The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-04-18
RUSSIAN CRUELTY.

In the middle ages CHASTITY stories
used to be circulated about the eN-
tremes into which the realism of cer-
tain artists sometimes landed them; of
painters who. burning with desire to
hold the mirror up to nature, actually
crucltied their models and practiced
various other forms of vivisection, for
the sake of observing the death throes
and transferring their observations to
canvas. Nowadays painters are too
civilized to commit such atrocities,
but apparently not too squeamish to
get others to commit them. Such, at
least, is the conclusion TO he drawn
from the following story, concerning
the truth of which there can be no
manner of doubt, seeing that it is the
Russian painter, Verestchagin who re-
lates it Of himself in the pages of the
last number of the ''Russkaia Starina."
1t happened during the late. Russo
Turkish war, when Verestchagin was
with Skobeloff's army seeking inspira-
ton from the very realistic scenes to
be witnessed at such place and at
such time. We give the story in the
ipsiSS,ma Uerba of The artist:
Two Albanians were brought before
General Strukof-two desperate high
waymen whom the Bulgarians accused
of terrible atrocities. The general
gave orders that they should he bound
together as tightly as possible, and the
dragons having placed the heroes
back to back, drew the cords so tight
at the elbows that they became per-
fectly livid and were unable to bulge.
Thrown on the ground they looked
tiercelv up from under their eyebrows,
like two tigers, scowling at the crowd
of Bulgarians surrounding them,
which was composed mainly of women
and children, who were reviling them,
splitting in their faces and throwing
stones and dirt at them. The dragoun
told off To guard them did not, of
course, move finger TO stop this
treatment. requested Strukoff to
hang them, but he refused. saying he
did not like shooting and hanging
people in war time, and that he would
not take the deaths of these youths on
his conscience. He would hand them
over, he said, to SkObeloff, to deal
with as he liked. "All right" an
swered, II shall ask Michael Dmitrie-
witch Skobelotf; he won't make any
delay" why, what ever is the mat
ter with you, Mr.. Verestchagin. that
you should be so blood-thirsty? l
never suspected you of such leanings
before" Then | confessed that had
never yet witnessed hanging, and
that the performance thereof would in
terest me extremely. When on the
following day came to have a look at
the two Albanians compassion got the
upper hand of met was a pity, l
thought, that they were not shot at
once. Horribly swollen, blue from
the cords with which they were bound.
they fell to the earth, muttering in
husky tones. canaan, amanm Their
turbans and fezzes were knocked Oft,
their faces and heads were cut and
bloody, and the mob still went on
throwing stones at them. The soldier
on guard continued to walk patiently
to and fro unsconscious of there being
any need of interference by him with
the sport going on. Skobeloff arrived
in the evening. l requested him to
hang the two highwaymen. He re-
piled, ''Oh, yes, that can be DONE"
and summoned the commander of the
battalion of riflemen. Colonel X,
and commanded them to call together
q field court-martial to try the two
Albanian prisoners, adding. "and kind
ly see that they are hanged" "Mine
to obey, your excellency," was the re-
Sponse.
And SO looked upon the affair as
arranged-that is, was sure that be-
fore leaving Adrianople l should wit
ness this execution, and should after
ward transfer it to canvas. But l
reckoncd without my host. A short
time before my departure, finding two
friends in the same unenViable posi-
ton, i inquired. And will they not
be hanged after ALP" and received the
answer No" Having heard that
field cOurtmartial was about to try
them, S. asked Nj. de SkObeloff as
personal favor not to hang the two
cavaliers so that it is very probable
that they are still well and loud in
their praise of the soft-hearted Russian
authorities.
drew them bound together.
Mr.. Verestchagin has also in the
above lines drawn a portrait of him.
self which few persons will consider
tiattering.--Pa Mall Gagtete.