Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-07
Grea. Results Determined by Small Event,

Great Results Determined by Small Events.
The historic page is filed with examples
showing the effect Of what men call accidents,
in giving character and direction to human
destiny. -..--..
During the eighty years war, which resulted
in the triumphant establishment of the Omitted
Netherlands" the city of Antwerp was be-
sieged by the SPaniards under the command
Of the celebrated Prince Of Parma. The pos
session Of that city was the turning peint in
the war as far as the southern provinces (now
Belgium) were concerned Parma had nearly
gained possession by constructing, at vast out
lay, bridge across the river Scheldt To
blow up that bridge was the aim of the
Protestant forces within the beleaguered city
Accordingly two fre-ships-loaded with ali
manner of combustibles and terrible explo-
sives-were foated down toward the bridge
during the darkness of the night.
As soon as the shell burners" as the Dutch
men styled them, blew the bridge to atoms, a
rocket was to be sent up, and the heavy armed
Dutch feet lying below were to force their way
through, and bring reliefand triumph into Ant
werp. Had that signal beer made the city
would have been delivered-the Spaniards
driven out Of the Low Countries-ffty years
Of bloody war would have been prevented
and probably all Belgium would have been to
this day q part Of Protestant Holland The
weary patriots on the wharves Of Antwerp
heard the tremendous explosion of the fire.
ships, and anxiously watched for the rising
Of the appointed rocket. But alas as NOT.
ley tells US in his brilliant narrative of
the scene" that rocket neueT rose ." And
after the lapse of,three centuries, ii is difficult
to restrain the bitter indignation which fol-
lows every mention of that stupid Dutch Ad.
miral whe failed to make the simple signal at
the critical moment.
The history Of the Crimean war furnishes a
kindred instance Of vast results all depending
on trivial incident. The night before the
battle Of Inkerman, the Russians steaItbiIv
moved out Of Sebastopol to take the allies by
surprise. The gates were open, and the Rus
slams were In most critical condition. Had
the allies discovered the movement in time,
they might have easily driven back the assaiI.
ants through the open gates and captured Se-
bsstopol in single night. An English sen.
tinel heard the rumble of the Russian cannon
wheels as they moved slowly, but mistook
them for market wagons bringing provisions
into the city. Accordingly he gave no alarm
Had that sentinel but opened his lips, months
OF bloody war would have been averted, and
thousands Of precious lives have been saved.
90 Provldsnce hinges mighty events on pivots
Had Columbus not seen the light in fisher
mans boat on certain night, his mutinous
crew might have forced him back to Spain. and
the great secret for which he came had beep
secret still for ages. Waterloo and the over
throw Of Napoleon all turned on the coming up
Of Blucher ut q given hour A little more
expedition on the part Of our loyal troops
would have carried them to Manassas on Sat
urdsy instead Of Sunday. Johnston's rein
foreements would have been too late. The
conflict tf Bulls Run might have had differ.
ent termination, and the history of the NEXT
ten years have read perhaps very differently.
But alas orr rocket did NOT go Hp.