The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-10

followed by MS LOO, he Hred MS re-
volver as signal to the little force,
who, yelling like fends. rushed onfthe
enemy, cutting and slashing at every
thing before them. The surprised
camp was at once in a terrible uproar;
but it only lasted a quarter of an hour,
for the trick was done. The enemy
scattered in every direction but in that
when the victors assembled they dis
covered forty dead, thirty-seven stand
ards, 1900 turbans, 5000 muskets and
sabers, and heaps Of pots and kettles.
But, Villiers, this is not the most
amazing part Of the adventure. Guess
what the Russian roll-call was that
morning ?"
Cant" said I.
No, I bet you couldn't. Why, just.
$50 standing up in their boots, and
not one sick or sorry. That was the
man you saw but a moment ago VINO
led them. His name is Skobeleff, and
don't you forget him. for he will be
| the central figure of many of your
sketches if you see anything Of this
cam paign.
There was no further inquiry for
Dragamiroff. Mirsky was the man for
us, and luckily towards sunset we
came across his headquarters In the
suburbs of the town. He received us
with much cordially, and told us to
| COnSluGI OURSELVES dICctC1lCu W 1A4o NA-
vision, which was to support Draga-
mirOff. ~--,..
In the gray of the dawn of June
rs, 1877, Andreas brought us steaming
mugs of black coffee, for we were to
be on the move early, and the wagon
must be packed ready for the march
which would bring us to the rendez-
vous for the great crossing Of the
Danube. The cheering from the men
| Of fo,o ninth division thew
answered the morning greeting OF
their general told us that the regi-
ments composing it had already com
menced their long tramp. The town
folk of Alexandria turned out of then
beds, and, with sleepy grins of salts
of their not too welcome guests, gave
the troops a feeble send-off as they
moved thru the streets to the music
Of their bands, or Justify singing theil
inspiriting marching songs. Their
would come an interval when only the
jingle and rumble of cannon and t tl1
rattle of the munition trains held the
streets for a time, and once more
churned up the dust as the heavy dew
of the previous night was rapidly alb
sorbed by the quickening day. Pres
emily the monotony Of the white uni
, forms, the tanned faces of the men
and the gray dust of the wagons anG
: |
, Of a cortege brilliantly imposing a.
the sunlight rippled over the motle!
procession, It was the encourage O.
the Emperor of All the Russias ap
preaching. ...- ..r
Staff officers with their gold aiguil
lettes and their breasts shinmerine
with stars and medals, led the way
Then followed an escort of the Imperl
: al guard, light blue, brown and greer
: Hussars, Cossacks in blue and gold
smart-uniformed field gendarmes
stern-featured, gaily CARRIED Asiati
servants, lancers with gay-coloret
pennons. Then came a cava1cade O
led horses-high -mettled chargers o
! renowned pedigree, frothing an
l champing at their sparkling bits
:, caleches, droiskies, and travelling car
! riages of ingeniously designed interio
for sleeping accomm odations, luxurl
. ously upholstered, driven by rosy ant
2 robust-looking coachmen with many
, colored plumes in their enameleds hats
: Behind them in the depths, of cos,
t cushions lounged English grooms an
! French Wallets. Great silver samovar
y shone from the interior of portabl
i kitchens, on the box seats Of whic]
a sat cooks and scullions; and a hug
S train Of baggage wagons made up tn
!, rear Of this amazing cortege. Thi
q was the suite of the car, but wher
{. was that august personage?. We dis
= covered later that this brilliant an
e imposing suite was generally withou
e the emperor, for he was usually traV
r cling with a more modest staff, seem
= ingly trying his hardest to lose sigh
e of the imposing but rather cumbe1
l, some train which had just passed by
Y. I met this gay and picturesque process
o ssion once or twice later on when o
$; Turkish soil. It seemed to have n
I, reason d'etre, more than that it wa