Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-29
THE cHEAT CALLoPER.
Archibald r.,p.ss Ride from the seh''A
gnss.


A,eh,ba,a rs,pss. Ride from the seh''Aa
rA,ch,bald Forbes In the English illustrated
Amer an account Of the battle Arch
ibald Forbes gives the following account
81 how he was interviewed by the White
Gar:
inst as rode into the square Cen
eral Tenatieff came out of Prince Dol
corouki's tent and met me full face.
"Ua, Mr.. Forbes, where from now,
you great gallopers was the General $
ioyial greeting. had gained some little
reputation among the Russian-hesd'
quarter people for hard riding when
news had to be carried fast.
"From the Schipka," was my reply
~ saw q battle there all day yesterday,
and left Radetski at s last night"
1.-THE deuce you did :" returned ig-
naticff, bluntly. "Why, we have no
tidings so late. You have beaten all
our orderlies Come into my tent and
tell me the story"
1t meant delay, and delay was OF all
things Just then what could least al
ford, when / grudged every moment
that kept me from the telegraph wire.
But had been obliged to the General
for many kindness, and it would have
been neither grateful nor seemly to have
excused myself.
And you think, was his comment,
as concluded narrative which made
as short as decently could-"you
think that Radetski can hold on-that
Schipka is safe ?"
For what my conviction may be
worth. General was my response,
II prove it best in the fact that | am
here. shall commit myself to 1t IN
the telegram, to dispatch which to the
Daily Ners am hurrying to Bucha-
rest"
"Well, your belief is dead in the
face of all our opinions here. You
know your own business best. Pray
Heaven you may be right and all our
experts wrong"
1t was time for me to say word to
protect myself. 1t seemed from the
Generals tone as if there was risk
that ! might be committed to a false
position.
Remember" said |, "you have
asked me for my opinion, General. |
did not bring it to you as a volunteer.
Now that you have gotit, | beg of you
to take it simply for what 1t may he
worth"
And with this | left General lgnatiil
and went across the square to Colonel
Wellesley, to whom, while ! was eat
ing and while his groom was getting my
fresh horse ready, gave o, succinct
summary of the situation, according to
my lights; but my conversation with
our military attGche was abruptly in
terrupted.
Hi. hi Mr.. Forbes q. Where are
YOU? want you at once :" was the
summons that presently reached me in
General Ignatiehrs strident tones. "Oh.
come along! Make no delay have
related to the Emperor the information
YOU have given me, and he at once COM
manded me to 60 find you, make you
his compliments, and express his de-
sire that you will come and relieve his
anxiety by telling him all you know -
This summons from the great White
Car himself was no doubt compliment
tary, but it was also embarrassing.
was in a great hurry, for the Da'ig
News was more to me than were all the
emperors of the habitsble globe. And
then the state was in do not pro-
fess to have been brought up among
emperors, but ] may claim. neyerthe-
less, the possession of some sense OF
decency; and know that's man ought
to wait on IN emperor in his Sunday
clothes. | hadn't seen any Sunday
clothes or proper Sundays either for
three months; and | was conscious
that my personal appearance was fla
GRAVITY disreputable. ] had been
wearing clothes, originally white, fol-
over fortnight, night and day. The
black of my saddle had come of on to
them with great liberality, and they
were spotted down the front with poor
Dragomiroh's blood, which had beer
trickling when we had helped to carry
him out Of the fire. was all ovel
about half an inch thick with dust
while the dust on my face was cheer
fully relieved by fiery sun-blisters anC
by a stubbly beard Of about a week
growth. had not washed for three
days, and altogether felt myself hu
miliatingly dilapidated representative
Of that great empire on which the SUI
never sets. But lgnatieh was peremp
tory, and insisted that the Emperor il
the circumstances would by no means
stand on ceremony. He told me tina
he had ventured to rouse his impcria
master from sleep to communicate Il
him the intelligence which | haC
brought; and he presently ushered INT
through the COSsack guard into tn
dingy alcove which was to form the hal
of audience. The imperial residenc
was a dismantled Turkish house, tn
balcony on the upper floor Of which
WHEREIN found the Emperor inpatient.
striding to and fro, was inclosed wit
curtains Of plain canvas. There wa
not even q carpet on the rugged boards
4 glimpse into the bed chamber, whenc
the Emperor had emerged, showed m
tiny cabin with mud walls and littl
camp-bedstead standing on a mud floor
The Emperor, who was quite alone
received me with great courtesy
shaking hands and paying me a compli
| ,nnnt On III snnnh with IL hinh [ h.