The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1893-01-12
GREAT RIDERS.
Matehless Horsemanship Of the
Cossacks of Russia.
Soldiers Who Can Outride the
Circus Performer.


implies in tho Tartar tongue, has
gradually been brought under rigid
military rule, 90 that at the present
day the descendants of this restless,
warfaring race furnish the Russian
empire with one of the most valuable
elements of the national army. Their
career as freebooters came to an end
under the reign of Ivan w., and since
then they have rendered excellent SER
vice as scouts and skirmishers, and
their good Offices in the protection Of
the frontiers from the Caucasus to
China are almost Invaluable.
They are light-armed soldiers. and,
according to writer in tho Post-Dis-
patch, above all, artists on the horse.
They ride their horses as easily bare
back without saddle or bride as with
the usual equipments, and always at
i, the briskest trot or the widest gallop.
The "Djighitovka," as they call their
military code, which prcscribes the
many hazardous exercises practised by
the Cossacks, is calculated to fit the
young cadets, the "Djighites," for the
hardest and most perilous service rem
dered by this branch Of the Russian
army. When the cadet has gone
through the intricacies Of the Djighi.
| tovka, at which time he has attained
his 2lst year, he has lost all sense of
difficulty or fear and enters upon his
active regimental service for four
years.
Among the most commonplace ex-
ercises which the code prescribes are
hurdle racing on the part of tho men
armed with sword and gun; shooting
in every imaginable position, az turn
ing backward in the saddle or using
the horse as buwark to fire from
behind. The latter exercise Is par
ticularly interesting. The Cossacks
approach at mad gallop, come to a
sudden stop and jump from thei.l
horses, while the latter trained as
carefully as the men, lie down with
! out word Of command and protect
| their riders with their flanks.
The Djighitovka is divided into two
kinds Of exercises, the arbitrary and
the voluntary. The latter embraces a
line of feats of W which the best profess
sional circus rider need not be ashamed.
The men jump to the ground and back
on their horses as they gallop madIy
along; they bend way down and lift
objects from the ground as they tear
over the open fields; they jump from
one horse to another while the latter
goes at full speed, or they ride along
standing upright in the saddle and
throwing the spear. In the latter
case the Cossack stands really in his
sirrups, which have beon previously
crossed back and forth to bring them
on level with the saddle. Standing
on their heads while charging over an
open field shy no means an unusual
exercise. One shoulder pressed against
the saddle, the Cossack maintains his
equilibrium by clutching the stirrup'
with both hands.
Tho ambulance service with the Cos
sack regiments is limited to mutual
help. Two mounted men on horses
will hold wounded comrade between
them to remove him from the battle
field. Besides these wonderful feats
of individual Workmanship the Cos
sacks execute exploits in groups,
such as daring rider carrying q COM
radc on his shoulders to fire at high
range.
Cossack military training comprises
TWO CilloI UTAuciles, tiut VI HunuiluS
the horse, and using either sword or
gun with equal facility and to the
greatest disadvantage Of the enemy.
While the regular code exercises are
hazardous enough, the voluntary ones
are always accompanied by great risk
aud danger, and energy and dauntless-
ness are as necessary elements as sup
p.eness of limb. Much depends also
upon tho horses, and, because men
and ANIMALS diffsr materially in point
Of natural aptitude, the latter exercises
are not required generally but can be
chosen at will, although the hardest
and most vigorous cadets are encour-
aged very literally 10 go through them
and personal rivalry has much to do