Waco evening news. (Waco, Tex.) 1888-1889, 1888-08-11
RUSSIAN C0SSACKS
.AWLess MEN WHO COMPOSE THE
CARS BODY GUARD.

Devoted and Unpi incipled without Dread
or Appreciation ot Dsnger-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 dashing Cos
sacks riding like mad on horseback are the
life Of the military for the winter. The COS
sucks are the life guards of the car ana 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 hs.A Of his VODKA
a to fribe rum which he drinks like water
ant which makes intoxication at slght' lie
was the original solder OF Russia, the patron
detective and the prime spirit in making re-
publican institutions what they are ne Is
devoted to tue ear, and for his devotion mas
been knighted in the highest degree Inc
acme OF the Russian soldier is to become as
sociated with the service of the crown and 10
be located about the palace. W he'll "a soiulci
is stationed in the vicinity of the palace ard
it becomes known that he has been recognized
by the car, his reputation has reached the
zenith, and he instantly becomes the admira'
ton of the entire people. To get promo
of the czar-is to acquire the highest honor
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 be was unable to
strike back, the enemy always being under
shelter 1t vas continuous bushwhacklng TIL
the retreat began, when tbs Cossacks rode out
40 900 or horseback AID shot down in cold
| blood almost twice their number in Napoleons
ranks. For centuries these people have been
! the predominant i. habitants on both sides OF
the Volga, and the first to take up arms Ill all
the lriinea against intruders. Nearly half q
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 CosSack is thus given the most
conspicuous position i'll all this great army.
Whenever You see Alexander Ill you see
swarm of Cossacks about Kim, 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 Cossacl; soldier is granted complete i'm
munity against punishment for all but the
highest crime which Is tELrder in colo blood.
If he WantCnly nuI uers an innocent and un'
offending citizen or companion he Is court
ulartialed and probably imprisoned for three
or six months, but it is extremely difficult to
convict him when cnce arrested. be Is fur
nished horse, clothing and rations when
stationed in city, but he is given no salary,
and rations only wkep he cannot forage.
About one-fourth Of them are supplied by
the hands of the car, while nearly 100000 of
them are privileged to 60 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 dc
} 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 soldier j.
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 a soldier, according to his purpose
or desires. He goes about, when not undel
direct orders, in the uniform Of a soldier o.
the dress of civilian. At st. Petersburg
not mary days ago, saw Cossack in pri
+ vate citizens dress on the street, walking il
hot haste. He wore a long ulster, buttonet
up to the chin. He was in the role of de
= tective. In little group of men he espie'
dis game--a slender youth. Hastily unbut
toning his great coat he drew forth bugle
n 4 single, short call, and at his side wer
three or four Of the fiercest looking Cossac
t soldiers ever saw. They came in twink
ling, wore coats of mail, caps, and at thei
sides and in their belts were pistols, knive
n and maces sufficient to start band OF Texa
highwaymen. The arrest was not resisted
l. and the display seemed entirely unnecessary
q Moscow Cor. Kansas City Times.
Cruelty to Children in London.
o The Baroness Burdett-Coutt has write
,,%c to g tl,n 81; c1