Evening star., 1895-07-16
THE VANISHED MILLION.
Disappearance of the Renown,
Russian Commanders Fortune.

Disappearance of the Renowned
Russian Commanders Fortune.
From the Literary Digest.
No hero Is more kindly remembered by
his people than Gen. Skobeleff. the renown-
ed Russian commander. who hoped to es-
tablish the~rule of the Slavs over all Eu-
rope. Long before his death even the peo-
pie told innumerable legends of his bravery
and lberalty, and now he is the acknow1-
edged hero of the Russian peasant The
papers are never tired of repeating anec-
dotes about him. Now and then some one
with authority publishes Incidents of Skobe-
leffs life. which are not only new and
strange, but also illustrative of his charac-
ter and of that of his nation. The Istorit-
schesky Vyestnik Moscow, tells a strange
story Of the absolute disappearance of a
million rubles G50O.O0O) belonging to the
general. Prince Obolensky, who knew
skobeleff very well. vouches for the truth
of this tale:
prince Obolensky saw Skobeleff very
frequently during the last years before his
death. The general came to Moscow very
often to visit Mr. Morlow, the manager Of
the government bank. Ivan Ilich, as Sko-
belief called Morrow, administered the gen.
erals funds. In June, 1882. Skobelef was
greatly disturbed He showed Obolenslty
an article by Nine. Adam. which impressed
him very much, and he believed that Rus
sia was pm the eve Of another oriental war.
But it will cost immense sums, he added
and I must try to prepare myself He
was much excited. and pegan at once to
get his money together, intending to de-
posit million with Morrow. He took the
matter so seriously that he would not lend
to his best friends, although he was gener-
ally very liberal. This was in the begin
nirg of Jrre. Toward the end of the month
Prince Obolensky. who knew that the gen.
eral had managed to raise the desired sum,
visited him and found him in very low
EDjritG would
only.
"'What ails you, Michael Dmtrijewich? ?"
asked the prince.
"'What ails me? Well, my money Is
"what money! Has any one stolen your
purse?'
Bother my purse! My million has van
ished absolutely. 1 cannot obtain the
slightest trace of it anywhere.
1.-The prince thought his friend demented
That such a sum should be lost seemed to
him impossible.
Gas you know, continued SkobelefY. Ivan
Ilich Morlow) has gathered all my funds
and sold IL my grain, and now he is-crazy.
I have asked him more than once what be-
came Of my capital. and each time he
crawls under the table and barks like a
dog. His mind is gone completely
Why don't you inform the banks?'
=" 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 Morlow's employees
had stolen the money he shook his head.
Nevertheless, a few weeks after the death
of the general lackey was arrested for
trying to sell 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 I can He was
dead two days after. Morrow died ten
years later in mad house but the secret
Of Skobelefs lost million could never be
obtained from him, and the money remains
undiscovered to the present day"