The Grit-advocate., 1905-04-07
Famous Long Rides
R.cord. of Americans In Saddle Second Mono.

From eastern advices it appears that
the Russian Cossacks have done more
than the artillery to keep up the repu-
tation of the Slav army as to its power
of endurance under adverse clrcum-
stances.
But this is not the particular point
of this story The Cossack is really
to the eastern world what Clusters
men, Morgans, Kilpatrick's, and
Roosevelt's have been to the western
armies-the men who could SIT the
saddle, saber and shoot, starve and
swim, be all or nothing for the glory
of quick action in time of trouble.
AS to the proof of this here is the
story of Dmetree Pjeshkoff. Siberian
Cossack, who rode from B.agoveJech-
ensk, eastern Siberia, to st. Peters,
burg. He surpassed Burnaby, who
rode to khiva, and Asayeff, who made
the hard ride from Lubeen, Poland, to
Paris.
Blagovejechensk is a Cossack sta
ton on the Amur, in latitude SO de-
grees north, longitude 127 degrees
east and the distance to be covered
to the Russian capital 5000 versts, or
5,400 English miles.
In 113 days out from his starting
point Pjeshkoff was at Omsk, having
accomplished 4,900 versts, or nearly
$500 miles, of his journey. In Ill
days he was in st. Petersburg, having
made an average of thirty miles a
day, in the saddle, from the start.
An average of this character re-
Quires remarkable physical and nerve
endurance. 1t also requires fine judg-
ment as to forage for beasts and sus-
tenance for the rider-ca1culations as
to weather, temperature changes, wa
ter supply and kindred things that go
in with steady and long ride.
The hero of this remarkable feat, a
man of some education, was command
er of hundred in one of the Cossack
regiments, stationed on the Amur, and
had to obtain leave of absence to show
what he could do on long-distance
ride with horse.
But the feat became more remark
able because the Cossack made his
tourney with one horse-the same
horse he started with ending the jour
ney. The horse, like its rider, was of
the ordinary Cossack breed. It was
born in Siberia, and was purchased
for $50 rubles, or about $50 in our
money. 1t was 13 years old, and of a
light gray color. In height and weight
it corresponded with a fair-sized
American "cayuse" Of the western
plains. 1t had the "cayuse" capacity
for short feeds and minimum water
supply.
The animal was fed only on oats
and hay. 1t carried. including its rid
er, saddle. blankets and harness, q
total weight of about 172 pounds.
The appetite of the beast increased
with the distance Travelled. At the
start it required eight pounds of oats
and fourteen pounds of hay day tc
keep it up and for water it took the
snow alongside the road as we'll OF
spring water was not Obtainable.
When twothirds of the journey was
completed the horse was eating thirt,
pounds of oats and fourteen pounds O.
hay each day. An English or ar
American horse. aside from the plains
breed of the latter country, would
have surrendered quickly.
The western American horse ha.
made some wonderful long distance
journeys in quick time. During Gus
ters campaign of 1876, which ended il
the massacre on the Rosebud, some O
the scouts for the army covered IS,
and $50 miles in forty-eight hours OF
three feeds and three chances to wa
ter for their horses.
In Griersons wild ride during tn
civil war to cut the confederate lines
the ride which eventually gave brit
to Sherman's march to the sea, on
Chicago cavalryman was in the saddl
Has No Hands, But Threads Needles
During her babyhood Emma Lo
Lawson, now IA, lost both hands b
amputation, made necessary by necrt
sis of the wrist bones. The little mis-
is an exceedingly bright child, an o1
phap, and notwithstanding her phys
cal disability can write beautitr
hand and work examples in arithmt
+;, Cho can thread needle almOs