A Crimean Incident.

Hastings Standard, Issue 262, 4 March 1897, Page 3

A Crimean Incident.

One of the .stories of the Crimean War told by the novelist Turgenieff, and well authenticated by existing letters, i.s peculiarly touching. Sergius Ivanovitch, a young Russian lieutenant, was one of an attacking party which w.\s ordered out on a Cold night to drive a body of trench from a position in front of the Russian lines. In order to be as free as possible in his movements, the young lieutenant left his military cloak behind. The French were found well posted in the edge of a wood. A desperate tight followed, at the end of which the Russians were compelled to withdraw. leaving their dead and wounded hi hind them. Among the grievously wounded was Sergius Ivanvitch, and all about him were French men wounded. Sergius .-Hi', r. d worse even from th<- c<>ld that he did from his 'vound ; and though a bullet had penetrated hi- h l.i- was >me that the exposure of the night, rat!:, r than the wound, wei;!d be she end of him. Groaning and shivering, he was about to examine a.- h. -t hi could the wound in his leg, wl»n -omtotu -aid in French • •• You had b< »t let your wound alone. Sutler and disturb it as little ua ]*--inl... The Ru--iaii found that the man who had -|«..keii was a veteran French captain, who. t veil worse wounded than hiu.M-ir l.t_\ elope by. •• No doubt your are right," said Sergiu.-, but I -hall p< rish of cold before mortin::.'. ai:\ v- a\ Then the I'r. tab;;. o: reproved huu for coming out m ?uow without bis cloak. '• i, \[* n< rii i has taught me." he said, " t.i\t.r to go out without uiy ' capote.' But thu tim it is

not likely to save me. I am mortally wounded." " Oh, they will come and get you." "No, my dear enemy. It is all up with me. The shot has gone deep—l shall not last till help comes. Here, take my cloak and wrap yourself in it, and sleep. At your age one can sleep anywhere." ik-spite his protests the young Russian felt the Frenchman's cloak laid upon him. Exhausted, he fell asleep under its warming influence. Waking in the morning, lie found the French captain dead at his side.