
through my banker on Friday, bearing to
me the the terrible news"
HAD you known the general long?" j in
quired.
Ever since the Turkish war. All that time,
tired of the inactivity of service with the
car, where | saw no fighting, 1 sent letter
to General Skobelef by one of my brothers
with him, asking to be transferred to his
command. He interceded in my behalf, and
1 soon afterward became one of his aids
From that day have been with him unin-
terruptedly, and learned TO love him as /
never loved man before and never can again"
What do you think of him as a soldierW
There never lived Drawer man. But all
that has been written about him does not be-
gin 10 convey an adequate idea of his noble
ness, valor or generosity. Only those who
have fought at mis- side, and SIT by his camp
fire, as well as partaken OF his hospitality,
can ever judge the man according to his
merits. He was brave to rashness, and gen.
ercus to fault, while at the same time he |
was one OF the most punctilious men that |
ever lived. He could never forgive an error |
nor condone a 3ishoEsSs-.ot.-f|olo ettar sol- |
der ever lived; but he was
A SOLDIER OF ATTACK
rather than of defense-one who led into |
the enemy's ranks, not an officer calculated |
to hold defenses. The general always fought
in gala uniform-scarlet and white and gold |
and always rode white horse of which
L have seen as many as seven shot from I'M
der him, while he himself escaped without |
a scratch. He constantly jeopardized his
own safety in his impetuous desire to be at
the head of his troops. In all the. Turkish
campaign he knew not what rest was, but
was constantly on the alert, ever aggressive,
always counting death. MY son. said the
car to him, you must have more caution;
you court death 80 openly that it must come
soon.' Sire replied the brave general. 4
could not die in a nobler service ian yours
And that was the ruling characteristic of the
man. He loved his emperor and risked his
life-some may say rashly, yet with marked
occasion demanded"
"How was it in the quiet camp after bat
tle?"
There, also, his untiring activity showed
itself just the same. He might retire to his
tent Tor biscuit, or half-pint of brandy,
and then would go to the hospitals, where I
he visited all the wounded, cheered the un- I
fortunate men, sent them delicacies, and {
administered to their wants. Then
when everything was done that lay in his
power, he might wrap his fur coat about !,
about him ana catch few minutes rest" :
CIVIL DISTINCTION.
"Do you think Skobeleff was ambitious in
civil line of duty?" 4
"Never. He was too much soldier. Why, a
when he was offered the goyernorshIp of Odes- n
ia, while it carried with it pay amounting 10 | G
loo, 900 rubles (S50, 00O) year, he would not
have it. And why? Let me tell you. He
Knew that as governor he would have charge
II the police, and would be Obliged 10 direct !.
hem in the warfare against nihilists He :
old the government that he was soldier,
lot police superintendent. II he was
wanted to fight, he was ever ready; but to II
lirect police, never. And this was The mo- n
i've that prompted him to decline the high r
position rendered him at ST. Petersburg in 1
with the emperor's household II
He was not a man who could consent to cast
aside his soldierly dignity to take hold of a f
nearer civil branch Of service, and one that d
lad to him distasteful elenents' Il
THE PARIS AFFAIR L
"You were with the general at Paris. were IL
Iou not?"
81 was, and for that amhere. l went a
rom Russia TO Paris with the general on a II
'urely pleasure excursion. There was moth N
Eg political in our Notwithstanding that p
uggested mission, nothing that gave color re
Q so many OF the sensational stories later on
1 acting on behalf Of our government. We D.
7ere travelling for pleasure. The general q
TENDED the banquet in Pari,. lust as he Ia
Tould have gone to any other seciaI enter | CO
ainment. l went with him. Tiere is no fl
sc Disgusting the fact, may say tat we all
rank a good deal OF wine, and ,hs when 4,
be general was called upon TO speak le did q,
D in terms that certainly surprised raose -
tho listened, and the governments of Europe -
8 well. But General Skobeleff was MOI :,
peakipg as the accredited agent of the Rus -
ian government, no matter how closely his n
emarks may have touched line of opinion
nat is held by good many of the Russian
eOple. L nat Is anOlner -tnlng. 1t was not | =
ne time or place, perhaps, 10 have uttered -
sntiments 20 pronouncedly panslavist, but n
e had only the wine to blame for unloosing ~
he lips that had hitherto kept back senti- "
rents that are largely prevalent ia our I, u
ountry." -
RUSSIA AND GERMANY. q
ado you believe Russia can cope with Ger
lany nowH Pl
"Now? No. By and by? Yes. Germany al
constantly impoverishing herself by emf p
ration of her sturdiest citizens. The time az
ill come when a long war between her and | ie
.ussia must result in the latter's favor. But b
, short conflict now, Germany can con-
land the mastery" re
Sand General Skobeleff entertained these ! II
L
.'He did. He forsaw the inevitable conflict No
lat must come. He was not one who would
recipitate it now, had he lived. And so it 81
as that he was premature in his Paris Ii
,eech, ut,ering opinions that have a deep n,
ated hold on large portion OF the Russian ci
opulstion." 10
ado you believe it possible that the gen. b.
al could have been made away with by nj
me enemy?" q
'Neveri General Skobeleff, like all men in
no have risen 10 such distinction as he en- al
yed, no doubt had many enemies; but his al
lemies respected him, and would resort to | re
, such means to get rid of him. No. He Sc
ed from natural causes as stated" d,
fe
= n | at