Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-05-31
THE D1NUBE RIVER.

beginning 10 become more active as
he forces of the belligerents become
concentrated. The main body of she
Russian army is massed north of
Galaz, and all the positions on the
Danube northward OF Hirsova may be
said TO be commanded or occupied by
Russian troops. The Turkish army
Is now n occupation of the right or
south bank of the river between Sis.
tova and 1irsova, with strong garri-
| aons at Widdin and Schmula. the lat
ter being the base of operations for
the d"fense OF Bul garia. Already the
Turks are beginning TO feel the effects
of the closing of the Danube at Ibrail
10y the Russian batteries and tarpe,
does, and frequent attacks may be
expected by the Turkish monitors on
this position. AS a cover and guard
for bridges at Galatz and other points
nearer the mouth the position at lbraiI
Is OF the highest value. Ibraii, or
lbrailoff, as II is sometimes called, is
on the LEFT bank of the Danube, end
the height on which it staads slopes
gradually toward the rivers and COM
mand its course. 1t was originally
fortified by a simple square inclosure,
with towers at the angles, but this
enceinte has been augmented hy n
FASHIONED pentagon and Il ditch about
eighteen feet deep. The Scarps and
countcrscarps of the works are riv-
eted, and there is a c;stellated citadel.
with glacis within the western flank
| # tn Il
Since the Russian occupation addi-
tional works has been erected, which,
being armed with heavy krupp rifed
| guns, hold the river against the iron
clad gun boats of the Turks. Above
lbraii the river is divided into q greal
many channels, with low, marshy
islands between, but opposite the
place there is ohly one, SO that it
virtually represents the key of the
river. The Danube to which so much
of historic and legendary interest
already attaches, will unquestionably
be the theatre of many of the most
desperate engagements between the
coEten,ling armies. The pending
conflict will afford the future historian
many incidents OF noble daring and
determined resistance. occurring on
this classic stream, with which to
illustrate his works, ant! the noble
stream will figure still more conspIcu
ouslv in story and in song. The
Danube is loudly river. 1t does
not drip from the edges of the gla-
ciers, like the Rune. the Rhone aud
Po, but rusheS at once to life, lnsty
stream in the garden of q prince -
Nor does The flood, in its waxing
course, sully the nobility of its birth.
One rare and one language alone can
not measure its extent; but from its
cradle in the Black Forest; until ii
mingcs with the Euxine, it draws its
waters from Sunbia, Bavaria and
Fraconia-from the meadow of the
Engaddin in the Upper Alps-from
the hills of a Bohemia-from Tyrol
and lllyria-frnm Hungary and Serv-
id-and from the lands of the Turk
and the Mnscovite. Its youth IS
crystal, clear, rapid. and bears the
armor of the Northern fir--its old age
stagnates in the lazy languor Of the
Orient. 1t is like one of those vi
kings of the 9Th century. who went
with frost and fire of Iceland to wal
low in the luxury of the Byzantine
court. 1t hears the hymns of Luther
sung in the places where Luther dwelt,
and it hears the muezzine call from
his minaret the name Of mahomet.
But its historical interest! What
grander associations than Attila and
his huns, or the Dacians before them
And is not Belgrade stirring name.
and John SoEeski's victory before
the walls OF Vienna something to
remember? Co;Rn de Lions prison
looked on the river; and it's waves
are still lighted with the spleudor oil
the Niche lungen Lay. What has
the Rhine to surpaSs these? 1t has
tnuch to be sure; a tower on every
headland and legend to- every towe.
1t sings a leeene. throughout the
length of its high lands-a powerful
melody like that cf the LcreIv, but
20 grander strain. The Rhine is
legendary, the Danube is epic. Its
associations have a broad apd males
: tic character, they are connected
with historical movements of more
remote and obscure periods. The
stream itself as it flows witt ful
current, now plunging into mountain
defiles where there seems no hope o
outlet, has something vague anC
undefinable in It's expression. The
ruins which crowd its hanks are grin
and silent; they have lost their his
tories and refuse to give them up =
The wild woods OF the Middle age.
still keep possession Of the valley,
that come down from the mysteriou:
Behmer IIaid, and as you look upo,
their silent depths, home Of the stas
and wild boar, you think of the weIir
+ wolves with light shlver in you
j. blood.