The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-31

the cable rates. but the prestige of that paper as
an enterprising news-gatherer was SO great,
arising out of the work of Stanley at Magdaia
and in search of Livingstone through the heart
OF the Dark Continent and of McGahan in the
khokand, that the Daily News people were glad
enough to enter into the arrangement
Neither MIR. McGahan nor Mr.. Millet, how
ever, knew of this treaty, offensive and defen-
slve, into which the respective papers they rep
resented had entered and each was on his mette
to beat the other. After the Russian army had
crossed the Danube and had entered the inhos-
pitable wastes of Dobrondcha, McGahan elected
to campaign with his old friend Skobeef who
invariably made himself shining mark for one
of the enemy's bullets by wearing white cav
airy cloak and riding white horse, to inspire
his men with his own reckless daring. McGahan
day trip, but that made little difference to the
correspondent, who felt the burden of the war
would fall on Skobeleff's shoulders Mr.. Millett
was shrewd enough to perceive that his best
place with the army that was advancing toward
the Balkans was as near to McGahan as posi-
BILE. When the famous quadrilateral of the Do
brondcha was broken by the fall of Plevna on ths
slopes of the Balkans and Osman Pasha surren-
dered to Gen. Skobeleff, the conflict was practi-
cally over. The key to the Balkan passes had
been won, and it was for radng cavalry to do
the rest when the mountains were passed and
the plains of fertile Roamelia were reached.
McGahan and Miller tossed up to know who
should go to the rear to Bucharest to get the
great news on the wires to London, the military
telegraph lines constructed by the troops as they
advanced being used by the army officials
exclusively McGahan lost the toss, and started
for the Danube alone with the news that, after
one of the most heroic resstances in the annals
of ancient or modern warfare, the Turkish COM
mander at Plevna had surrendered but not until
he was so weak himself that he had to be brought
into the presence of his conquerer supported on
tho shoulders of two stalwart Russian troopers.
Meanwhile, during Mr.. Gahan's absence at the
AhaIAf 1Aas Id 70 a1va
sonal inspection of the government that had
been supposed to be impregnable, but which
had just been surrendered to him by
Osman Pasha. It was a reconnaissance
attended with no small risk. The
general belief in the Russian army was that
the Turks before the surrender had moved
Plevna, and that orthodox believers in ''Kismet"
had decided to die with their victorious enemies.
This belief OF the army had no terrors for
Skobelef He entered the fort with his staff
and was accompanied by Mr.. Millet. There the
latter got the opportunity for graphic descrip
ton of one of the most awful sights which ever
met the human eye. The bodies of the slaugh-
tered Turks who fell at their guns lay ten feet
deep and the surroundings indicated that the
place had been defended with the frenzy Of
despair. From that hour forward Osman Pasha
was hero in the eyes of the Russians.
Immediately after the inspection Mr.. Millet
started for the Danube, confident that he had q
magnificent beat on his newspaper rival Il
was rot until General Gourko had vacated
Roumeia that these gallant correspondents
learned that they had labored in vain to outstrip
each other and that when interests of the
paper demand that individual ambition shall be
sacrificed deeds of greatest daring in the field
count for naught.
Within few weeks after the fall of Plevna poor
McGahan died of fever at Constantinople He
got soldiers funeral. and Skobeloff was chief
mourner at the grave-the brave spirit that was
soon after to 20 out on drunken brawl at
beer-garden in Moscow. A tall shaft pierces the
Bulgarian sky in memory of what an American
newspaper man had done for oppressed human
ity. 1t was entirely meet that his remains
should be dsinterred and brought to this coun-
try on United States war vessel for burial at
his home in the valley Of the Fathers OF Waters.
And Mr.. Bennett paid graceful tribute to the
memory of faithful emplove and brave man
when he undertook the expense Of bringing poor
McGahans body to their last resting place in the
land of their birth.