The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-07-27
A DOOM ED CITY,
vivid Description Of the Hombardmeu
OF Husfchub Death in the streets
and Behind the batteries
Flight of the Terrified
inhabitants

Suddenly from one Of the Russian
batteries a flash was seen in the center
of a globe of grayish white smoke, and q
shell sped screaming over Rustchuk tC
explode on the slope OF the hill crowned
by Fort Hanamdji. 1t was the sigma.
for the bombardment. Immediately
! after, it seemed as if every Russian CUR
was fired simultaneously, for the earth
fairly trembled with The roar of the
artillery and the shells flew Owe the
doomed city with an awful and indie.
scribable sound.
Although the Roumanian shore above,
| below, and in front of Giurgevo was
| entirely obscured by the smoke from the
Russian guns, the Turkish batteries
promptly opened an answering fire, and
soon nothing could be seen on the river
banks but dense rolling volumes OF
smoke, through which, almost every two
seconds, flashes would dart like lightning
through storm clouds. Boom, boom, went
| the Turkish guns, with an uninterrupted
regularity, although the Russian shells
were falling in and around the works
with a fatal precision.
This extraordinary artillery duel was
maintained at a range of not more than
5000 yards. The guns on both sides
being heavy pieces, the fire was direct
and the trajectory of the missiles very
fat. Consequently every object hit IN
Rustchuk was rent and torn by pene-
tration or demolished by the explosion
that followed. The effects OF the Turk
ish fire could only be observed at inter
walls, when the smoke would clear
little; but it is evident that considerable
damage was inflicted on the Russian
b ttteries.
The terribly effective character of the
Russian fire can scarcely be described
The gunners seem to have directed every
shot at Rustchuk without regard to the
buildings liable to be injured. Shell aftel
shell came crashing through the roof
Of the houses and burying themselve'
in the floors, where they exploded, de
molishing the walls. The mosques
seemed to. be selected as particular tar
gets at times, for two, three, and offer
more shells would fall on and arounc
them, tearing pinnacle and dome will
fearful effect.
Not even the hospitals were spared by
this awful rain of shells. Several o
these buildings happened to be quite ex
posed, and, although surmounted by flag
indicating their character, they were III
volved ia the storm and their inmates in
many cases were killed in their beds
This has caused the utmost indignation
among the Turks, and the authorities
have requested the foreign consuls to
testify tothe occurrence, so that the porte
may make a formal protest against what
it deems to be uncivilized warfare.
Although the flags of England and
other European powers were displayed
over their respective c~onsulates, the Rus
sian fire did not spare these buildings.
The guns were aimed at Rustchuk and
everything animate and inanimate within
its limits. Shells havenO neutrality and
do not discriminate between consulates,
mosques and hospitals.
The unfortunate inhabitants of Rust.
chuk suffered terribly during the bonn
bardment. Hid away in deep recessesi
or sheltered behind thick walls, the Rus
sian shells found and destroyed them. Al
they darted through the streets TOWARD
places of greater security their bodies
were scattered in fragments by the ex'
plosion of these terrible missiles. We
men flying from their burning or ruined
homes were killed as they ran. Little
children, cla.ped in the arms of their ter,
rifed parents, were struck dead by the
fatal fragments. The scene was one OF
unqualified horror throughout.
Such of the people as could muster up
courage to fly from their hooks of shelter
have hurried away to the interior. The
ruin of the town is almost complete,
the Notifications are practically intact
and not much damaged RaStchuE Cor.
N. Y HeraR.