Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-11-26

-sF t-f7E q. IS =. . 81
s. From Abbott's History Of Hannibal !
Destruction of Carthage. 4 Terrible
+ f-S Scene. q
The Carthagenians did everything, in the
prosecution of this war with the. Romans,
the most desperate valor could do; but Scip-
los cool, steady, and well calculated plans,
made irresistible progress and .bemmed them
in at last, with narrow limits, by steadily
increasing pressure from which they found
1T impassihle to break away. asrsa
Scipio had erected sort of mole or pier
upon the water near the city, on which lie
had erected many large and powerful
engines to assault the walls. One night n
large company of Carthagenians took their
torches in their hands, not lighted, together
with some sort of apparatus for striking fire,
and partially by wading and partially by
swimming, they made their way through
the water of the harbor towards the ma<
chimes. When they were sufficiently near,
they struck their lights and torches on fire.
The Roman soldie, who had been station.
ed to guard the machines, were seized with
terror at seeing all these flashing fires burst
suddenly over the waters, and fled in dis
may. The Carthagenians set the abandoned
engines on fire, and then throwing their
own useless torches into the flames, they
swan back in safety. But all this despe-
rate bravery did very little good. Scipio
quickly repaired the engines and the siege
went on as before.
But we cannot describe, in detail, ali the
particulars of this protracted and terrible
struggle. We must pass on to the closing
scene. which, as related by the historians OF
the day, is an almost incredible series Of hor-
rors. @ ,-r. .' s
l.. After an immense number had been kill
ed in the assaults which had been ma fe up
sands which had died of famine and of the
exposure and hardships incident TO such a
siege, the army of Scipio succeeded in break
ing their way through the gates, and gain
ing admission to the city. Some of the in
habitants were now disposed to contend no
longer, but to cast themselves upon the mer-
cy of the conqueror. Others, furious in their
despair. were determined to fight to the last,
NOT willing to give up the pleasure of killing
all they could find of their hated enemy, e.
ven to save their lives. They fought there
fore from street to street, retreating gradu-
ally as the enemy advanced, till they found
refuge In the citadel. One band of Sc;pio's
soldiers mounted on the tops of the houses
the roofs being fiat, and fought their wH5
there, while! another colnmn. sadsaacedsa Il
the same manner in the street below.
The more determined of the combatants
with Hasdrubal at their head, took posses
sion of the citadel, which was in qnarte
of the city, situated upon an eminence ant
strongly fortified. Scipio advanced to th.
walls Of the fortifcation, and set the part o.
| the city on fire which lay nearest to it. Th.
fire burned six days, and opened large a.
rea, which afforded the Roman troops tim,
to act When the troops were bfoug ght uE
TO the area, thus left vacant BY FIRE, and th,
people within saw their condition was hope
less, the desperate struggle within the WALL
was whether to perish in resistance, or SUR
render in despair. There was an immena
mass, not far from sixty thousand, half wo
men and children, who were determined OF
going o,it to surrender themselves TO Scipio'.
mercy. Hasdrubal's wife, leading her two
children BY her side, earnestly begged be-
husband to allow her to go with them. BIZ
he rsfused. There was body of deserter
from the Roman camp in the citadel, who
had no possible hope Of escaping destruc
tion, except by desperate resistance to tbs
last, he committed his wife and children te
their charge, and these deserters, seeking
refuge in great temple within the citadel
bore the frantic mother with them to share
their fate
HasdrubaPs determination, however, te
resist the Romans to the last ,soon gave way
and he determined to surrender. He is ac.
cusea Of most strocsods treachery in at
tempting thus to save himself, after exclud
ing his wife and children from all possibili.
ty of escaping destruction. But the confu
sion and din Of such scene, the .suddennes:
and violence with which events succeed saet
other, and the tumultuous and uncontr ola
bic mental agitation to which they gave rise
deprive man who is called to act in it, ei
sense and reason and exonerste him almos,
as much as if he were insane. At any rate
Easdrubsl, after shutting UP his wife and
children with a furious gang of desperadoes
who could not possibly surrender, gave him
self up, perhaps hoping that he might saw
them after ALL.
The Carthagenian soldiers, followin
Hasdrubafs example opened the gates 9
the cifadal, and let the conquers in. The
deserters were now made absolutely des pc
rate by their danger, and some of the m NOR
furious than the rest, prefering to die b,
their own hands, rather tina give their hal
ed enemies the pleasure Of killing them. Sc
the building in which they were shut up, o.
fire.
The miserable inmates ran to and fro, hal
suffocated by the smoke and scorched by th
flames. Many Of them reached the rooi
Hasdrubal's wife and chill dren were amen
the number. She looked down from thi
elevation, the volume of smoke and fam
rolling up around her, and saw her HUSBAND
standing bel ow with the Roman General
perhaps looking in CONSERVATION for hi
wife and children amid the scene Of horror
The sight of the husband and father, in
position of safety, made the wife and moth
er perfectly furious with resentment an
anger. ~Wretch, she screamed in furi
| ,,,, L. 81 :%,.Ic Lo,. H.