Morris tribune., 1902-03-29


the windows Of the palace and from the
houses of the right bank one could see
distinctly that important preparat tons
were being made on the opposite
heights.
Numerous Tartar detaehments were
seen moving toward the camp and thus
hourly reinforcing the troops Of the
emir. This was the preparation foT
the diversion which had been agreed
upon, and it was being made in the
most ostentatious manner. Moreover,
Ivan Ogareff did not conceal from the
grand duke that some attack was to be
feared on that side. He knew, he said,
that an assault would be made at the
two extremities Of the town along the
river, and he counseled the grand duke
to re-enforce those two points more oil
rectly menaced
II The preparations that had been no.
ticed, coming to the support of Ivan
Ogareff's recommendations, it was nee
essary to take some account of them.
Thus after council Of war which was
held at the palace orders were given to
concentrate the defense on the right
bank of the Angara and at the two ex-
tremities Of the town, where the forti-
fed terraces rested on the river.
This was precisely what Ivan Oga-
ref wished. He evidently did not reek-
on that the Bolchaia gate would re-
main without defenders, but they would
be there only in a small number. Be
sides, Ivan Ogaref was about to give
to the diversion such Importance that
the grand duke would be obliged to OPP
pose it with all his disposable forces.
And indeed an incident Of an excep-
tionable gravity, devised by Ivan Oga-
ref, was to powerfully aid in the ac-
complishment of his projects. For even
if Irkutsk had not been attacked at
points distant from the Bolchaia gate
and along the right bank Of the river
that incident would have suficed to
draw the chief body Of the defenders
to the place where Ivan Ogaref wish
ed precisely to bring them. It would
cause at the same time most terrible
catastrophe. ~
All the chances were then that the
gate, being free at the hour fixed, would
be given up to the thousands Of Tar
tars who were waiting under the thick
cover of the forest on the east. During
that day the garrison and population OF
Irkutsk were constantly on the alert.
All the measures which were required
to repel an attack on points never be-
fore threatened were taken.
The grand duke and General Voran-
zoff visited the various posts which had
been strengthened by their orders. The
picked corps of Wassili Feodor occu-
pied the north of the town, but with
the injunction to march at once to
where the danger should be most press
ing The right bank Of the Angara was
protected by the only artillery At their
disposal.
With these measures taken in time,
thanks to the opportune recommends
tons Of Ivan Ogareff, there was every
reason to hope that the prepared attack
would not. succeed. In thG1 case the
Tartars, discouraged for the time, with
out doubt would defer for few days
any new attack against the town. Be
sides, the troops expected by the grand
duke might arrive any hour. The safe
ty or the loss Of Irkutsk hung ON q
thread.
On that day the sun, which had risen
at twenty minutes past 6, had set at
$40. Twilight would still have to strug-
gle with night for two hours. Then
space would be filed with thick dark
ness, for heavy clouds hung still in the
air, and the moon would not appear.
This profound obscurity would favor
more completely the plans of Ivan Oga-
ref.
Already, for some days, an extremely
the rigors Of the Siberian winter, and
on that night the cold was still more
piercing. The soldiers posted on the
right bank of the Angara, being forced
to hide their presence, had not kindled
any fires. They therefore suffered
dreadfully from great lowering of the
temperature. At some feet below them
the ice blocks foated 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 if the bed
Of the river became INSTRUCTED the pas
sage Of it would become altogether i'm
practicable.
The Tartars would not be able to |
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 not possible. The /
field, newly cemented, would not have
been strong enough for the passage
over it of an attacking column.
But Ivan Ogaref did not regret that
although it appeared IA
yorable to the defenders Of Irkutsk, for
The traitor knew well that the Tartars