The Portland daily press., 1895-04-19
A MILLION RuBLEs DISAPPEAR.
And the Only Man Who Knew About them
Went Mad and Could only Bark Like
Dog,
(From the Literary Digest.

No hero is more kindly remember by
his people than Gen. Skobeleff, the re-
nowned Russian commander who hoped
to establish the rule of the Slav over all
Europe. Long before his death even,
the people told innumerable legends of
his bravery and liberality, and now he is
the acknowledged hero of the Russian
peasant. The papers are never tired OF
repeating anecdotes about him. Now
and then some one with authority pub
fishes incidents of Skobeleff's life which
are not only new and strange, but also
illustrative of his character and of that
of his nation. The Istoritschesky
Vyestnik, Moscow, tells strange story of
the absolute disappearanee, of a million
rubles ($5oo,0o0 belonging to the general.
Prince Obolensky. who knew Skobelef
very well, vouches for the truth of this
tale:-
Prince Obolenskky saw Skobeleff very
frequently during the last years before
b is death. The general came to Moscow
very often to visit Mr.. Morlow, the man
ager of the government bank. Ivan Ilih,
as Skobeleff.Boalled Morlow, adminis-
tered the generals funds, In June, 1882,
Skobeleff WAS greatly disturbed He
showed Obolensky an article by Nine
Adam which impressed him very much,
and he believed that Russia was OH the
eve Of another oriental war But it will
cost Immense sums, he added, and l
must try to prepare myself He was
much excited, and began at once to get
his money together, intending to deposit
million with Morrow. He took the
matter SO seriously that he would not
lend to his best friends, although he
was generally very liberal. This was
in the beginning of June. Toward the
end of the month Prince Obollensky,
who knew that the general had managed
to raise the desired sum. visited.him and
| found hin in very low spirits He would
| answer in monosyllables only.
What nils you, Michael Dmitrijewich?
asked the prince
"tWhat ails ME? Well, my money is
gone.'
What money? Has any one stolen
your purse?'
" Bother my purse! My million has
vanished absolutely. l cannot obtain
the slightest trace OF it anywhere.
he prince thought his friend de-
mented. That such sum should be lost
seemed to him impossible.
AS you know, confined Skobeleff,
Ivan Ilich (Morlow) has gathered all my
he is-craZy. / have asked him more
than once what became of my capital,
and each time he crawls under the table
auo harks like a dog. His mind is gone
completely.
Why don't you inform the bankss'
I have.done SO, but there is no trace
of the money
"The general evidently tried to drown
his sorrow in liquor. When Prince
Obolensky suggested that some of Nor
lows employees had stolen the money he
shook his head. Nevertheless, few
weeks after the death of the general n
lackey was arrested for trying to sell a
portfolio containing some of Skobeleff's
correspondence The fellow had been
in Morlow's service. Skobeleff would
never attend to the matter or investigate
it properly. Leave me alone,' he said,
i have only two more years to live and
wish to pass them as pleasantly as
can.' He was dead two days after. Nor
low died 10 years later in nladhouse,
but the secret of Skobeleff's lost million
could never be obtained from him. and
the money remains undiscovered to the
present day."