Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-11-15


mountain side.
When hallway up the Russian
stratagem was disclosed. Suddenly
the searchlights played again, betray
dng the assailants as they climbed
Then the guns. supposed to be
silenced, Fetched shell and shrapnel
and regiment OF Siberian sharp
shooters that had already filed out
from the moat of the fortress charged
the flank of the Japanese.
Then ensued for two or three hours
In the alternate earkness and glare
of the searchlights, amidst barbel.
wire entanglements, one of those san
culinary hand-to hand conflicts for
which the siege of Port Arthur is
without parallel.
Neither side gained definite ad.
vantage. The Russian survivors at
last took refuge in their fort, the
Japanese In their trenches, and In the
dawn, down the slope, lay five thou
sand men, killed CT so desperately
wounded that they we're unable to
crawl away. Among the wounded,
close up to the moat OF the Eternal
Dragon, was Capt. Okla, both legs
broken by fragment of shell. AT
about 9 o'clock that morning Lieut..
Vannoffsky was locking down through
a loop-hole of the fort wall above He
saw Okla stir fee'ly: and after a
second glance through a glass he
recognized him.
Twice the Russian smoke Oka's
name down from the wall, but could
not make him herr,
During the forenoon Lieut.. Van.
noffsky descended to caponiere in
the moat and tossed a flask over to
the wounded man. 1t fell wide OF
passed unnoticed; end 1t was not tn,
nightfall that the Russian was really
able to do anything.
Then after 1t had grown quite drrI
'and the searchlights were playing
elsewhere, the lieutenant climbed out
of the moat and crawled cautiously
to where Okla Law, partly sheltered ID
hrle made by an explodi e shell.
1t had been day CT frightful s,if.
fering for the young japanese, but
he was still alive and herring Van.
noffsky creeping nea-, he drew a
pistol, thinking him one OF the enemy
come to rob or murder him. Van.
noffsky laid gentle hand on his
arm. however. VI
Fear not. 1t is thy Alexandra.
WITCH" he whispered; then he graspe |
his hand, held flask to, his lips, and
incurred as to his wounds.
The searchlleht now came danciue
over them, and not to draw bullets
either from the fort or the tren,he,
both. lav still. When II h-d passed
Vanncffsky continsel his ministrl.
tons; and at last. finding Okla quite
unable to move. he resolved on an All
of heroismone that might cost him
not only life, but honor asa soldier.
To carry Okla across the deep moat
and up into the fort was impossible
but his strength was equal to convey,
Ing him down the slope to this
Japanese trenches. And that was
what he did. taking the little fellow
on his back and crawling slowly on
hands and knees down the slope, stop
ping always when the searchlight
came that way.
Thus 1t happened that at about 2
o'clock that night a Japanese soldier
on duty in the Wedge of Death heard
a slight rose at hand. AMI cooking
his rife, challenged sharply. ~
Hold"
1T is a FRIEND" was the Russians
immediate reply. And then on the
very brink of the trench appeared
vannoffsky with Capt. Okla on his
back.
The Japanese soldier pulled them
both down into the zigzag, and Okla
feeSly explained the strange situation.
For a time the japanese officer in
charge was in great doubt as to his
duty, whether or not to hold the
young Russian as prisoner of war
Since he had unavoidably seen their
trench.
But after little conversation more
gallant sentiments prevailed.
Vannoffsky was hidden TO return
and he reached the Dragon fort in
safety.
At the surrender of Port Arthur
Lieut.. Vannoffsky became a prisoner
of war in earnest, but he was per.
mitted to be the guest of his hearts
brother, then convalescing at his
japanese home.-Youth's Companion.