The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-03-01
RUSSIAN COSSACXS.
The LawIess, UnprincipIsd Men Who Com
pose the CZar,s BODY Guard.

pose the Cars Body Guard.
l see here at St. Petersburg only
few soldiers in the streets, and the
dashing Cossacks riding like mad on
horseback are the life of the military
for the winter. The CossackS are the
life guards of the Gar, and are the
most interesting of the many char
acteristics in that strange country.
A genuine Cossack has no more ap-
probation 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
republican institutions what they are.
He is devoted to the Gar. and for his
devotion has been knighted in the high
est degree The acme of the Russian
soldier is to become associated with the
service of the crown and to be located
about the palace. When a soldier is
stationed in the vicinity of the palace
and it becomes known that he has been
recognized by the Car. his reputation
has reached the zenith, and ne in
stantly becomes the admiration Of the
entire people. TO get a promotion en-
suite-that is, into the direct service OF
the Cars to acquire the highest
honor q 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 en-
pire. The great French General found
his men falling like hail when he was
unable to strike back, the enemy always
being under shelter. TWAS continuous
bushwhacking till the retreat began,
when the Cossacks rode out 1000 on
horseback and shot down in cold blood
almost twice their number in Napo-
Icons ranks. For centuries these peo-
pie have been the predominant inhab-
itants on both sides of the Volga, and
the first to take up arms in all the
Crimea against intruders. Nearly half
a century ago the Gar rewarded the
tribe by taking all Cossacks in his serv-
ice as his special life guard. Alto
gether the most brutal and ignorant.
the Cossack is thus given the most con-
spicuous position in all this great army.
Whenever You see Alexander Ill YOU
see swarm of CoSsacks about him,
riding over pedestrians. slashing their
sabers in the air, and holding high and
arbitrary authority. They have COM
plete privilege and exercise it to the
fullest extent.
A Cossack soldier is granted COM
plcte immunity against punishment for
all but the highest crime, whichis muir
der in cold blood. If he wantcnly muir
ders an innocent and unoffending citi-
zen or companion he is court-martialed
and probably imprisoned for three OF
six months, but it is extremely difficult
TO convict him when once arrested. He
is furnished a horse, clothing and ra-
tions when stationed in u city. but is
given no salary, and rations only when
he can not forage. About one-fourth
of them are thus supplied by the hands
of the Gar, while nearly a hundred
thousand of them are privileged TO 60
about the country and in the name of
the Car pillage and plumber. They
hold up strangers, commit burglary
sometimes and demand at the hands OF
the people the best there is to live upon.
1t is useless to make complaints o.
their depredations, rs they are legal
lied. The people have to keep the
Gar and guard his life; they must pro
tect him and all his interests, and he
holds that they may just rs well do some
of their acts for the empires prcserva
ton directly, by maintaining band OF
marauders, as to do it indirectly
through the channels of the treasury
1t does not follow that because Il sol
der is a life guard he must be ut the
side of the one he is employed to pro
tcct. His field is in any spot he car
locate effort to iniure the empire OF
its Car. He IS secret or public de-
tective. or soldier, according to hi;
purposes or desires. He goes about,
when not under direct orders, in the
uniform of a soldier or the dress of q
civilian. At St. Petersburg. not many
DAYS ago, 1 saw 4 Cossack in private
citizens dress on the street, walking in
hot haste. He wore long ulster, but
toned up to the chin. He was in the
role of detective. In a little group
of men he espicd his game-a slender
youth. Hastily unbuttoning his great
coat, he drew forth bugle. A single
short call. and at his side We're Girec OF
FOUR of the fiercest-looking CoSsacb
soldiers l ever saw. They came in :
twinkling. wore coats-Of-maii caps. and
at their sides and in their belts were
pistols. knives and maces sufficient /,
start a band of Texas highwaymen.
The arrest was not resisted. and the
display seemed entirely unnecessary
MoScoto Cor Kansas City Times.
MOST UNFORTUNATE.
How IN Uniucky Fellow Was Pursued b.