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

tered over the province Of Amur and
those in the government Of lrkutSh
could not arrive in sufficient numbers
to arrest the Tartar columns. Besides,
since Irkutsk could not possibly escape
being invested. it was OF the utmost
Importance 20 put the town in 4 posi-
ton to sustain siege Of some length.
Those works were begun on the day
on which Tomsk fell into the hands OF
the Tartars. At the same time as that
last news the grand duke learned that
the emir Of Bollhara and the allied
khans were directing the movement IL
person, but what lie did not know was
that the lieutenant of those barbarous
chiefs was Ivan Ogaref, Russian otd'
Ger whom he himself had cashiered'
From the first, as has been seen, the
inhabitants Of the province Of lrkutsE
lad been ordered to abandon the towns
and villages. Those who did not seek
refuge in the capital were compelled To
retire beyond Lake Baikal, to where
the invasion would not likely extend its
rayages. The crops Of corn and forage
were requisitioned for the town, and
that last rampant Of Russian power IN
the extreme east was prepared to re-
sist for some time.
Irkutsk, founded in 1911, is situated
at the confluence Of the Irkut and the
Angara, on the right bank of the river.
Two wooden bridges, built on piles and
SO arranged as to open the whole width
Of the river for the necessities Of navi-
cation, Joined the town with its cut
skirts which extended along the LETT
bank. The outskirts were abandoned,
the bridges destroyed. The passage OF
the Angara, which was very wide at
! that place, would not have been posi-
BILE under the fire Of the bcsieged. But
the river could be crossed either above
or below the town, and IS 4 conSe-
ouence IrkutSk was in danger Of being
attacked on the east side. which no
rampant protected.
It was, then. in works of forti1cation
that the hands were first employed.
They worked day and night. The grand
duke found 4 spirited population il
supplying that need, and afterward lie
found them most brave in its defense,
Soldiers, merchants, eXiles, peasants
all devoted themselves to the common
safety. Eight days before the Tartars
had appeared on the Angara rampartS
Of earth had been raised. \ noat,
flooded with the waters Of the Angara,
had been dug between the inner and
outer wall Of the fortifcation. The
city could no longer be taken by a sud
den assault 1t must be invested and
besieged.
The third Tartar column-that which
had ascended the valley Of the Yeni-
sei-appeared in sight Of Irkutsk on the
oath Of September 1t Immediately oc-
cupied the abandoned outskirts, of
which the very houses had been Ge-
stroyed in order not to impede the ac-
ton Of the archduke's artillery, which
was unfortunately very insufficient.
The Tartars organized themselves
while waiting the arrival Of the two
other columns which were commanded
by the emir and his allies.
The junction Of these divers corps
took place on the 25th Of September at
the camp Of Angara, and all the army
except the garrisons left in the princi-
pal conquered towns, was concentrated
under the orders Of Feofar-Ahan.
The passage Of the Angara having
been regarded by Ivan Ogaref as i'm
practicable before Irkutsk, a strong
body Of troops crossed at some versts
down the river on some bridges of
boats which had been established for
that purpose. The grand duke did not
attempt to oppose that passage. He
could only have harassed them without
preventing it, not having any field
pieces at his disposal, and this is the
reason he remained cooped up in ir-
kutsk.
Ivan Ogaref, clever engineer, was
certainly able to direct the operations
Of q regular siege, but he had not the
material to carry forward his opera
tions quickly. So he had hoped to sur
prise Irkutsk, the end Of ali his efforts.
One can see that things had turned
out otherwise than he had reckoned.
On the one hand, the march of the Tar
tar army delayed by the battle OF
Tomsk; on the other, the rapidity with
- lara ho
carried on by the grand duke. For
these two reasons his projects had fail
ed. He found himself therefore under
the necessity Of carrying On regular
siege.
Meanwhile by his advice the emir at
tempted twice to take the town at the
price of a great sacrifice Of men. He
threw the soldiers against the earth
works which seemed to present some
weak points, but the two assaults were
repelled with the greatest courage. The
grand duke and his officers did not
spare themselves on that occasion.
They led the civil population to the
ramparts. Civilians and mujiks did
their duty remarkably we'll. At the
second assault the Tartars had succeed
ed in forcing one Of the gates Of the
town. A fight took place at the be,
ginning Of the principal street, tie Boil
chaia, which is two versts in length
and terminates at the banks Of the An
CARA. But the Cossacks, the gendarmes
and the citizens opposed to them a
strong resistance, and the Tartars had
to return to their positions.
Ivan Ogaref thought then Of trying
to win by treachery what force could
not give him. His project, it is known
was to make his way alone into the
town and present himself before the
grand duke with some plausible tale
to win his confidence and when the mo-
ment came to deliver one Of the gates
to the besiegers; afterward, that done
to glut his vengeance on the brother OF
the cZar.
The gypsy, who had accompanied
him to the camp Of the Angara, urged