Wichita eagle., 1888-02-29
RUSSIAN COSSACKS.
LAWLESS MEN WHO COMPOSE THE
CARS BODY GUARD.

Devoted and UnprincipIed Without Dread
or Appreciation of Danger-Granted I'm
munity from Punishment for All Crimes
Except Cold FLOODED Murder.
see here and at ST. Petersburg only few
soldiers in the streets, and the dashlng Cos
sacks riding like mad on horseback are the
life of the military for the winter The Cos
sacks are the Life guards OF the car, and are
the most interesting of the many characters
In this strange country.
A genuine Cossack has no more appreciation
or dread of danger than he has OF his vodka,
a terrible rum, which he drinks ike water
and which makes intoxication at sight He
was the original soldier of Russia, the patron
detective and the prime spirit IN making re-
publican institutions what they are he Is
devoted to the car, and for his devotion has
been knighted in the highest degree. The
acme of the Russian soldier is to become as
sociated with the service of the crown and to
be located about the palace. When soldier
is stationed in the vicinity of the palace and
it becomes known that be has been recognized
by the car, his reputation has reached the
zenith, and be instantly becomes the admlra-
ton of the entire people. To get promo
ton en- suite-that is, into the direct service
of the czar-s to acquire the highest honor a
million Russian soldiers aspire to.
In all the wars Russia has fought from her
organization the Cossacks have figured most
conspicuously. They especially did the
bloody work when Napoleon came over from
France in 1872 and attempted to conquer the
empire. The great French general found his
men falling like hail when ne was unable to
strike back, the enemy always being under
shelter. 1t was continuous bushwhackirg I'll
the retreat began, when the Cossacks rode out
10000 ON horseback and shot down in cold
blood almost twice their number in Napoleons
ranks. For centuries these people have been
the predominant inhabitants on both sides o.
the Volga and the first to take up arms III all
the Crimea against intruders. Nearly half a
century ago the car rewarded the tribe by
making all COssacks in his service his special
life guard. Altogether the most brutal and
ignorant, the Cossach is thus given the most
conspicuous position in all this great army.
Whenever you see Alexander III you see a
swarm of Cossacks about him, riding over
pedestrians, slashing their sabers in the air,
and holding high and arbitrary authority.
They have complete privilege and exercise it
to the fullest extent.
IMMUNITY AGAINST PUNISHMENT.
A Cossack soldier is granted complete i'm
munity against punishment for all but the
highest crime, which is murder in cold blood
If he wantonly murders an innocent and TN
offending citizen or companion he is court
martialed and probably imprisoned for three
or six months, but it is extremely difficult to
convict him when once arrested. He is fur
nished a horse, clothing and rations when
stationed in city, but be is given no salary,
and rations only when he cannot forage.
About one-fourth of them are supplied by
the hands of the car, while nearly 10000 OF
them are privileged to go about the country
and in the name of the car pillage and plum
der. They hold up strangers, commit burg
larry sometimes and demand at the hands of
the people the best there is to live upon. 1t
is useless to make complaints of their depre.
dations, as they are legalized. The people
have to keep the car and guard his life;
they must protect him and all his interests,
and he holds that they may just as well do
some of their acts for the empires preserva-
ton directly, by maintaining band of ma
RAIDERS, as to do it indirectly through the
channel of the treasury.
1t does not follow that because q soldier is
a life guard he must be at the side of the one
be is employed to protect. His field is in any
spot he can locate effort to injure the empire
or its car. He is a secret or public detec
tive, or soldier, according to his purposes
or desires. He goes about, when not under
direct orders, in the uniform of a soldier or
the dress of a civilian. At ST. Petersburg,
not many days ago, l saw a Cossack in pri-
vate citizens dress on the street, walking in
not haste. He wore a long ulster, buttOned
up to the chin. He was in the role of de-
tective. In little group of men he espied
his game-a slender youth. Hastily unbut-
toning his great coat he drew forth bugle.
a single, short call, and at his side were
three or four of the iercest looking Cossack
soldiers l ever saw. They came in twink
ling, wore coats of mail, caps and al their
sides and in their belts were pistols, knives
and maces sufficient TO start band of Texas
highwaylnen. The arrest was not resisted,
and the display seemed entirely unnecessary.
Moscow Cor kansas City Times