The morning call., 1891-07-13
ORLoFF,s STRANGE STORY.
If 1t Is True He Has Had His Full Share
of Adventure.

Ii 1t Is True he mas ktau his uli omar
of Adventure.
A little over week ago there came to
Boston man whose history was probably
never equaled by anybody, and probably
never will be- The man was Ivan Orloff. a
Russian, who was born in st. Petersburg
about thrty-eight years ago. One Of the
most important things in the history OF his
wonderful career is the fact that he is one
of a few who have escaped from the coal
mines of Siberia.
Orloff arrived, as above stated, in this city
a little over week ago from New York. A
week ago Tuesday. one of the hottest days
of the year, he was overcome by the heat at
the North End. Some passers-by who
noticed his condition came to his aid and
gave him some whisky, while another stole
from him new electric battery, which he
had bought recently.
On regaining consciousness he inquired
his way to the nearest police station, and
was directed to Station 1. Upon his arrival
there lie asked Captain Cain If he could not
lie down and rest for awhile. The goo1-
natured officer of course said yes, and the
man, soon after sitting down in the guard
room, began to dose. The Captain. noticing
| his condition, sent for Dr.. Elliott.
The stranger was then taken to the
! surgery-room and examined by the doctor
anu Ills dcSiobdHtt III. IuHby WIZ oPpiitu
the usual restoratiyes. The doctors told
| him to keep quiet and that he would soon
! be all right, but he appeared to be SO nerv-
| Gus that be excited the suspicious OF not
only the doctors but the police. In his peck
cts Captain Cain found lot of instruments.
Upon being questioned he informed the peo-
| pie in the room that they We're musical In
| strumentS.
"Can you play?" asked Captain Cain.
well. a little" was Orlotf's reply.
He was then invited to 90 To the parlor Of
| the house and shown the piano. The hrst
| piece he played was selection from Men,
| delssOhn, aud never before, and probably
| never again. was such music heard inside
| the walls of the station. After he had
PLAYED numerous fine selections the officers
| and doctors became greatly interested in
| him and began questioning him. As re-
| suit he told story, which was as follows:
He was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. and
was a student in medical college In that
| place. One day the rooms of the students
were raided and lot OF iDfiammable docu-
ments and seditiUuS papers were found IN
his room. However, he would not admit
that they belonged to him. He was arrested
and sentenced to Siberia, where he was put
at work in the coal mines, from which lie
managed to escape.
Assuming the role OF an EngliShman-
this he being able to do, as he speaks Eng
! lish very huently, as well as the other Lam
guages-he was easily enabled to work his
tected, as he was penniiess. After good
deal Of travelling and suffering he managed
to reach Western China. Arriving there he
WAS arrested ON the charge OF stealing food.
THE residents of this portion of China
are exceedingly barbar0uS, and without trial
l was sentenced to have my head chopped
off. However. luck was again with me, and
by some hook or crook an English ohclal
heard OF my predicament. After great
| deal of hard work he managed to secure my
| release.
81 started across China again, all the
| time bling afraid l would be arrested and
| sent back to the awful mines. However,
| finally managed to get job aboard vessel
| and shipped to America, landing at San
| Francisco.
During the Franco russlan war l was
| in the French army commanded by Nc
Mahon. but l was directly under Marshal
| BaZaine."
He then branched from his own history
| and told of the surrender of Metz to the Ger
mans and the escape of Bazaine to England.
| Continuing his story, he said:
| During the war, while the Germans were
| besieeing the city, two companions and my
| self were SeIt up IN captive balloon tune
| which has long rope lied 10 the ground, 10
| When in mid-air the balloon was struck by
| shell, causing the ar-ship 10 explode.
MY companions and myself fell TO the
| ground the other two were instantly killed.
| L was kuOckeu StnSelcSs, anu tle ZONES ol
my arms, feet and hands were broken in
feveral places. My skull was also frac-
| tured.
II was in the hospital at Metz for over
| year. After leaving Metz Travelled cOnsld-
| erably, and was in Alexandria at the time
OF the siege by the British early in the
| eighties"
Here the man, who must bear charmed
| life, showed the doctors and the police hi:
body, which, to say the least. was a sight;
| His arms, hands, legs and feet plainly
showed that they had been roken. Upon
| examining his skull the physicians found
inserted in MS head a piece of platinum cl
| silver, where his scalp was lnissing.-Bos
| ton Record.