The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-11-05
: My Wife's Courage.
TOrigfnal.1

become very intimate with the Oxen
hoffs while they were there in the
diplomatic corps. OZenhOff had been
second secretary of the Russian lega-
ton. The consequence was that when
we went abroad on our wedding trip,
although the subjects of the car were
In revolution, we must needs go to
Moscow to visit the family whom my
wife had promised to visit in case she
ever crossed the big pond. | cOnsid-
cred such a visit at such a time haZ-
ardous and objected. My wife pouted
and said she wasn't afraid. That set
tied 1t; we went to Moscow.
It was arranged that OZenhOff and
[ should do" ST. Petersburg While
the two women stayed at home and
had a good long visit together. Oxen
heff knew everybody worth knowing
In the capital and would have given
me O fine time there had not the very
air been filled with bombs and blood.
Our stay was suddenly cut short by
the news that the revolution had bro
ken out in Moscow. From my wife's
courage in coming into the country l
had reason to suppose that she would
meet the situation bravely. Neverthe-
less both OZenhoff and I started at
once for Moscow.
OF course we found a terrible situa.
ton. The main question was how to
get to his house, which was in the
center Of the conflict, and this, Of
course, made us frantic to reach it
By running several gantlets we sue
ceeded in getting into a house opposite
his home and about a hundred yards
farther down the street. But here We
were stopped. The soldiers had taken
a barricade built by the revolutionists
and a hundred rifles were ready to rio
die any one crossing the street.
While we were there a a tottereh
INTO the house, a stream of blood ruiz
1ing down the front of his coat. and
Ozenhoff at once recognized him a.
his butler. The wounded man gave o
narrowing picture of the condition a.
Ozenhoff's home. Nine. OzenhOff and
the children were much frightened,
and my wife was in Mysteries. OZen-
hoff, who had been married some
years, counseled patience, but l, not
yet out of the honeymoon, was deter
mined to risk everything to reach my
bride. Yet there seemed to be no way
except by crossing the street. Besides.
II l reached the goal l should find the
door locked and barred. But I knew
there was a vestibule, and II I could
get Into it I might be safe. While l
was trying to get away from Ozenhof.
vino was holding me, I saw q man
starting to cross. Spirits Of smoke ap-
peared at the barricade, and bullets
whistled about him. He had got near
~ over when he fell on his face and
lay perfectly still. This cooled nay
ardor to be of, and / gave up the at
tempt. But later, when the fire at the
barricade seemed to be turned IN an
other direction, the man got Up and
made q dash for the house directly Op
posite him. he was successful.
I determined to adopt his plan. Ozen-
1off, when he found he could not pre-
rent me, consented and told me If I
reached the goal to reaSsure the wo-
men and children by telling them that
he would try to raise a force to make
q long detour, approach the house from
the rear and rescue them. AS soon as
I found my effort was a part Of a plan
I felt more eager to undertake it and.
bidding my host goodby, took position
at the door, sighted my objective
point and, suddenly emerging, ran like
a deer.
/ had got but a third Of the way
when the bullets came SO thick that I
knew I must be hit within a few mo-
ments and, plunging forward, fell on
my face. A few more bullets whistled
yer me, after which the firing ceased.
After a rest I sprang to my feet and
sprinted again, but made only O. short
distance when 1 was knocked down by
a bullet that passed through the calf
of my leg.
I gave myself up for lost, for I sup
posed that my ruse had been discov-
cred and they would put more shots
into me. But after a moment I hearE
a fusillade from a house near by which
seemed to engage the attention of the
soldiers. Perhaps friendly revolution
lists were aiding me. I jumped up
again and, despite my wounded leg
ran to cover. I did not reach Oxen,
hoff's vestibule, but made a house on
the same side Of the street and, pro-
ceeding through back yards, soon
reached his house by a back door.
I came upon Nine. Ozenhof huggina
her children to her, trying to quiet
them. My wife was not there. I asked
for her eagerly.
"She went upstairs to a window. /
don't think she knew what she was
doing"
I rushed up the staircase, and there
In a room on a sofa lay the object Of
my search In a dead faint. I sprinkled
her, and when she came to she threw
her arms around my neck in q par
oxysm Of tears.
81 saw you rum" she said, land men
In the opposite window saw me and
you. They OWNED what it all meant
and fired at the soldiers. Thank heav.
enl"
It was the next day before Ozenhoff
reached us, and meanwhile we expect.
ed every hour that the soldiers would
be REINFORCED and 90 through the
street, killing every citizen In 1t. Oxen
hof brought a dozen armed men, and,
with great difficulty, we got out OF our
periious position.
When I tell this story after dinner
.AHA 49,