Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-04-13
THE FATAL RIFLE.


1t would be an inexpressible source OF
happiness to all right-:binking men, if
they could be assured that wars were
about TO cease over the whole earth. II
is to be feared, however, that the day is |
distant when this desired consummation |
will take place. "Arms is still the
poets theme and the statesman'S reliance, |
and the " Armstrong gun" and the "En-
field rife" are regarded as the great ar
biters of national disputes. We find the
following 10 an English paper received
by last mail;
Mr.. M'Kerdy, gentleman speaking
to volunteer meeting on Saturday at
Lesmahagow, told the following anec-
dote:
"Many years ago, when travelling on
the Continent, had as servant an old
Prussian soldier, who related to me the
following remarkable circumstance. In
1918 or 1914 he belonged to corps Of
one thousand men of all arms, operating
as a guard on the right bank of the
Rhine, while the French were in posses
sion of the country on the left of the
river. The season was early in autumn,
when the weather was delightful, and the
harvest just gathered in.
"One afternoon the corps bivouacked
near the river for the advantage of water,
and the place was considered perfectly
safe from attack, as the opposite bank was
vast plain of corn-stubble, without a
single fence as far as the eye could reach /;
an advancing army, therefore, could be
more easily seen. The river was un-
fordable, and about two hundred yards
broad. The troops, therefore, consid-
cred themselves perfectly secure from at
tack, and set about preparing their sup
per and making themselves comfortable
for the night when a shot was heard
from the opposite bank, and cry from
the bivouac that man was wounded.
Every soldier started instantly to his
legs, and looked across the river, but no
one could see even the vestige Of an ene-
my, which greatly surprised all, as there
, was no covert, and the yellow stubble
was especially well adapted to show the
smallest object for considerable distance
: from the river.
"While the whole corps were thu:
gazing, a puff of smoke was seen TO ris'
: about fifty yards from the brink of tn,
E stream, followed by the report of a rife
and another soldier dropped wounded
In moment, without the command 0
D an officer, about one hundred men rushed
to the edge of the water, and commence,
firing at the spot whence the shots came
; although nothing but the stubble was t
n be seen.
"Soon after there was another report
n followed by the fall of another man
: which SO exasperated the whole fore
5 that nearly every soldier set about firin
II at the spot from which the puffs of smok
d we're seen to arise. BY this time all we
e convinced the mischief was done by
Is single rifeman. More shots followed
and more men fell so that the officer i
l. command had serious thoughts of moyin
Of the encampment; but the feeling
r, shame that so strong force as sixlee
ID hundred men should be driven off by or
d soldier caused him to hesitate until eigl
n teen shots had been fired by the rihema
at and seventeen men were killed ar
m wounded, when, to the great satisfactic
* Of all, man was seen to spring from Il
ne stubble, luck sho: having killed biu
be but this did not take place until mar
ST thousand bad been fired at him.
Here is an evidence Of the power
= the rife. The man had laid down ia
ne slight hollow, so small that il was n
pereeptible across the river, and The
n brought down seventeen men, while th
lay almost in perfect safety. lie near
routed little army"