The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1877-07-05
TIE ROARING FIGHT AT RUTscHUoK.
MEs, WOMEN AND CHILDREN BLOWN TO AToxs
IN THE STREETS.
The City in Ruins, but the Fortifcations Still
Intact.


The City in Ruins, but the Fortifcations Still
Intact.
The Chicago later Ocean is the only
paper in America, besides the New
York Heral9 that receives daily dis
patches by cable of the progress of the
European war. Its correspondent,
Bismarck, gives the following graphic
description of the bombardment of
the city of Rutschuck by the Russian
batteries at or near Gurgevo on the
Roumanian side of the Danube, OH the
Goth of June. Rutschuck is on the
south side of the Danube and Giurge-
70, the town where the Russian bat
tallions were planted. The account is
really exciting:
The bombardment OF Rutschuck has
caused intense excitement among the
Turkish troops at Schumla, and they
display a remarkable eagerness to meet
the Russians at the bayonot's point.
During Friday and Saturday the look
outs posted on the roofs of the mosques
and on the ridges behind the town,
over which passes the main road to
Schumla, discovered aad reported an
unusual activity on the part of the
Russians at Giurgevo and its vicinity.
Trains of small wagons were observed
to pass frequently between the batter
les on the river bank and the town,
and there were groupings of men in
the works that suggested preparations
of an extraordinary character. Fears
were entertained i'll Rutschuck that
the ominous signs meant sudden
crossing of the river under cover of q
heavy fire from the Russian batteries.
In view ef this the Turkish command
er ordered large bodies of troops that
had been preyiousla encamped behind
the southern defcnses of rhe town, to
move out toward Martin and along
the Sistova road, in order TO cover the
railroad line and to gbard against a
flank attack on the westward. Sup
plies os artillery ammunition from the
not over-large magazines behind Ruts-
chuck were sent to the batteries along
the river front and to the feld-works
recently erected to cover the railroad
as far as possible, Every precaution
was taken to guard against surprise.
During Saturday evening and night
profound silence reigned over the
scene. The great, muddy Danbue
rolled sullenly on between the bellig-
erents, and scarcely reflected q light
on either shore. Groups OF citizens
and soldiers gathered in the streets,
aud in scarcely audible tones discuss
ed the probable battle of the morrow.
Many of the more timid inhabitants
fled during the day to the high ground
behind the city, but az night approach
ed they began to struggle back to their
deserted homes, hoping that the hour
of danger would pass in the darkness
of the night. The sun had scarcely
risen on Sunday morning ere the anx-
ious watchers discerned through the
river mists horsemen riding furiously
back and forth from Giurgeyo, as these
horSemen were evidently carrying
messages between the batteries and |
the town. The suspense of the pco-
pie in Rutschuck became painful, for
the belief was general that the day
would witness some important event |
of the war. Suddenly from one of |
the Russian batteries a flash was seen |
i'll the center of a globe of grayish- |
white smoke, and she'll sped scream
ing over Rustchuk to explode OH the !
slope of the hill crowned by Fort Ha-
namdjt. 1t was the signal for the
Commandments Immediately after, it |
seemed as if every Russian gun was
fired simultaneously, tor the earth fair
ly trembled with the roar of the artll-
lery, and the shells flew over the
doomed city with an awful and indie
scribable sound. Although the Rou-
manian shore above, below, and in
front of Giurgevo was entirely OBJ
;cured 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
.,ro seconds, flashes would dart Ike
ighning through the storm cloud.
Boom, boom went the Turkish guns
With an uninterrupted regularity, al
hough the Russian shells were falling
Il and around the works with fatal (
precision. This extraordinary artii-
cry duel was maintained at distance
If not more than 5000 yards. The I
runs on both sides being heavy pieces, !
he fire was direct, and the trajectory {
If the missiles very fiat. consequently
very object hit in Rustchuk was rent s
nd torn by penetration or demolished
" the explosion that followed. The j
fleets of the Turkish fire could only |
'e observed at intervals, when the i
m0ke would clear little, but it is ev- t
ent that considerable damage was
Inflicted on the Russian batteries. The t
erribly effective character of the i
russian fire can scarcely be described L
he gunners seem to have directed ev- t
nv shot at Rustchuk without regard I
0 the buildings liable to be injured. a
hell after shell came crushing the r
oofs of the houses and burying them t
elves in the floors, where many ex 4
loded, demolishing the walls. The S
losques seemed to be selected as par a
cular targets at times, for two, three I
nd often more shells would fall on
nd around them, tearing pinnacle and
ONE with fearful effect. Not even
le hospitable are spared by this aw-
II rain of shells. Several of these IL
happened to be quite ex- C
osed, and, although surmounted by g
ags indicating their character, they
ere involved in the storm and their
lmates in many cases were killed in
leir beds. This has caused the ut
lost indignation among the Turks,
I'd the authorities have requested the
'reign consuls to testify to the occur
,nce SO that the Porte may make a
rmal protest against what it deems
ncivilized warfare.
Although the flags of England and s.
her European powers were displayed
7er their respective consulates, the
ussian fire did not spare these build
gs. The guns were aimed at Rust
lux, and everything animate and in
innate within its limits. Shells have
, neutrality. do not discriminate be-
yeen consulates, mosques and hospit-
5. The unfortunate inhabitants of
ustchuk suffered terribly during the n,
Hid away in deep re-
sses or sheltered behind thick walls, rs
as they darted through the streets
ward places of greater security, the
Issian shells found and destroyed OF
en-. Their bodies were scattered in &C
lgments by the explosion of these
rrible missiles. Women flying from
Irning or ruined homes were killed
they ran. Little children, clasped .
the arms of their terrified parents, Z.
arn ctruci- danl NV tho fatal fraO. | O.