The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-05
sKoBELEFFs SWIMMING FEAT.
Crossing the Danube on Horseback ana Cal

Crossing the Danube on Horseback and Call
ing ON Others to Follow.
The versatile Russian painter, Vereschagin. in
his entertaining sketches of adventure during
the Russo Turkish war of 1877, published in
skrial form in the Journal des Debats of Paris,
gives pleasant account of one of the many dare
devil episodes of adventure IN the career OF the
younger General Skobeleff. This was the swim
ming OF the Danube on horseback Let NJ.
Vereschagin be his own narrator:
II was seated in my tent late one afternoon,
when | observed several Ossetes passing at u
gallop Inquring what this meant, | was told
that the younger General Skobelef had proposed
to Touloumine that he should try TO swim the
Danube with his whole brigade. The General
alleged that it was eminentiy necessary to have
cavalry on the other side OF the stream, and that
1t was impossible to wait until the pontoon
bridge was constructed to get the mon over there.
And inasmuch as Touloumine and Lewis
had frankly declined to make the attempt for
the excellent reason that the entire brigade
would most likely be drowned, the Danube be-
ing at the proposed point more than four klo-
meters wide. Skobeleff had begged them to
scare up a few volunteers and to send them to
him. The Ossetes whom had seen passing were
the volunteers in question.
II had my horse saddled and galloped off IN
the direction of the river. Presently found as
sembled on the bank nearly all the officers of the
brigade
"A little in advance of the groups the elder
Skobeeff stood between Lewis and Touloumine.
watching his son, stripped to his shirt and
trousers with his cross of Commander of the
Order of st. George around his neck. Michael
Dmi.rievitch Skobeleff leaped on horseback.
and urged the huge brownish bay steed into the
stream At first the animal resisted shook his
ears neighed, then bravely struck out swim
ming. For short time Skobeleff remained in
the saddle. because we could see his
soon We saw nothing but his head. I learned
sfterward that In order not to fatigue his horse
he had stepped into the river, and. keeping hold
of the animals tail. swan along beside him. The
father began TO trembe for him and to cry after
him in his nasal tones;
"'Micha, my little Michael, come back!
Micha, Miicha, you will be drowned!
''Tha old mans anxiety was pitiful to wit
cess.
"But little Michael con tinued te swim Without
looking back making steady progress. few
Ossetes had thrown themselves into the stream,
following the General, and one of them swim
ming out long distance, would certainly have
been drowned and his horse with him if boat
had not been sent to his relief.
AS for myself, as soon as l arrived on the
shore my first movement was to undress. In less
than two minutes | was in the water with my
horse. The creature swan few moments, then
turned around aud made for shore in spite OF all
the blows could bestow his back. The com
mandant of the second squadron. Astakhy, had
no better luck than did Skobeleff was no longer
anything but black dot long way off. To ease
| Our CouSCicHCc6 W0 StdEtou dlbcE III d UOdU,
| drawing horses after us by the brides. and va
made our way towards small island. 1t was
only after reaching this point and gazing at the
| enormous distance which had to be crossed be-
fore reaching the Turkish shore that under
stood how wisely my horse had acted in dlsobev
ing me. There was not the shadow of doubt
that should have been drowned But how hap,
pened it that, not knowing how to swim, had
thrown myself into the water behind the Gen
eral2 only know that when saw Skobelefe go
IN catd Yharf hun hop don inn
''The elder Skobeleff remained motlonless on
the bank. following the little black point, scarcely
perceptible on the surface of the stream. a
Later on we learned that General Michael,
after narrowly escaping doath by drowning a
hundred times. had reached the opposite bank
And Skobeleff was prince of swimmers with a
matchless horse. Think what would have be-
come of the brigade if Touloumine, accepting
Skobelefs proposition had launched his squad
rons forth into the Danube How many would
have reached the Turkish shoreq"