New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1912-07-24
KNOlUT and NAME !:
About An That Now Remain Of
the Original Cossacks.
CODE OF THE FIRST TRIBES.

CODE OF THE FIRST TRIBES.
One Glass Lived IN the villssss, the
Other In Sort Of Menastsry. and Al
Wsrs Frs Warriors, Self Appsintsd
Guardians Of the People.
Wherever Russia has 6ght on hand
there hobs up promptly to do her bid
ding the Cossack. This right arm Of
the car has not the best Of reputa-
lions. Illustrated papers picture him q
savage scarecrow mounted on a wiry
looking animal, and bis chief occupa-
dor IL apparently the knitting and
knouting of harmless people. Yet h0
comes of good stock. =
Once upon time there drifted into
southwest Russia tribe OF runaways
who called themselves "Kossaki."
which Is Tartar for free men, free
warriors or guardians. Seemingly
they lived up to the name They pro-
tected from the Tartars the peoples In
the countries which they originally had
fed from and saved thousands Of Rus
sian women and children from slavery
in Turkey. Growing in numbers and
Importance. these self appointed guard
ian angels became everywhere feared
and respected. Their military services
especially were in request Any nation
could command their help II its cause
appealed to the KossaH code Of honor.
The tribe had gradually resolved IT.
self into two classes-the village Kos
sah, who lived in their own settle
ments all over southern Russia, and
the inhabitants of the "Setch beyond
the rapids." The former had the ad-
vantage over other country folk. 40
neighboring governments were too
afraid TO tax them Between wan to
which the call came from the setch.
the village Kossah tilled the land OF
an altogether Different character was
the organization Of this Setch. . COM
munity Of about 1900 men With per.
manent headquarters In . movable
settlement .tthe exact location wa1
changed eight times in two centuEiash
usually on an unapproachabls aslano
on the lower course OF tho DniepeH.
The Turks once tried to rush tho place,
but got caught in tho maze Of ISLANDS
IKE rats In trap.
The setch In one respect resembled
monastery. No woman was allowed
inside It. A man might not even bring
his mother or bis sister. IL he did he
was hanged Here, eager to lead the
trea and simple life among their
equals, came all sorts and conditions
Of men. Indeed, owing to the law
enjoining celibacy, the colony depend
Cd for its numbers on newcomers, al
though the village Kossah contributed
recruits. Any one could join. ~ rank
and riches were despised, and al he
had 10 do was to submit to laws 40
follows: Chastity. the orthodox creed.
allegiance to Russia and the south
Russian dialect No reference or In
convenient questions Of bis past were
asked Of the intending Kossak. He
simply went to the elected chief and,
after a brief greeting. was shown to
bis place In one Of the "kureni," or
big huts. "Here IL thy home, three
PAGES long and two PAGES wide. and
when thou shalt die we will make IL
smaller"
They had good times, though. in the
setch. There were no maneuvers. no
organized training, no compulsory
drill Men lay or slept In the leveled
spaces between huts, enjoying. gypsy
fashion, the freedom Of the open aix
Drink was plentiful and also tobac-
co. Great songs were sung, and there
was much playing Of stringed instru-
ments. Throughout the place spirit
Of good comradeship prevailed A
popular pastime was dancing. no easy
task in cumbersome high boots. Cos
tunes were Of q picturesque variety
The Kossak wore q mustacho and on
the Crowd of his head lonesome w1sp
Of hair, both being worn long TO en-
able him TO wind tho three ends round
his cara Each man went armed TO-
the testh, and The majority carried
''nagaikas" (whips which Az stilb
useQ. --~@'%~ ,>As
In wartime things were Different.
To drink was q crime Food, always
plain, consisted Of rations OF uncooksd
horsedesh. Military organisation was
BY election OF leaders, one 10 every 100
men, With q colonel In command Of .
regiment These officers had absolute
power, but authority for only one CAM
paign. Such war spells were Of fre~
Quent occurrence, 30 much 20 that the
fighting business led 10 the extinction
Of the tribe Peter the Great laid
waste the Setch Mazeppa made him
self unpleasant The Setch was again
bombarded and ruined when It's in
habitants became, some Of them. plow-
men. while others were shipped to
the orient True. there was a brief re-
appearance of the Setch, but under
different auspices and nothing like In
old times. Finally the Kossaki lands
were confiscated, and the tribe and its