The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-15
MADE A GALLANT CHARGE.
Polish Trooper Who Forged Ahead
and Broke the Enemy's Ranks.

Houtn S Companion: A Polish officer.
now dead, vino came to the United
States soon after the Russians sup
pressed the Polish insurrectiOn under
General Chlopich, in 1881, used to tell
with much zeSt the story of his pro-
motion from the ranks He was a
private of cavalry when ChIOpicl,i's
retreat began. The troops had made
a weary might march. and were in biv-
buac for breakfast when scouts
brought word that they We're almost
surrounded by the Russian force. IN
stantly the Poles hurried to their sad
dies, mounted and sought a way of
escape.
The young cavdlryman had been boil
ing some pieces of ham for himself in
a camp kettle. Anxious to save his
bacon" he dumped the half boiled meat
into his saddle-bass and Joined his
companions. Two minutes later his
horse became FESTIVE. at a most mop
perfume moment. for ON surrounding
a ridge the Poles had found themselves
confronted by Russian force of in
fantry.
There was but one thing to be done.
The Russian line must be broken
through at once. 1t was being rapidly
reinforced. If the Poles should fail to
GU. their way out at the first charge
they mus be all captured.
On they rushed at the order to
charge, and now our young troopers
horse mad become fairly frantic and
quite uncOntrOllable. He sp1ang far
away in advance of the charging line.
The rider determining to make the best
fight he could. swung his Sa.ber took
a stronger grip with his knees and
gazed hard at the face of the Russian
he expected to be launched against.
Just then a vOiley was hurled into
his al hlft rho fo1pr1ofr-r
horse and rider escaped unframed. 4
few moments and they We're upon the
enemy. Usually a horse refuses to
leap at bayOnetS, but this one jumped
furiously at the kneeling front rank,
and such was the momentum and fury
of the beast that the Russians just in
his frOnt loSit their nerve, broke and
gave him entrance.
Through the gap thus made other
Poles sprang a moment later. Striking
right and lefL they widened the breach
and in ten seconds the Russian in
famtry was demOralized. The Poles es-
capped with slight loss. and III was not
long before their young leader quoted
his steed, dismounted and found a
chance to examine his half-cOOked
ham.
A few hours later the Polish general
of cavalry rode up to the captain of
the troop that had so distinguished
ltSe11, cOInpllmenteu MN anu SAID
BY the way, captain, who was that
splendid young officer thar led you all
in?"
He wasn't an officer; that was only
one of nv bows
Not an odicerl May the bullets
strike me if l don't make him one Call
him on: here at oncer'
The general shook hands with the
youth. promoted him to a lieutenantcy
then and there and gave him a place
on his staff.
Some days later. when the captain
called at headquarters. he sought out
the new lieutenant, whom ne found
dolefully contemplating his unsaddled
horse, which had huge, raw sore on
each side.
What ON earth is the matter with
your hOrse?" asked the captain.
"Oh, nothing muchr'
But what made these terrible sOres?'
The same thing that made me a
lieutenant" said the hero. "A big
chunk of hot ham in each saddle-bag;
but. for the love of the saints, don't
tell .Tle general or the boys