The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-07-15
Sls NheIrrf. the SnIIinr.

By the death Of General S56beleff the
Gar loses one Of his most distinguished
officers and Russia one of her most devoted
sons. In the hearts of his countrymen,
indeed, he occupied much the same place as
did General Grant in the affections of all
loyal Americans at the close of the war, and
although the Emperor saw fit to formally
rebulSe his too frank avowal of Pan-Slavic or
anti-German principles there can be no
question that he but spoke the real senti-
ments Of the Russian nation and was from
that moment more than ever its idol Sl1o-
belief, however, resembled Grant in 10 other
respect, and acquired his reputation by
means Of personal daring rather than by the
display of great strategic skill. Like the
lamented Custer, be courted danger, and his
impetuosity frequently carried him into
pcrils which the responsibilities Of command
should have prompted him to avoid Yet
no one can read the story of his romantic
military career without feeling that to this
very trait of his character the success which
attended his campaigns was largely due, and
that if he sometimes rashly exposed his per-
son it was for the purpose of communicating
something of his own ardor and intrepedity
TO his men. 1t was his wont TO 90 into bat
tie dressed in dazzling uniform of white
and mounted on a white charger, whereby
he became, of course, Il conspicuous mark for
the enemy's bullets, but it is an open ques-
ton whether the moral effect of this specta-
Gle upon his troops did not more than coun-
ter-balance the risk which it involved. Ger
tainly in the fierce engagements before Plev-
M, during the last Russo Turkish war, when
he led the charge on one of the most formid-
able red0ubts in person, his presence alone
gave victory into his hands To say of him
that he bore charmed life is no idle COM
pliment; for in that single engagement he
lost no less than 5000 Of the 10000 men in
his command, and he was himself constantly
in the thick of the fight, his horse shot
under him and he more inviting target
for the Turkish rinemen than any private
soldier. Fond of luxury and personal dis
play at other times, he was in war the very
incarnation of military ardOr and insensible
alike 10 fatigue exposure, or danger of any
sort. The prestige of success chung to him
as it did TO the great Napoleon, and the men
of his division adored him with the same
unreasoning devotion that B0naparte COM
manded in the heyday Of his military glory.
Skobelelf came naturally by his soldierly
qualities. They descended to him from his
grandfather himself a scarcely less notable
figure in the military history Of Russia,
though raised from the ranks to the dignity
of general, and were reproduced in his
father, no less gallant, if less distinguished
officer. The grandson got his first Whit of
gunpowder in Poland when a lad Of eigt
having already displayed his martial l.
by participating in a students outbre
The University of Moscow, for which hi
promptly expelled from the college; al
the Khiva campaign, upon which he en-
after graduating from the st. Peters
Military Academy at the age of twenty
three, he gained at once the rank Of colonel
and the reputation of being the most daring
officer in the service Attached to General
Kauffman's staff, he afterwards took part in
the first expedition against Khokand and
his gallantry was rewarded with the hOnors
of a major-general. \ year later, at the
head of command of his own, he completed
the conquest Of the province and was
appointed governor. The outbreak Of the
Russo-Turkish war found him on the banks
of the Danube, and one Of the first to swim
his horse across in the assault upon the
Turkish position ut Simnitza. He came out
Of that war lieutenant general the
youngest in commission-and the idol Of
the whole army, having undergone such
baptism of fire as has seldom tried the soul
of the most illustrious soldier. At thirty
two SIlobeleff was signing, like Alexander,
for more worlds to conquer!
He is dead at thirty -seven-dead, perhaps,
at the very moment when he had caught his
first glimpse of the new era that amid the
smoke of Nihilstic explosions and the
rafting of the chains Of Siberian exiles is
beginning to dawn for his beloved country.
An intense nationalist in all his ideas and
feelings, trusted absolutely by his country
men, and worshiped devoutly by all Pan
Slavists, he seemed destined to play still
greater part in the affairs of Russia, and his
sudden death viii be mourned throughout
the Empire with sincerity and depth Of
grief such as is seldom occasioned by the
death Of a soldier.
Who is Responsible?
The investigation by the United States
Inspector into the circumstances attending
the sinking Of the steamboat Scioto on the
Ohio River nv which so MANY lives were