Red River prospector. (Red River, Taos County, N.M.) 1900-190?, 1905-03-30
MIRACULOUS ESCAPES ON
MANCHURIAN BATTLEFIELDS

The story of the soldier who, struck
by a bullet yet escaped from death
owing to the interposition of a prayer
book in his breast pocket, is as old as
the hills. The present gigantic strug-
gle in Manchuria Yields several even
stranger and better authenticated in
cidents of escape from death by a mar
row margin.
The Odessa News reports the case
of soldier at the battle of Taschis-
chao, whose life was saved through his
comrades practical joking "A hum
orous sapper had smeared his shovel
with tar, and was about to plaster the
face of a man named Tsibuilin, who
was doing in the trench, when a she'll
unexpectedly fell on the parapet and
exploded.
THE sapper and every man with
in ten yards radius was killed by
splinters. But Tsibuilin survived. His
face was somewhat fattened and
blackened by the shovel, the front of
which was scratched and scored by
splinters. Had it not been for the
shovel his face would have been cut
to pieces"
Another Russian escaped death
through boastfully proving that he did
not fear it. A Lithuanian was contin-
ually popping up his head and Shout
ders, with the words, 'I'm not afraid
of bullets" Tired of this, the soldier
next him jeered. I'D like to see you
showing your whole body" The Ii
Lithuanian took the challenge, sprang on
the edge of the trench and leaped
about three feet in the air, Before
he descended two bullets whizzed un-
derneath his feet, and lodged in the
earth behind. Had he been in his
usual position they would have gone
through his chest.
A pewter spoon saved the life of
Sergeant Pristavkin at the battle of
the Shaho. Pristavkin was dining on
buckwheat Cruel, and had the spoon
at his lips, when it was struck by a
spent bullet, which glanced aside and
went half way through the head of a
man some way behind. Pristavkin was
afterward nicknamed Sergeant Lozh-
ka" or Sergeant Spoon"
Foppishness was the cause of Artil-
leryman Z%avodski's salvation. Zavod-
ski was the greatest fop in the bat
terry. He trimmeS his nails, waxed his
moustache, and shaved himself under
fire, While the other men were eating
their dinner during the retreat from
Lao Yang. Zavodski removed his big
boots, and cleaned them carefully.
While he was putting a finishing
touch on the second of them, a bullet
from a Japanese sharpshooter pene-
trated the sole, tearing out the big
nails, and fell harmlessly into the toe.
Had it not been for the boot the bullet
would have gone straight through his
heart.
Gortseff, a disconnected and nervous
soldier, escaped death through his des-
perate attempt to commit suicide.
While the enemy's shells and bullets
were falling like hail, he hoped
about, exposing himself, and altogeth-
er behaving so queerly that his com
rades thought him mad.
Suddenly, amid a hail of bursting
shells, he unscreWed his bdyOnet, put
the muzzle Of his rife to his throat,
and fired. The shot went harmlessly
over his shoulder. When the rifle was
examined, it appeared that he had had
a double escape from death. The wood
or one side of the stock was torn
clean off by a shell fragment which
was found at his feet. 1t was this
which diverted the bullet he had in
tended for his throat.
A Japanese soldier escaped ~bayonet-
ting by his knowledge of Russian.
During the assault on Nanshan hill
he, with a dozen comrades, succeeded
in reaching the Russian trenches.
All the attackers were slaughtered
save the Jap student. Two men, with
forocious cries of "Tchort!" (the
devil), attacked him. He calmly par
rled a thrust, and with a grim laugh
repeated their own cry "Tchort!"