Smyrna times., 1900-01-17
The Charge Of the Dead

A Grewsome Story of War.
Copyright, 1899, by Erwin Vdldmdn.

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Night fell, leaving the battle yet un-
decided and the Russian army in
critical position. General Prince Rouk-
nine, who commanded the left wing,
feeling himself conquered by the enc
my, gave the order to charge to a few
COssacks that were left him.
That order meant nothing less than
to dislodge 1000 Turks strongly estab-
lished in the village of Krakow with
batteries of artillery. 1t was necessary
that the Russians should drive them
from there if they did not wish to find
themselves surrounded and the for
ward march on Plevna halted.
The charge was difficult one. The
soldiers who occupied Krakow were all
members of the special guard of the
sultan, big devils of men six feet high
who were astonished at nothing, afraid
Of nothing and made it a point never to
leave an enemy on the ground without
tracing on his back with their daggers
the red crescent of Mohammed.
Prince ROuknine knew this, and when
he decided to send against them his
500 Cossacks, all that were left of his
famous regiment of Oural. he under
stood that he was sending them to their
death.
He caused their captain to be called,
a handsome man. with blue eyes,
whose name was Serge Frithiof and
who was not more than % years old.
Coldly he said to him: ''Sir, you will
have the honor to charge. You will
send your horses in full haste on the
village of Krakow, where the enemy's
infantry is stationed. The entrance
will be made, and our army will be
saved. But you will fight in the pro-
portion of one against four. and it is
for the most of you certain death. If
Krakow is retaken and the passage is
free. you will ring the church bell. If
no sound is heard it will mean that the
Russian army must succumb because
not one of you is living"
The captain slowly lowered his saber
as he said. 1.-The bell will ring"
The balls were raining around the
Cossacks, whose horses were erect on
their launches with frothing mouths.
Captain Frithiof raised his arm. A
savage clamor resOunded, and the SON.
ber mass of cavalry advanced at full
gallop across the ravine of Krakow.
According to the captains order. they
Immediately had ceased their rough
cries, and one could hear nothing but
the dull and formidable sound Of the
galloping horses
The soldiers of the Turkish guard
saw this storm approaching and await
ed it with tense muscles. The shock
was frightful. Each blow of a saber
cut off a head, each shot laid a man
low, and there were streams Of blood
along the cutters. But the Cossacks
were cut to pieces.
Feeling, nevertheless, that his troops
were shaken, the Turkish general evac-
uated the village. Then. confident in
his superior forces, he gave them a po-
sitiOn a mile from the town, near an
abandoned farm. Krakow was taken
but the entrance was not yet made.
Captain Frithiof trembled with rage
"The army can be saved by you" had
said General Prince ROuknine.
Cost what 1t may. this wild charge
which had caused the enemy to retire
must be continued. But how. since the
squadron was reduced to a few cava
liers?
The captain assembled his Cossack:
on the grand square of Krakow anC
counted them.
There were hardly 60. More thai
400 cOrpses were stretched on tn
streets. side by side with the dea'
Turks.
The riderless horses went about ii
docile troops. Few among them ha'
been touched, for the balls, well di
rected, had hit the men full In tn
chest
Night came on. The pink rays of til
setting sun softly illuminated the hol
rible spectacle.
Captain Frithiof remained silen
somber. Suddenly a thought crosse
his brain, a fantastic thought Fl
passed his hand across his brow. as
he wished to chase away some nigh
mare, His eyes had singular light |
them as he murmured, "We will col
tinue the charger
Turning toward his men, he added
"YOu will go and pick up all the dea
who fell In the village and catch
the horses that are loose. Then yo
will replace the dead men in the sa'
dies and stoutly tie them on the horse
with the straps on the lances."
shiver ran through the ranks.
"Do IT," repeated the officer coldly.
The Cossacks obeyed. 1t was u
easy matter to bring back the hors'
which were grouped together fro
habit. and with a vigorous hand Il
living soldiers raised the bloody bod