Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1894-02-09


ing move, and the ambassadors of Eng
land, France, Austria and Prussia
held a conference at Vienna and tried
to bring about reconciliation.
The car, however, ignored them,
and regarded the Danube prin-
cipalities as conquered provinces; on
the 4th of October Turkey saw herself
compelled to declare war against Rus
STA. The western powers promised the
sultan their help because they feared
the extension of the czar's influence.
The Russians, under Naihimoff,
scored success, in nearly annihilating
the Turkish squadron near Sinope;
after which the fleets of England and
France entered the Bosporous, in
order TO protect Constantinople.
The powers called back their ambas-
sailors from St. Petersburg in March.
1854, and made a compact with Turkey.
The tsar openly scoffed at them, as he
was fully convinced of the invincibility
of the Russian army, and had become
so accustomed to regard himself as the
ruler of Europe, that no one near him
dared to offer an adverse opinion.
The Crimean war; which was COM
menced with the object of taking the
Sevastopol fortress, forms part of this
story In September forty thousand
French, twenty thousand English and
later twenty thousand Italians allied
themselves to the Turkish army. On
! the 14th of September the French,
English and Turks landed in the Rus
sian harbor of Eupatoria in the Crimea.
The chief command had been Entrusted
to Mentshykoff, Notwithstanding the
fact that ne had never commanded
troops before.
On the Goth of September, 1854 hos
tilities began, near the Alma, between
the allies and Russians. The right
wing Of the Russians was sur
rounded by the French and Turks, and
had to beat retreat. Shortly after,
Mentshy men were in full fight,
having lost fifteen thousand, dead and
wounded.
This defeat was of the greatest inn
portance; it opened out the way to
Sevastopol to the allies.
In the same night the Russians, in
order to check the enemy. sank the
whole of their feet in the Sevastopol
harbor; in the camp of the allies 1t was
thought that they would be able to
take Sevastopol by surprise. Never
theless a victory was not SO easily
gained. Mentshykoff succeeded in oc.
cupying Balaclava on the south coast,
from where he was in constant com.
munication with the fortress.
The blockading of Sevastopol, which
lasted eleven months holding the whole
civilized world in suspense, could not
be hindered,
In the council of war, which was held
after the battle of Alma, Mentshykof
said, that the tsar would have to be
advised of their defeat
At that time couriers brought the
news, and the way to St. Petersburg
was open. But Mentshykoff tremblet
at the thought of sending the emperor
the terrible news. They had so far ex.
aggerated favorable accounts; now the
truth must be told.
Usually the bearer of good news wa.
handsomely rewarded, but this lime nj
one envied the courier his task.
Mentslykoff soon found messenger
He had not forgotten who was the caus'
of his nephew's degradation and ban
ishment
Count Apraxin, who had been pro
noted to major for bravery at the sieg'
of Silistria, was called, and ordered tC
proceed at once to Petersburg, to &C
quaint the tsar with their position.
This errand," said Mentshykoff
jeeringly, lis difficult one, and you'll
have TO be cautious in breaking tn
bad news to the tsar."
May | have the dispatches?" asbe,
Apraxin, calmly, although his hear
beat fast
"What dispatches?" asked Mentshy
ioff. Give his majesty verbal re
port of all that has happened. TIL
emperor desires to have intelligence
from an eyewitness, otherwise an,
non-commissioned officer would hav
served my purpose. Start without de
layw
Apraxin turned on his heel and hun
ried out The officers around the com
mander breathed more freely as tn
courier disappeared.
At the door ki5itha, /. e., spring
less cart, with mattress laid inside t
spare your bones little from the crue
jolting, stood ready.
Furnished with the chief necessarie
for the way and above all, courier
passport to insure relays of horses a
the different halts, Apraxin started. !
was a weeks journey to St Peters
burg,
Emperor Nicholas led very sin
pie life. His workroom contained tn
commonest furniture. He slept on a
iron field bed, and had only one blanke
to cover himself with. His coats and un
forms, although often well worn, wer
always notable for their cleanliness.
While he was most eXacting in havin
all ceremonies and festivities carrie
out with the utmost pomp and display
he was, when it concerned his own pei
son, most Indifferent For some day
he had become impatient He wa
waiting for news from the Crimea, an
as the days wore on his impatienc
turned into anxiety, and a vague fea
overcame him.
: The couriers were instructed to oil
, serve no ceremony. They had to RI
= port themselves Immediately, in thei
travel-stained garments, to the en-
peror's adjutant Should they arriv
: 4 l. L Il