The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-28
THE GREAT GALLOPER.
Archibald Forbes's Remarkable Ride from
the Schipka Pass.


Archibald Forbes's Remarkable Ride from
the Schipka Pass.
Archibald Forbes, in English Illustrated
After an account of the battle, Archibald
Forbes gives the following account OF how he
was interviewed by the White Gar:
just as rode into the square General Igna-
tieff came out of Prince Dolgorouki's tent and
met Inc full face
'Ha, Mr.. Forbes where from now. you great
galoper!" was the Generals jovial greeting. l
gained some little reputation among the Russian
headquarters people for hard riding when news
had to be carried fast.
From the Schipka." was my reply II saw
battle there all day yesterday, andleft Radetski
at last night"
THE deuce you did," returned Ignatieff
bluntly why we have no tidngs so late
You have beaten all our orderiies! Come into my
tent and tell me the story"
1t meant delay, and delay was OF all things
just then what / could least afford, when l
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 ex-
cused myself
And you think" was his comment, as con
cluded a narrative which l made as short as l
decently could-''you think that RadetSki
hold on, that Schipka is safe?"
For what my conviction may be worth Cen
eral," was my response; Il prove it best In the
fact that am here. ] shall commit myself to it
News am hurrying to Bucharest"
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 wrOngw
1t was time for me to say word to protect
myself; it seemed from the Generals tone as If
there was risk that might be committed to
false position.
Remember" said I, you have asked me for
my opinion, General 1 did not bring it to you
as volunteer. Now that you have got it, beg
of you to take it simply for what it may be
worth"
And with this I left General Ignatieff and
went across the square to Col Wellesley, to
whom, while 1 was eating, and while his groom
was getting my fresh horse ready, gave sue
clnct summary OF the situation, according to my
lights. But my conversation with our military
attache was abruptly interrupted.
Hi! hi Mr.. Forbes! Where are you! l
want you at once!' was the summons that pres
emily reached me in General Ignatieff's strident
tones. "Oh, come along! make no delay! have
related to the Emperor the information you
have given me, and he at once commanded me
to GO find you, make you his compliments and
express his desire that you will come and relieve
his anxiety by telling him all you know"
The summons from the great White Gar him
self was no doubt complimentary, but it was
also embarrassing l was In great hurry, for
the Daily News was more to me than were all
the emperors of the habitable globe. And then
the state [ was in! do not profess to have been
| brought up among emperors; but [ may claim,
nevertheless, the possession of some sense OF
decency and I know that man ought to wait
on an 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 hagrantly dis
reputable. had been wearing clothes, originally
white, for over a fortnight night and
day. The black of my saddle had come off
on to them with great liberality, and
they were spotted down the front with poor
hvnv .oI .,.a1vl
when we had helped to carry him out of the FIRE.
l was all over about half an inch thick with
dust, while the dust on my face was cheerfully
relieved by fiery sun-blisters and by stubbly
beard of about weeks growth. l had not
washed for three days, and altogether felt my
| self humiliatngy dilapidated representative of
| that great empire on which the sun never sets.
But Ignatieff was peremptory. and insisted that
| the Emperor in the circumstances, would by no
| means stand on ceremony. He told me that he
| had ventured to rouse his imperial master from
| sleep to communicate to him the intelligence
which had brought and he presently ushered
| me through the Cossack guard into the
| dingy alcove which was to form the hall of audi
ence. The imperial residence was disman tied
Turkish house, the balcony on the upper floor of
which, where we found the Emperor impatiently
strldlng TO ana fro was Enclosed with curtains
of plain canvas. There was not even carpet
on the rugged boards glimpse into the bed
chamber, whence the Emperor had emerged,
showed me tiny cabin with mud walls and
little camp bedstead standing on mud floor
The Emperor. who was quite alone. received
| me with great courtesy. shaking hands and pay
ing me compliment on the speed with which
had travelled. 1t was about the worst period of
i'll fortune to the Russian arms and the harass-
ment of anxiety and mischance was plainly tell
ing on his MaJestys physical condition. He
carried himself with rounded shoulders; ne was
gaunt, worn and haggard; his voice quvered
with nervousness, and was fitfully interrupted
by the asthma that affected him. A
few months later, when Plevna had
fallen, and that tardy success had revolutionlzed
the situation, saw his Majesty in st. Peters
burg-a veritable emperor, upright of figure,
proud of gait, arrayed in splendid uniform, and
his bosom covered with decorations. A glitter
ing court and suite thronged around the stately
man with enthusiastically respectful homage.
The dazzling splendor of the Winter Palace
formed the setting of the sumptuous pictures
| and as gazed on the magnificent scene l could
| hardly realize that the central figure of it, in
the pomp of his imperial state, was of a verify
the selfsame man in whose presence / had stood
in the squalid Bulgarian NOVELETTE, same worn
ANXIOUS shabby, wistful man, who. with
spasmodic utterance and the expression in his
eye as of hunted deer, had asked me breathless
questions as to the episodes and issue of the
fighting