The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-20
Regarding the Theory Of a Bap-
tism of Fire.
Night Alarms and a Noctur-
nal Visitor.
ATTACK On TIE "THoRNEYcRoFT.'
Details Of the Battle at
Pvrgos.
Rusrcncx, Juno n, is1

kUsrcHux, Juno II, ieT7.
Amer six weeks Of waiting and watching we are now
notusly becoming familiar with the sound Of heavy
guns spd accustomed 10 tho rnttle Of muskctry. in
the morning our revsiis Is tho booming OF a
Knapp, and at night. before our lights are out are
generally treated 10 msiiade, with n shot
from OF the town batteries. Night before last. at
about O'Clock the report OF rifle followed by
another, md then by regular volcy, nil rush
ing into the and garden ut the back OF the
hotel The night calm and clear, and the moon,
shining brightly high in the heavens cast over the
Immense oxpansc OF water which stretches southwark
from Rustchnk almost ~ lar tho eye can reach a
long path OF light Immediately opposite lay
Tho waachian Shore dark and low There not
asing,e light In the village OF sloboss, and Giargevo
was buried gloom; the woods which surround the
,wo pieces lay in black masses the shore. All
calm, silent ana mysterious, when tho crack vi the
sentry rife broke upon the stiffness OF the night
long, dark object could be IN tho river, moving
silently and swiftly down the stream toward the town.
What tY II aud nearer, steadily
holding Its course amid shower OF rifle balls which
tore and dashed The secthing foam all round
IT, The rattle oil the mnskctry and the quick short
'sspat' of the balls the water echoed back by
the opposite shore extraordinary manner SO dis
sinct and loud that II was dnlco TO believe body of
rifcmen was replying TO from the river,
rious object held IFS course, unmoycd- apparently
injured This getting serious suddenly the truth
flashed upon us--It was n 'srhorncycroit' torpedo
boat which had silently put OF from the opposite
shore, and thus seeking by night IFS legitimate
prey, the little iron-clad Scodra.
oPr.iSa FIRE.
The guns OF the shore batteries In the town
began to play upon the floating object and the
kctry swellcd into perfect Then gradually the
din subsidized; torpedo bout II such as dis
appeared the darkness Whether II had been struck
nnd sunk, or had gone on lis way rejoicing,
knew; but next morning tho story was current that
the object which had much exercised tho scntres
and night rickets OF Rusichuk nothing or
less then-a lcg But read by the light Of tho
of today which will proceed relate tho affair
Of last night has special significance
There wps nothing extraordinary in being reused
from SAUNDERS by the Of artillery but this
morning the roar little louder and fercer than
usual and when ran out 10 the window Of the hotel
overlooking the river further surprised 10 see
that the shot which had been fred from Russian
gun. Far up The river the extremity of point
OF land, immense cloud Of smoke hung over tho
wntcr, and before u had cleared away brigh. fash
and another dense mnss OF white smoke
told OF n second shot. Forty seconds after-
ward the boom OF this shot reached my
lery. Hitherto the Russian guns which have from
Nme to time iccblY answered the cannonadina from
Hustchuk had inspired with mirihdl contempt but
now experienced new sensation. There within
sight and hearing, evidently l,ussian battery
heavily armed, taxing the Initiative and certainly BON
barong side OF the river although could not sec
what IL was firing at
WATCHING THE BonBARpNExT.
On the roof OF Tho Isab Hpnc Hotel there is sort OF
bcliry which has done duty as On observatory for
special correspondents. BY ascending narrow stair
and crawling between the roof aud the ceiling OF
sbc rooms below We find ourselves high up over the
town, commanding splendid view OF tho rive ON
either side Tor great distance. To this watch tower
OF bctoog ourselves and turned our
glasses eagerly in tho direction OF tho battery which
appeared TO be Mt least eight miles distant Flash after
fash, cloud after cloud burst forth from tho point and
still we could not make out what was going o. The
bluffs overhaneing tho river and the espIapade OF tho
town we're crowded with people, AMI the high battery
Gnd other side carthworks wore filed With sol
ders under arms
Presently these of who had never taken our ewes
OIL the reach OF tho over which the Russian guns
were bring distinguished black OBJECT leaving the
point on tho waiuchan shore and moving across the
river with extraordinary rapidty. Disappearing for
moment behind an island, the strange craft was seen
from, but its return 10 accompanied by another
vessel. Our irrt Impression was that n Turkish IRON
cad had gone engaged the batery and IN,
returned TO fetch tho ohor gunboa. nssst her in
femoisiIng IL We soon founa That this could not be
the the rob-cod was steamng slowly
out IRON her moorings near the town battery TO
us. She accompanied by another gunboat and
both went oil ny the river IN the direction OF the Rus
sian battery. which, strange 10 say, now tiient
Tho monitors operations were singular. Before she
had arrived han way TO the enemy sho stopped fred
four rounds ana then on, between an
island and tho Turkish shore, until we
lost sight OF her There was something 80
mysterious about whole business shat nothing
short OF personal investigation could satisfy the in
tense curiosity and interest which ere aroused by it
SO hurried down from tho wGtchtower, Jumped INTO
carrsgs which happened 20 be standing pcur BY and
told tho araba driver, drive az IL Shcitan wag
after BIN In inc direction OF ryrgos Contrary TO my
expectation was not stopped at tho eatc the town
Once outside tho walls we ashcd the horses into a
galop, and IN twinkling arrived at the base OF tho
hill tIevcpt Tepc), upon which stands of the
largest and most powerful OF the outlying dc'cnccs
Of Rustcluk. The slopes OF this hill covered with
hc white tents Of tho soldiers WIN arc enc,mpcd
around tho Tort, almost always alive with rpYps
engaged IN driN and exercise, but II once evil
dent that something more than a mere Held day or
morning parade was going on to-day Three battaons
OF spiend,d infantry were marching cut OF the camp
IN the direction OF the village Of I'yryos every man
completely equipped, with overccai, worn rruss.nn
fashion, over the right shoulder IN neat roll and
bavcrsack slang at tho Loft side Echind the bat.
tshons came The ammunition. rasgago and provision
trains ana battery OF Krupp guns IN ;ine work
nnriiko coauiior
streaming over the hils wcil In advance OF the ,a
taisone. douhic Tue 81 ss rmisbcrs nanrpyrcd sa
Enough NJ any moment they might come within
touch OF the enemy while IT the rct " the heights
strong nnnking purity marvhcd close he river prr.
nl'ci 10 TIE hnr oi march vf tbc main rody
fxN Il,pt
she line 81 skirmlshers, pissed on tho len the
charming htIe Bulgarian village Of Dciab "Nestlcd
tn cupiikc hollow oi the down." the Lorn now
ing with winding course through the dcop valloy
in which u Iies. Here LETT the main ROAD aud took
byway leading aioDg the cf INC heights parallel
with tbe river.
A PRIVATE EN'Ossois-ANcE
Before arriving nj Pyrgos inado a recounoisnuce
on our own account, ana, leaving the carriage IN the
road. walked BROW the ridge down toward
the river The view from The OF tho hill was
magnificent Below IA ami r'gm md issi, Gvgpd