The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-04-26
FORBES AND TBE
GAR.

(Trom the LONDON Daily News.)
Forbes by the car of Russia as reccg-
milton OF personal bravery Was given to
him at q 20 rsonai interview Of . re-
markAbls character when Borbes was on
his way back from the Senipka pass to
bucharest to telegraph his account OF
what he rightly believed to be the dsciE-
i've battle. This was another Of HE
without food or drink or rest, he arrived
at the Russian imperial headquarters.
vi ere he met Ignatieff. "Where from
nowf" said the general "From the
Sohipks," was ths reply. 81 left there
late last night" "The devil you did r.
exclaimed Ignatisff; "you must have
beaten all our messages By hours. Yours
must be the last news; you must see ths
emperor and tell him."
The imperial quArtsrs were q disman-
tied Turkish house. the balcony Of which,
where the emperor stood, was inclosed
with common canvas curtains. There
was not even carpet on the ragged
boards. A glimpse into the bedrooke
whence bis majesty had emerged showad
= tiny cabin with mod walls aud oaMp
bed standing on o mud floor. The euf'-
peror received Forbes with great kindness
shaking hands and paying compliment
to mis- hard riding. He was Raunt, worn
and haggard, his voice broken by nerv-
ousness aud by the es;hma that afflicted
tim.
al was conscious" he says, "that my
personal appearance was hagrAntiy dis
reputable. l had been wearing clothes,
originally white, for over fortnight
about half an inoh thick with dust, while
the dust on my face WIS oheeEfolly re-
lieVed by fiery sun blistsrs and by q
stubby beard of about q weeks growth.
l had not washed for three days. and al
together felt myself a humiliatingly
dilapidated representative Of that great
empire on which the sun never sets.
Forbes explained the positions on the
SchipkA TO the emperor, drawing sketch
of them on n sheet of paper. Here IL MIR.
Forbes account OF what followsd:-
"Nr. Borbes,'' said the emperor in
English, you have been soldier
Eyes, your majesty" was the reply.
''In the artillery Or engineers, doubt
Least"
"No, sir" said 1, sin the cavalry of
the line"
Ths emperor said: vi had not known
that your cavalry officers are fog the most
part oOnNeEAhLl Win MILITARY dAnAtpAAoh-
shipr'
l replied that l had served the army,
not as an officer, but as private trooper |;
know not whether this conveyed to his
majesty the impression that the honest
British dragon Ia hAbitually skilled in
planmaking.
When at length / was permitted to take
my leave, the emperor addressed to me
some words which gave me natural
glow Of great pleasure. AS they had
references TO certain conduct OF my own,
the reader will readily understand the
dslicaoy and reluctance with which
alluds TO them; nor certainly could | cite
them, but that the exprS sions used by
ths sniperor illustrate with what dignity
and Rracefulness he could acknowledge
asrvice that commended itself to the
tender-hearsdnts So he felt for his gallant
soldiers. "Mr. Borbss," said the GEAR.
l have had reported to me the example
which you showed when with our forces
on the sad day before Plevna. in succor-
ing wounded men under heavy fire. AS
the head of the state, desire TO testify
how Russia honors your conduct by
offering you the order Of the Star islAuS.
with the dressed swords q decoration
never conferred except for personal
bravery"