Year: 1873

opened upon him from four pieces OF cannon The
distance was SO near that the inferior arms or the
Khlvans were as effective as those OF the Russians
The Russians surprised especially as they were
beginning 10 lose good many men. Periovkin
Immediately ordered the cannon TO be taken by
storm at the point Of the bayonet While this was
being done he received a wound which disabled
him. four companies were ordered out for the
attack. The Russians charged the walls, bay
oneted the gunners and took the cannon There
was no way OF dragging them out OF their position,
as the scaling OF the walls surprise and there
were no ladders preparations Tor retreat. Their
position, therefore, was critical, for while they
held the captured guns they were compelled TO
fight the main force or the KhiYan army unable
to advance or retreat. At length the Russian
artillery came TO the rescue and drove the
Kniyans from the walls by sheing, and the captured
cannon were brought away, though not without
trouble and loss Of fe-i should say u killed and
IS wounded.


FLIGHT OF THE KHAN.


This might be called Khivan victory, for GER
tainly the Russian attack had been repused New
ertheless 1t was this victory OF the Khan, coupled
with the bombardment which began Immediately,
which convinced him that resistance was useless.
1t may be the Khivans sustained heavy loss, but
IL was the belief in the Russian army tnat
when the Khan saw the daring manner IN which
the Russians captured the cannon he became
convinced that opposition out OF the question.
Certain il IL that as soon as the IRE had lessened
his cousin came to General Kaufman Offering
unconditional surrender and requesting that gen.
eral to stop the bombardment He also sent a
message asking for "a hours truce, but as the Rus
SLAMS suspected the message TO he a subterfuge
they only consented TO three hours truce, pro-
vlded the Khan would surrender at the end OF
nor rfrna IN hig m 1dn hat ha
was willing to surrender, but that the
Turcomans over whom he had very little
control, would not, and II the Russians would
cease firing he would come out next day. Ii was
now nearly night, and as the Turcomans on the
walls kept up scattering fire the Russian artillery
continued the bombardment OF Khiva at intervals
during the darkness. This bombardment had the
effect OF frightening the Khan, VINO abandoned the
town without waiting for Kaufmann's response TO
his offers OF surrender Several shells had fallen
into his palace, and as he had never heard OF
shell until the Russians brought them to his at
tenton his terror when he saw them exploding
all around him was uncomfortable; so with few
hundred OF his Turcoman cavalry he sought refuge
on the open plain. II was then that the people set
his brother at liberty, who had been prisoner
Tor some months as a consprator, and
arrangements were made for surren-
der. The Turcomans however, continued firing,
and the Russians resolved 10 take the town by
storm; so in the morning "a shells were thrown
against the gate, which was soon battered down.
Then Colonel ScoDelon with about 1000 men,
rushed to the assault under a lively fire OF small
arms from the walls. Wren the Russians entered
the city the Turoomans showed themselves in
masses, as though they were going to contest the
streets but at the sight OF few rockets that went
tearing through the air they fell away, and Khiva
was taken. The Russians had Ia wounded In the
assault and nobody slain. There was really no
resistance for the authorities had surrendered the
town, and the acts OF war were acts the part OF
uncomfortable Turcoman warriors. But the aTar
shows that II the Khan had been a judicous,
courageous prince and had made up his mind to
submit to siege, Khlva would not have been
taken without some trouble.


KAUFMAN ENTERS THE TOWN.


so the town was taken at last. Count Scobelon
was the hrst to set foot in the captured city, fol-
lowed by young Count Schouvalor who Will be re.
memoered in America as the companion OF the
Grand Duke Alexis. Having dispersed the Xiii
vans, the Russians marched cautiously In skir-
mishing line through the streets TO the Kban,s
| palaco AN amusing evidence OF Russian dsc-
pine is that, having made the assault and entered
the city without the knowledge or permisson n,
the Commander-in-Chiei, they were not at all sure
OF the comment General Kaufmann who ia a strict
disciplinarlan, would make upon their victory.
They had been in the palace only few moments
when they were informed tnat Kaufman was ac
tually entering the city by another gate in great
state. having accepted the formal surrender. They
thereupon hurriedy left The palace just in time to
give place TO the Generals procession, which came
later Thus fell Khiva into the power OF Russia.
after a succession OF disastrous expeditions ex-
tending over period Of 200 years.