The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-05

ana Pike ENoD1emeu opened Gno1F castles
and distributed rides and towing pieces
| to unarmed men who asked for them.
Kosciusko had asked for one soldier for
every I'VE homes. hut twice Is many r.
| sponded- Noble and serf. graySbeard and
boy. stood side BY side. aud IN the ranks
were many women IN male dress. whose
sex was never discovered tn they had
been slain n battle. 1t vas. in the high
est sense. patriotic army.
The women who dia not fight furnished
the patriotic army with garments Of an
kinds. bandages. nnts. plasters. tea. ana
every other requisite within their reach
| The wives Of the highest mobiles In War
| saw secretly sold their jewels and sent
i the proceeds TO Kosciusko for the cause.
On April 4. Kosciusko started forth 10
| meet the enemy. His army numbered
1909. but half Of his men were raw voi-
/ unteers. armed for the most part with
agricultural implements. He had no can
non. and with this freak army ne invited
battle with about Ia0oo perfectly dsiiled
/ Russian troops The enemy attacked
him first ON the left wing. but was re-
/ pulsed. An assault was then made on
| the center. and again the Russians were
beaten back. The peasants. armed only
with scythes and pitchforks. fought VIII
| the desperate eourage OF fatai.s,s. The
Russians tried 20 get their artillery into
play. but were able 10 serve o1ly two
rounds. after. which the peasants captured
three pieces. II was bloody fight. neither
side asking or giving quarter. The desper-
ate fighting OF the peasants enabled the
regular troops 20 gain complete vic
| tory and the Russians were thoroughly
/ routed.
The Insurrection. continued 20 spread IN
all directions. and Iglestrom was COM
PEELED 20 send out reinforcements almost
daily. In a short time the Russian garri-
son at Warsaw was reduced TO 6oo9 men,
| and the general sent an urgent request TO
the Prussian general 20 hurry forward
| troops. He also demanded OF the king
the immediate disarmIng OF the Polish
| troops. the surrender OF the arsepals. and
the execution OF twenty prominent Poles
who were suspected OF being concerned In
the uprising.
The king and his chancellor begged the
tyrant to moderate his demands. As a re-
ply he Insulted the chancellor. who tainted
and was carried home insensible, and N
creased his demands 10 the limit OF fore
ing the king TO sign decree OF condem-
nation OF Kosciusko and all Of his adhe-
rents and abrogating the declaration OF
independence.
This act infiamed the p0puiace beyond
control, and at daybreak ca April II an
enormous crowd. composed Of mobiles. cler-
e. men. and citizens gensraiy. gathered
before the palace and demanded to speak
to the king. When he refused 20 sppear
It was the signal for a general uprising
among thu Polish troops. as well IS the
populace. At s o'clock an attack was made
on the Russian post. Men. women. and
even children joined in the assault. and
with cries OF Liberty" and "koScius-
kO!" the Russians were driven out OF all
OF their strongholds. their guns were
spiked. and the remnant OF their troops
took refuge In Igiestrom'a mansion and an
adjoining chapel. This was attacked AMI
taken. and the general escaped. alone,
through an ally and a rift in the city wall.
There was terrible slaughter OF the en-
envy. but Kosciusko FASTENED 70 the capt.
tai and restored order.
For several months the rebellion was
successful on ali sides and IL looked as
though Il must surely succeed. Then fol-
lowed an outburst Of popular fury during
Kosciusko's absence from the city that
did much 10 weaken the cause. The prs
ons were broken open and number u
eminent men suspected or treachery wee
dragged forth for execution. The public
executloner refused 20 obey the orders Il
the mob but hundreds volunteered 10 lake
his place. Women made hangman's ropes
OF their ribbons and all clamOred for The
blood Of the victims. Eight Of the mos:
prominent men in the kingdom were exc
bellion could regain control OF the mob.
When KoSciusko heard OF the riot he
sent a body Of troops 10 Warsaw. with
orders 10 imprison the ringleaders and 10
admonish the people that the sacred cause
Of freedom could only be injured by con-
founding il with license and murder. The
lnsiigator OF the rising. Casimir kOnOpka.
was banished and afterwards distinguish |
ed himself In NapOleon's Polish legion.
But the end OF the rebellion was ap- |
preaching rapidly. Suwaro1 was placed |
in command II the Russian army. kOnci- |
usko prepared for the conflict at a point |
near Warsaw. Whole corporations. whole |
families went 20 work on the intrench- /
ments. and such was the enthusiasm that I
many women OF all ranks went 20 the /
Notifications 20 assist. They were led by /
a woman on horseback. fully armed. and
escorted by a life and drum corps.
Here KosciuskO held his ground for sew
eral weeks and repulsed many attacks,
But the insurgents had met with reyerses
In other places. and the NaZclnik decided
10 march against Suwsr0n. He crossed
the VistuIa at the head Of ZOO men. but
his plans for the campaign were defeated !
by the capture Of his messenger carry
Ing Instructions 20 his generals. The Rus
slams. in possession Of his plans. decided
In surprise him IN his camp at daybreak
d October 10.
The Russians charged with the cry %
Warsaw and revenge" and we're ar
swsTed with Victory or death" The
Russians were repuised repeatedly. but :
as they outnumbered the Poles two %
1ne. the result was a foregOne conciu-
sion. No quarter was given or asked.
Both sides were animated by bitter ha-
.red. and when a man fell u was % his
ieath. The Naczinik was eyerywh en-
sourag ing his troops and raiying those
Who were giving away under the stress g
numbers. Three orses we're sh0t under
him HIS friend Siemcevicz. the poet
Ought az his side Throughout: the bat
le Finally. in leapinE 4 ditch his horse
.tumbied and fen. IN an instant the Cos
acks we're on him and cur him down With
heir sabers.
''FYnIs Poionla" Cthe end % Polans). he
,asped. and lost consciousness. The bat
le was over ana the rebellion was ended. /
rhe exclamation o. the SacZiHik Uss |
dashed throughout the ianf together Wits |
he false news that he had been killed
me people were SEIZED wish psnic ard ali
esiStancs erased instantly. Wi;ain
month EuWaron was master Of WsrraH J
nd Poland was conquered. The following
ear stanlglsus was Commanded b. Cath
rine 20 abdicate and the Kingdom was
"a riifoned between Russia, Prussia and /
AUSTRIA.
Kosciuska was treatea with eorsi8era-
Ion BY hrs cap;ors. and Ehsn be hae par
ALLY recovered from ne ELECTS q his I
rounds was taken 20 So. Petersburg ARD /
0nzIsmned and imprisoned fog bfs ~ /
'zthersne But she dlsd IN ID and vas
ucceeded bT he Cssr Paul TIE latter.
ccompsnied by bis t~o ~sns. visitsS kos-
.usko In his prison. ard. after greeting .
I'm cordially. sad. y restore yDg Jour
word. General. asking yg1 20 p,esiEs yggr
rord never more % use against ne
.ussisns" TIE hero gave fbs pledge and
ccepted ne freedom. The car asked Am
-hsre Be In.s-lea T1laR He reriled. 70 ]