Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-02-04
/ THE COURIER &
! OF THE CAR 4
BY Jules VerDe


any fires. They therefore suffered
dreadfully from great lowering Of the
temperature. At some feet below them
the Ice blocks fioated past, following
the current Of the river.
During all that day they had seen
them in close ranks floating rapidly
between the two banks. That circum-
stance. observed by the grand duke and
his officers. had been considered as for
tunate. 1t was evident that II the bed
Of the river became obstructed the pas
sage Of 1t would become altogether i'm
practicable.
The Tartars would not be able to
manage either RATS or boats. AS for
attempting to cross the river over the
blocks of ice when the cold should have
joined them, that was aot possible. The
field, newly cemented. would not have
been strong enough for the passage
over 1t Of an attacking column.
But Ivan Ogareff did not regret that
circumstance, although it appeared ia.
vorable to the defenders Of Irkutsk, for
the traitor knew we'll that the Tartars
were not seeking to cross the Angara
and that at least on that side the at
tempt would only be feint. Never
theless toward 10 o'clock at night the
state Of the river visibly changed, to
the extreme surprise Of the besieged
and now to their disadvantage. The
passage, up to that time impracticable,
suddenly became possible. The bed Of
the Angara soon became free. The
floating ice, which for some days had
come down the river In great quanti-
ties, disappeared, and very little could
be seen between the two banks.
The Russian officers, who had no.
ticed this change In the state Of the
river. made 1t known to the grand
duke. Besides. It was explained in this
way that at some narrow portion Of the
Angara the floating Ice had accumu-
lated and found barrier. We know
that such was the case. The passage
Of the Angara was therefore open to
the besieSers; hence the necessity for
the Russians to watch with greater at
tention than ever.
In the camp Of the Angara there was
plenty of agitation. as was proved by
the lights constantly fitting about. At
verst up above, as also down below
the point where the fortificatiou slopes
down to the river. there was dull
murmur, which proved that the Tar
tars were on foot. waiting for some
signal. Again an hour passed by.
Nothing new.
Two o'clock in the morning was about
to strike from the clock tower of the
cathedral Of Irkutsk and no movement
had taken place to disclose the hostile
intentions Of the besiegers. The grand
duke and his officers began to ask
themselves IL they had not been led
into error. il it had really entered into
the plan of the Tartars to attempt to
surprise the town.
The preceding nights had not by any
means been so calm. Firing had been
kept up from the advanced posts, and
shells had Kissed through the air. and
this time there was nothing Of the kind.
The grand duke, General Voranzof,
their aids-de-camp, waited therefore.
ready to give their orders according to
the circumstances.
1t has been stated that Ivan Ogareh
occupied a room in the palace. 1t was
pretty large room, situated on the
ground floor. and its windows opened
out upon side terrace. One need only
step n few PAGES on this terrace to
overlook the course Of the Angara. A
profound darkness reIgned in that
room. Ivan OSareff, standing near
window, was waiting for the hour OF
action to arrive. Evidently the signal
could only come from him. Once this
signal was given, when most OF the de-
tenders Of lrkutsk should have been
called to the points openly attacked.
his plan was to leave the palace and
to 20 and accomplish his work. Ne
WdlIeu tueu III lue duih, hhS q SS>'
ready to spring upon its prey.
Meanwhile, some minutes before 2
o'clock, the grand duke asked that MI
chael Strogoff-it was the only name
he could give to Ivan ogareff-shouid
be brought to him. An aid-de-camp
came to his room, the door Of which
was closed. He called him. Ivan Oga-
ref, motionless near the window and
invisible in the darkness, took good
care not to answer. The grand duke
was then informed that the courier OF
the cEar was not at that moment In the
palace.
Two o'clock struck. 1t was the mo-
ment that action had been agreed on
with the Tartars, who were ready for
the assault. Ivan Ogareff opened the
window Of his room and placed himself
at the north angle Of the side terrace.
Below him In the shade flowed the wa
ters of the Angara, which roared as
they broke against the piles Of the but
| tresses.
Ivan Ogareff drew flint from bis
pocket and lit with 1t piece OF cotton
wool impregnated with priming pow
der, which he threw into the river. 1t
was by the order Of Ivan Ogaren that
| torrents Of mineral oil had been cast
on the surface Of the Angara. Springs
of naphtha had been discovered above
Irkutsk on the right bank. between the
village of Poshkavsk and the town.
Ivan Ogareff had resolved to employ
this terrible means for setting fre to
Irkutsk. He therefore made use OF the
Immense reservoir which contained the
combustible liquid. He had only to
make q few canals to draw In streams
into the river. These he had made that
very night. some hours before. The
cotton wool had been cast on the wa
ters of the Angara. In an instant, "a II
N