The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1877-07-12

THE BOMBARDMENT OF RUST.
CHUK.
The City Rtddled with shells and I'm
Ruins-Men, Women and Children
Blown 70 Atoms I'm the Slseets-R4Or.
rOrs Of War.
A London dispatch to the New York
Herald Of the 9th gives the following
particulars of the bOmbartlment by the
Russians of the Turkish City of Rustchuk:
During Friday and Saturday the look
outs pos.ed on the roofs Of the MOSQUES
and on the ridges behind the town, over
which passes the main road to Shumla,
discovered and reported an unusual ac.iv-
ity on the part of the Russians at Giur.
gevo and its vicinity. Trains of small
wagons were observed to pass frequently
between the batteries on the river bank
and the town, and there were groupings
of men in the works that suggested prep
aratiOns of an extraordinary character.
Fears were entertained in Rustchuk that
the OminOus signs meant sudden crossing
of the river under cover of heavy fire
from the Russian batteries.
In view of this the Turkish Commander
ordered large bodies of troops that had
been previously encamped behind the
southern defenses of the town to move out
toward Maratin and along the Sistova
road, in order to cover the railroad line
and to guard against flank attack on the
westward supplies of artillery. Ammu-
milton from the not oterlarge magazines
behind Rustchuk we're sent to the batter
les, along the river front and to the fiel d.
works recently erected covering the rail
road. As far as possible every precaution
was taken to guard against surprise.
The sun had scarcely risen on Sunday
morning ere the anxious watchers at Rust
chuk discovered, through the river mists,
horsemen riding furiously back and forth
from Giurgevo. As these horsemen were
evidently carrying message between the
batteries and the town, the suspense among
the people in Rustchuk became painful;
for the belief was general that the day
would witness some important event.
Suddenly, from one If the Russian bat
teries flash was seen in the center of q
globe of grayish-white smoke, and shell
sped screaming over Rustchuk, to explode
on the slope of the hin crowned by Fort
Hanamdj. II was the signal for the bonn
bardment. Immediately after it seemed
as If every Russian gun was fired stimuli
taneously, for the earth fairly trembled
with the roar of the artillery, and the
shells flew over the doomed city with an
awful and indescribable sound Although
the ROumanian shore above, below, and
in front of Giurgevo was entirely OBJ
structcd Ivy 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
rupted regularity, although the Russian
works with d fatal precision. This ex-
at q range of not more than three thousand
yards. The guns on both sides being
heavy pieces, the fire was direct and the
trajectory of the missiles very fiat; con-
sequently every object hit in Rustchuk
was bent and torn by penetration or de.
mOlished by the explosion that followed.
The effects of the Turkish fire could only
he observed at intervals when the smoke
would clear little, but it is evident that
considerable damage was inflicted on the
Russian batteries.
| The terribly effective character of the
The gunners seem to have directed every
! shot at Rustchuk without regard to the
buildings liable to be injured. Shell aftcl
i cho11 nr1, thu ,Cofo M
the houses and burying themselves in the
floors, where they exploded, demolisLine
the walls. The mosques seemed to be Sc
lected as particular targets at times, fol
| two, three, and often more shells would
fall on and around them, tearing pinnacle
and dome with fearful effect.
Not even the hospitals were spared by
this awful rain Of shells. Several of these
buildings happened to be quite exposed
and although surmounted by flags indicat
ing their character, they were involved il
the storm, and their inmates in many
cases were killed in their beds. This ha!
caused the utmost indignation among thu
Turks and the authorities have requested
the foreign Consuls to testify to the occur
renee, so that the Porte may make a for
NAL protest against what it deems to b,
uncivilized warfare.
Although the flags of England and 9th
er European Powers we're displayed owe
their respective Consulates, the Russian
fire did no; spare the buildings. Tn
guns were aimed at Rustchuk, and every
thing, animate and inanimate, within it
limits. Shells have no neutrality, and d,
not discriminate between COnsulates
mosques and hospitals.
The unfortunate inhabitants of Rust
chuk suffered terribly during the BON
bardment. Hid away in deep recesses o
sheltered behind thick walls, the RUSSIA
shells found and DESTROYED them. As the,
darted through the streets toward places o
greater security, their bodies were shatteie,
to fragments by the explosion of these terri
BILE missiles. Women, flying from thei
burning or ruiEed homes, were killed q
they ran. Little children, clasped :!
the arms of their terrified parents, wer
struck dead by the fatal fragments. Tn
scene was one of unqualified horro
throughout.
The Russian fire continued during Mon
day, and with still more terrible effect
Such of the people as could muster VI
courage to- fly from their hooks of shelte
have hurried away to the interior. Tn
ruin of the town is SlmOst complete, bu
the Notifications are practically intact
and not much damaged.
Cavalry In Action.
ORIGINALLY horses were only used il
war for the purpose of bringing the Chief
fresh into action, and this was effected b,
| pf Oh 4, snl~ 81