Mariusz Zaruski

Mariusz Zaruski (1867–1941) was a Brigadier-General in the Polish Army, a pioneer of Polish sports yachting, an outstanding climber of the winter and caves of Tatra Mountains. He was a photographer, painter, poet and writer, a seamen and traveler, a conspirator, legionnaire and lancer in Polish cavalry.

During his active life, he was a devoted social activist, sportsman and teacher.

Zaruski was born on 18 January 1867 in Dumanowo near the Kamieniec Podolski in Poland. During his youth at Odessa University where he studied mathematics and physics, he was attracted to sea activities. As a volunteer, he worked as seaman on various ships. He traveled a lot to distant regions like Siberia, China, Japan, India, Egypt and Syria.

For his participation in a Polish patriotic anti-Russian organization, the Russian government exiled him to Arkhangelsk in 1894. There, while being a prisoner he was able to graduate from the Seaman School. Conditionally he was allowed to work on merchant ship “Derzhava”. On his first sea journey on the ship, he went to Norway with the logs and fur cargo. Later he became a captain of the ship “Nadezhda”.

After finishing his prison term, Zaruski returned to Odessa where he had lived for 2 years. There he married Izabela Kietlińska. Later, he moved to Kraków where between 1901-1906 he studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts. In 1907, after graduation, the couple moved to Zakopane so as to improve Izabela's health.

For many years Mariusz Zaruski had been working in Zakopane as a mountain guide for tourists and rescuer. He organized the Tatra Mountain Rescue Service. In his articles in Polish newspapers he publicized and popularized the tourism of the Zakopane region. He was the first climber to reach the Kozi Wierch and Kościelec mountains. At the start of the First World War he organized 11th Polish Cavalry Regiment and became its commander. For his bravery during the offensive on Wilno City on April 16, 1919, he was decorated with the highest Polish Military distinction the Order of Virtuti Militari 5th Class and several times with the Cross of Valour.

...
Wikipedia