Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1902-03-22


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 II
kutsk.
Ivan Ogareff, clever engineer, was
certainly able to direct the operations
Of q regular siege, but he had not the
material to carry forward his opera
tons quickly. So he had hoped to sur
prise Irkutsk, the end Of all 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
Tonsk; on the other, the rapidity with
which the works of defense had been
carried on by the grand duke. For
these two reasons his projects had fall
ed. He found himself therefore under
the necessity Of carrying on a 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
repealed with the greatest courage.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 well. 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, the 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 Ogareff 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 gIut his vengeance on the brother Of
the car.
The gypsy, who had accompanied
him to the camp Of the Angara, urged
him to put this project into execution.
And, indeed, it was necessary to act
without delay. The Russian troops Of
the government of Irkutsk were march
ing to the relief of Irkutsk. They were
concentrating on the higher waters OF
the Lena and marching up the valley.
They would surely arrive before SIX
days. It was necessary, then, that IT.
kutsk should be delivered up by treach-
cry before six days.
Ivan Ogaren did not hesitate any lon
ger.
One evening, the I'd of October, a
council of war was being held in the
large room of the governor generals
palace. It was there the grand duke
resided.
This palace overlooked for a great
distance the course Of the river. From
it's front windows one could perceive
the Tartar camp, and had the Tartars
possessed artillery Of a longer range
they could have rendered it uninhab-
table.
The grand duke, General .Voranzoff
and the governor Of the town, the head
merchant, with whom had been Joined
a number of superior officers, had just
passed divers resolutions.
Gentlemen" said the grand duke,
"you know exactly our situation. l
have a firm hope that we shall be able
to hold out until the arrival Of troops
from Iakoutsk. We shall then know
we'll how, to drive away these barbar-
GUS hordes, and it will not be my fault
if they don't pay dearly for this inVa-
sion Of Russian territory"
"Your highness knows that we can
rely on the whole population of IT.
kutsk," replied General Voranzoff.
eyes," said the grand duke, "and
render homage to it's patriotism. Thank
God, it has not as yet suffered from the
horrors Of an epidemic or a famine and
l have reason to think it will escape
them. But at the ramparts l could not
help admiring their courage. trust
the chief Of the merchants hears my
words, and beg him to report them as
SUCH" -"
II thank your highness in the name
Of the town." answered the chief of the
merchants. MAY 1 dare to ask you
when you expect at latest the arrival
Of the army of relief9'' -, ~a- }.
"In six days at most" answered the
grand duke. "a sharp and courageous
emissary has been able to penetrate
into the town this morning, and he has
informed me that $4,000 Russians are
advancing by forced marches under the.
orders Of General Kissely. They were
two days ago on the banks of the Lena,
at Kirensk, and now neither cold nor
snow will prevent their arrival. Fifty
thousand good troops, taking the Tar