CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1903-04-02


The third Tartar column-that which
had ascended the valley OF the Yeni
sef-appeared in sight of Irkutsk on the
Path Of September. II Immediately oc
cupied the aba ndoned outskirts. OF
stroyed In order not to impede the ac
ton Of the archduke's artillery. which
WIS 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 18th of September at
the camp OF Angsra. and all the army.
except the garrisons left In the princi-
pal conquered towns. was concentrated
under the orders OF Feofar-Khan.
The passage OF the Angara having
been regarded by Ivan ogaren as i'm.
practicable before Irkutsk. a strong
body of troops crossed at some versts
down the river on some bridges of
beats 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 Ogareff. n clever engineer. was
certainly able TO direct the operations
Of a regular siege. but he had not the
material TO carry forward his opera
tions quickly So he had hoped 10 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
Tomsk: 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 fail
ed He found himself therefore under
the n-cessity OF carrying on . regular
siege.
Meanwhile by his advice the cmir at
tempted twice TO take the town at the
price OF a crest sacrifice Of men de
threw the soldiers against the earth
works which seemed to present some
weak points. but the two assaults were
cepelled with the greatest courage. The
grand duke and his officers did not
They lid the civil population to the
ramI,aris Civilians and muJlks did
their duty remarkably well At the
second assault the Tartars had succeed
ed In forcing one OF the gates of the
town. A ngbt took place at the be-
ginning of the principal street. the Boi-
chn.a which Is two versts in length
aud terminates at the banks OF the An
CARA hut the Cossacks. the gendarmes
and the citizens opposed to them a
strong resistance. and the Tartars had
TO n'turu TO their positions
Ivan ogarcr thought then OF trying
TO win by treacbery what force could
not give him His project. u Is known
was To make his way alone into the
town and present himself eefore the
grand duk" with some plausible tair
to win his contdvnce and when the mss
mrul came to deliver one OF the gates
TO Ih- nssicgers: nftcrward. thar done.
To clint his vengeance on the brother OF
the "zar
Tia. gypsy who had accompanied
him to the camp OF the Angara. urged
him 70 put This project into execution.
Ard ind'-,t II was pecrssary to act
wl'houi delay The Russian troops of
tn" government OF irkutsk were march
ing to the relief OF irkutsk. They were
concentrating on tue higher waters OF
the Lena and marching up the valley
They wouAi surely arrive beforc six
days IL wns ns~essary. Ihea. that ir'
kutsk should be delivered up by ,r,ach-
cry befofe six days.
Ivan Ognrer did not hesitate any Ion
ger.
One evening. the I'd OF October. a
council OF war was being held in the