Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-04-27


! Russian force In n city called Eski Xagra
In that place we remained several days
Then, one bright mornlng, we saw the
Turks crossing to attack the Russians
and BulgarisNS who lay in their forts neal
the eastern part of the city waiting for
the struggle. The Turks carried about
100 cannons and the Russians bad but
three. The battle began ut 10 O'Clock in
the morning and continued until in the
evening, then victory was 70 the Turks.
happened to be between the two par
ties. We lived in the city, but in the
morning my father babe me go to see the
servants who were working in our fields
and my brother went in the other direc-
ton TO the shepherds who tended our
| Hooks. And we did not dream of the war
cloud which overshadowed our country.
rather and mother, however, heard what
was occurring in the city and sent a mes
sage TO the servants telling them to leave
their work, and take me and 90 to the
Derven Pass, about six miles from our
held and four miles from home and they
went to find my brother and then came
down to Derven Pass intending to get me
and go TO Shipka Pass where there were
more Russian troops. They found my
brother and went to the place where they
expected to find me, but they did not find
me there. AS soon as the servants re-
| celVed the message from my parents they
at once left their work and went away
without telling me either what it was or
what was taking place in the city. was
left alone. / remained there for, perhaps,
half an hour amusing myself by watch
ing, the little birds in the bushes and by
making little mounds of the black dust
under the shade of the elms 10 the field.
Everything was perfectly still. l saw
people running, but had no idea what
that meant. until the bullets began to pass
over my head making u noise just like the
beetles at that season. l had heard the
pf hnt for "a
and thought some people were thrash
ing corn and that the sound came from
there, But, before long, learned what
was the cause Of it, Two of my play
mates were instantly shot; and they
dropped at my feet, and the only sign of
life saw in them was one or two gasps
and kicks, they rolled down and expired
near their mounds of dust and stones.
Then knew what those beetles were and
what that noise meant.
understood the danger, and started to
go home. Just then | saw one of our ser
wants running. | asked him to cake me
with him, but he neither heard nor looked
nor spoke to me. He passed me by, and
after running about 100 feet he tumbled
down and lay motionless. l went to him,
and thought he had lain down to take
nap. But, alas, he was shot Now | be
gan to call for mamma and papa, but they
were all gone
| started again to 90 home, but after
going POO or 300 yards from the spot where
had played, saw the Russians firing at
me. They fired at the enemies, but |
supposed they were firing at me. Seeing
the danger here, turned back, but sew
eral hundred yards away, observed an
other scene of the same kind, only it WAS
more fearful. saw the Turks walking
fast toward the Russians and firing. | was
terribly frightened l did not know what
10 GO l lay down in furrow. and. after
% tnfr
that trusteth in Him." which my mother
taught me the same morning, and after
CRYING mamma and papa, where are your"
l fell asleep. How long Il time | slept in
that furrow, / do not know. But shell
woke me. sprang up and stood on my
rect ; and another shell came and dropped
only short distance from me, and burst
It's fragments played sad music. ! found |
myself In the middle of the battle. In |
snort time | saw many hundreds of sol
diers pierced and lying on the ground |
around me. But had no fear whatever
befall me or OF mother, father, brother, |
sisters and friends. l laid down between |
the dead bodies of three Russians, one |
Bulgarian and eight Turks who a few |
moments before, had met on that spot |
aud killed one another by swords, bayo-
together. Their warm blood wet me
all over, but l contented myself there.
| found bread in their knapsacks and
water i'll their canteens. ate dry bread
and drank warm water, and took courage
hoping that the Turks would soon depart,
continued about two hours longer. And
then heard martial strains, and saw the
two parties separating and taking steps
backward, and still firing; in little
while they were far away from the spot
and stopped firing
Now agony Thousands of wounded
soldiers OF both parties crying for water
n that spot to see SO many calling for a
glass or water when there was no one to
help them. Then one Of the Turkish
bodies where was lying began to move.
ne opened his eyes looked at me and said
Allah guell corcar buzd" i. e., God come
1 while he took a sharp breath. opened
'SwooH i. e., water" and closed his ewes
again. took his canteen, and tried to
give him water, but he did not open eilher
lis mouth or his eyes; l poured some
I'd his mouth. He swallowed it ; and
quickly took breath and gave such a
,roap as | never heard or dreamed of be-
ore aud so was frightened and dragged
myself out Of there.
But oh, to see the thousands stretching
tut their hands and begging me to give
hem water, and other thousands uncon-
cious, covered with wounds and blood
way from their dear ones at home. who
would have done all in their power to
make their last moments happy. l saw
russian officer near by. He was lying
IN his side, he called me to come to him,
nd tears flowed down from his eyes, red
ike blood. l went to him. He could not
peak my language, but, by his MOTORS, =
understood what he wanted me to
10 for him. He was shot twice, in his
eg and arm. The wounds in his leg were
lot serious but the wound in his arm was
atal. He would have bled to death in a
ew moments had he not put his hand
yer the wound, and stopped the blood
lie asked me to open his knapsack. |
pened it and found in it substance like
wax, some courtplaster and several hand
,erchiefs which he, perhaps, had taken
rom home before he started for the bat
lie. He filled up the wound with piece
Il wax, put some plaster over it, and
led 1t with handkerchief as hard rs
ould. He had some medicine and a small
up In his knapsack also. He mixed some
4 this medicine with the wafer in his