Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-29
DAILY SHORT STORY
STORY OF RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

vantage. the color bearer of n regiment
posted at a critical point suddenly threw
down the colors. The men, seeing the
flag lowered. turned and fed The colo
mel OF the regiment at first supposed
that the color bearer had been shot,
but on learning that this was not SO
sent for him. The soldier was conduct
ed before. his commanding officer.
John Zariski. the color bearer. was q
fine looking young fellow. tall, straight,
handsome There was something def
ant in his mien as he stood before his
commander waiting punishment. which
he could hardly doubt would be death.
why did you drop the colorsT'
Zariski made no reply. The colone,
looked at him curiously. His appear
ance certainly did not denote lack of
bravery. Partly as a test the officer
Kissed:
: "Coward-'
shiver passed over the young mans
frame. He raised his eyes and gave
his accuser a glance which seemed to
say. Had | an opportunity you would
not impugn my courage again"
Turning TO an officer behind him. the
colonel gave an order. Zariski was
marched in the center OF squad
straight for the front. where the fight
ing was thickest. was placed in position
by himself. the squad drew up before
him. there was volley. and he fell.
The officer in command was about to
march his men away when he discov
cred a force of dusky little men moving
h. In
he and his men We're running to save
themselves from being cut off. leaving
the body of Zariski among the dead.
Among the first regiments to be sent
back to Russia was that in which John
Zariski had served. 1t was posted for
a time at Moscow. but on the opening
of the revolution was sent to Warsaw
and charged with maintaining the gov
eminent cause in q certain district of
the city.
One day a crowd of Polish revolu-
tiOnists We're parading. bearing aloft
the flag of Poland. when they were
fired on by the Russian troops. The
revolutiOnists returned the fire with
far better arms and effect than was
usual with them. and the Russians, a
small detachment, retired. That night
the revolutionists made barricades. and
the next morning these barbados bris-
tied with rifles and revolvers. The colo
mel in command-the same who had
ordered the shooting of John Zariski-
rode on to die ground and looked at the
barricades.
Captain he said to the officer in
command of the troops, you must
take those barbados"
Colonel" replied the officer. Il have
hut ninety men. There are hundreds of
the revOlutionists, apparently we'll
armed. Besides. they seem to have a
leader who knows how TO handle them
to the best advantage-something
have never noticed concerning them
before
Captain replied the colonel. they
are rabble. Dispense them at once or
be prepared 10 face a court martial"
The captain marched his ninety men
up to the breastworks and met Il fire |
that laid low half of them. The rest |
fed To the rear. There they met the |
colonel. who sat on his horse scowlng |
at them. Rallying them. he was about |
to lead them forward when the cap
tain cautioned him.
Colonel" he said. Il fear a portion |
of their force have marched around the |
square and will take us in the rear. |
There are not so many of them behind |
their barricade as there were, and their |
flag is gone
"All the more reason why they should |
he dispersed" the colonel growled and /
gave the order to advance. The men /
were about to obey when a shot was
fired down the street from an opposite |
direction. All turned and saw "A solid |
mass under the flag of Poland moving
upon them by the only route that had
been open To their retreat. A man
was marching in advance. holding the |
flag in his right hand. sword in his
left
About facew cried the colonel.
Charge
But his order was ignored. The fifty
men he commanded knew they were no
match for ten times their number on
both sides of them. The revolutionists
by order of their commander. he who
bore the flag. halted, drew up in line
with something OF the precision OF |
troops and brought their weapons to
an aim. Then the colonel consented
that the captain should raise his white
on the point of his sword
in token OF surrender. The command
er of the revolutionists advanced and
met the colonel. Both started. John
Zsriski and the man who had ordered
him TO be shot for lowering the flag OF
Russia stood face TO face
Colonel" said Zariski. THE last time
saw you you called me coward II
Il was cowardly 10 throw down the
flag OF nation I detest and hate. then
am n coward. l was not a Russian.
but Pole made TO serve against my
Will My ancestors fought under the
kings of Poland. my grandfather in the
OF 1890 and 1876. my IA
Their in that or 1863. and now the revo-
luton OF 1905 needs their willing de-