The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-01-01
CHAPTER XVII.

SA<1@ 4G4s - IL.
|W-N RKUTSK, capital Of east
H.@H ern Siberia, has in ordi-
Xxi Il nary times a population
W Of 10000 souls. a high
HS@lSSSAH hill Of solid rock, skirting
RG9HSgH the right bank Of the An
CARA, serves as splen-
did position for its churches, crowned
by high cathedral, and for its houses,
built in picturesque disorder along its
slopes.
Seen from q certain distance, from
the top Of the mountain which runs
along the great Siberian route at dis
lance Of some twenty yersts, with its
domes and belfries, its graceful spires,
like those of minarets, it's spiral domes,
it has somewhat oriental appearance.
But that oriental appearance vanishes
from the eyes Of the traveller from the
moment he enters the town. The town,
half Byzantine, half Chinese, becomes
at once European by its macadamized
streets, bordered with sidewalks, with
their rows Of gigantic birch trees, by
its brick and wooden houses, some Of
which have several stories, by its many
splendid equipages- fine, by the
whole body Of it's inhabitants being
very advanced in the progress Of civ
ilization, and to which the latest fash
ions Of Paris are not at all strangers.
At that epoch Irkutsk, refuge for the
Siberians Of the province, was crowded.
It aDounded in resources Of every kind.
Irkutsk is the emporium for al that
countless merchandise which IS ex-
changed between China, central Asia
and Europe. They did not fear to
draw there, the peasants from the val
ley Of the Angara, the Mongols-khal-
kas, people from Toungouze and Bou-
ret, and to allow the wilderness to
stretch out between the invaders and
the town.
Irkutsk is the residence Of the gov
ernor general Of eastern Siberia I'm
der him is a civil governor, in whose
hands is concentrated the admin1sTa-
ton of the province, a head Of the po-
lice, who has a great deal to DO ID q
town where exiles abound, and lastly
a mayor, one Of the leading merchants,
an important parsonage by his I'm
mense fortune and by the influence
which he has over his fellow citizens.
The garrison of Irkutsk was then
composed of a regiment Of foot Cos
sacks, which numbered about 1000
men, q body Of foot gendarmes, who
wore the helmet and blue uniforms
striped with silver.
Besides, it is known that on account
Of particular circumstances the Drother
Of the car had been shut up IN the
town since the commencement OF tne
invasion.
That situation must be given in de-
tail.
It was a journey Of political impor-
tance that had led the grand duke INTO
those distant provinces Of eastern ASA.
The grand duke, after having T1slteo
the principal cities Of Siberia, travelling
In military rather than princely sty e.
without any retinue, escorted by de-
tachment Of Cossacks, had gone even
as far as the countries beyond the Bal
kan mountains. NicholaeVsk, the last
Russian town which is situated on the
shores of the sea Of Okhotsk, had been
honored by his visit.
Having reached the boundaries OF tne
immense Muscovite empire, the grand
duke was returning to Irkutsk, from
whence he would soon return to Go-
rope, when the news reached him OF
that invasion, which was as sudden as
it was menacing. He FASTENED 10 re-
enter the capital, but when he arrived
there communication with Russia had
been cut off. He still received few tel |
grams from St. Petersburg and Mos
COW. He could even answer them. |
Afterward the wire was cut under the
circumstances already known to the
reader.
Irkutsk was isolated from the rest Of |
the world.
Tie grand duke could do nothing but
organize resistance, thing which ne
did with that frnness and coolness OF
which he had given uader other cir
cumstances incontestable proofs.
- News of the taking Of 1chim, OF
Omsk, Of Tomsk, came successlVely to |
Irkutsk. They could not count on De-
ing soon relieved, but they must pre-
vent at all price the occupation OF the
capital OF Siberia The few troops scat
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