The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-20

bank on the other side is not less thousand
yards, but the width OF the navigabe channel or IN
other words, OF the proper. Is not more than
1 thousand yards average between kustchuA anu
Scopoiis The stream IL, however at many po'n,s ~
| IFS divided into two cuannes NY CHAIN
Of Islands which. extend rom kusichuk 70 slstava
These islands have always been objects o. oound"ry
disputes between the Turkish and Waachian govern
inents, and, as may DO imagined, they are no" moIo
than ever debalable ground. Covered Win mick
woods, they anord excellent concealucnt for maraud-
'ns parties who could make them base oil operations
against the opposite shore
Beneath our standpoint lay one OF tnesc ISLANDS
Kam,'Ain--whicL separates the river into two com
pMativcIy narrow cnanncis Down the stream, about
clear aud whIis into The sky, while IL tho opposite
direction the high banks oil The Turkish shore, follow
elevated position wo could look over tho islands up tie
river ansi SEQ clearly thc point OF land upon which was
placed the Russian battery which was causing 80 much
couinotiou. But everything was quiet, ana there
to be prospect OF any further lighting Push
ing TO the iurn o! The ridge. order 10 get ull
view OF the RIVER VIC came 10 sudden halt lmno-
datcy beneath US, between the island and the Shore
hay the urkisn monitor at ancnor, while m the ds-
could The oil her ron-clnd. the double iun
neled scodrs making tho best oi her way up the river
toward US.
THE SCENE or Acrios.
A. This moment the skrfnishcrs aud the 1anktnx
parry 0f the marching battsous which wc had passed
on the way swsrmcd over The hill above, beneath nLd
around us ana presently the vatiaiions themselves
came into sight, hated. stacked arms and lay down
behind the crest Of The ridge The Held officers aud
stan pushed forward anu commenced searching
scrutiny OF the islands which lay IN tho stream below.
We in the very midst OF The troops; our carriage
was Impossible. The nnjor ~ command OF one OF the
baalions rode forward ana asked our business here
not IN The miIdcst manner possible boI soft answer
turneth away wrath, and as We kept ut respectful
distance from the staff We did not receive tho expected
notice 10 quit We had evidently mt upon the very
spot appointed Tor a rendezvous between Tho land
force ana tho gnnboats, Tor presently We saw bout
put oil from tho monitor and alter short delay re-
turn again The GO Dandants and their staff still
ten,lvely examined the islands up the river op.
posi,c the Russian battery, aud took
10 Oftlc ~ nd fOrv rd IN
the top OF the ridge. learned from him that The
thorities had reason TO believe an attempt had boon
made by he Russians to sclzc one OF the isunrs aud
thai there might be some lighting presently. lie had
scarcely uttered the words before the long sllont bat
terry again opened ilre by THIS time the gunboat
Scodra had arrived, and the little iotila thus
forced Immediately got underway and steamed up
me liver ! returned 70 ~. casrssc' ana nay,"g
pcaoeiu nap tho cushions set oil along tho r0ad
determined 10 make Tor tho spot exactly opposite the
RUSSIAN battery ana SEQ Tor myself what was pound
ing away nj steadily Descending into the rayne In
wnlcn the village OF Pyrsos-a charming secluded
httic place enbosvnied perfect iUrest OF irott
trecs-we found ourselves, TO our surprise.
IN the middle Of another little army. Two bdttaIons
were advancing up The opposite side OF tho valley In
solid ormatioa, their bayonc.s gltterlng IN the sun
behind them long strings oil PACK orscs aud mules
were struggling down tho hiil, anu across. sho
led OF the ravine, intermngled with groups Of SOL
diers who, wcaricd by tho march and tho Intense
heat, bad iacn out and toilcd along in the rear,
Cd ordcrcs were ealopipg to and fro; TO The
right battery Of field artll,cry imDered up was
ran ged under the OF The nil HE whoie scsne
warllke, ana sent Ono's blood
noty through tho veins Wo could hear tDe hostile
battery bnzug away 1t intervals Oi five minutes, and
tue xhstinl shrek Of the smells WAS now distinctly
audible. Unable any longer TO bear the SUSPENSE I
lett carriage, and, passing behind The battalOns,
which were now lying down IN rear OF the artillery,
made straight for tho river Arriving hot and breath.
less at the crest OF the ridge tho sound al tho shells
becoming distinct nj every step, the mystery OF
the hiring wns az once solved Immediately below me,
close to Tho Shore lay another Turkish gunboat, holly
engaged with the Russian battery Sue was scauling
and iro between islands which alb ,ut thousand
yards apart and the battery was firing At hcr as she
passed
Finding myself alicctly IN the line Of lrc Il could
have thrown stone on to the deck OF tho Runboat,
lay dJwn and passed. an exceedingly uncomiort- |
abe quarter OF an nour The a'r-renaing shrek OF
sixty eight pound shell from nn Armstrong gun Is |
not u soothing sound, but WAS chaincd TO the spot by
tine fascination Of an intense curiosity. II 10 not |
every day that duel between river ba tory and an
clad can be Witnessed ~ such close quarters The
gunboat when nrst SAN her, was ut about the mI-
Die of the space between the TWO ISLANDS, Before
gaming the shelter OF the ono toward winch she was
stcaning she lot ny boh her guns ~ the battery
answered by well directed shot, Will Ii dashed
10 the just beyond her Behind tho island she
turned put full head OF steam aud boldly tho
gauntlet again. II LOOK hcr about nyo minutes 10
gam the shelter Of the other island The mJment she
came out the battery nrod at hrr; she steamed
across the opening two moro shells came
whistng over tho river, and Deoro she rcacned
safety fourth anu parting shot dashed up tho watr
to her stcrn The practice made ny the battery
at the gunboat was throughout splendid, considering
the range which must have been nearly 900 yards
The four shots winch red ieil all round The
clad none oil them more than twenty yards from her
Considering that she was slcaming iust could
and that she was but very short lime under rc the
Russian gunners are entitled TO no li,tlo praise for
their snariness an skill The gunooat having gained
the shelter OF the Island Joinca the hotla, and tho
vessels lay ogchor close under the steep bank Of he
river.
INEFFECTIVE FIRE.
A movement among the field artillery, which had
hitherto remained under cover oil the brow Of tue HILL
now attracted my attention, and ran along tho ridge
toward The battery. Two Of inc guns ADVANCED
wheeled into position and numbered II WAS curious
" see the minu'e caro- WIN which The guns were
laid. Every 0i the squad seemed 70
insist upon taking sight and I'm iliy after the aim
been taken TO the satisfaction Of the officer
mand. the guns were discharged. The limo WIS good
and true but splash In the rIver which sent shower
Of spray into the air, tod that the shell had fallen
shorI. Now there followed more caressnE and> COAX
ing The gun, shot leII close in Of
the battery, but STU IN tho river Tho range was evil
dcntIy great Tor on effective fire from tho twelve
FOUNDER Krupps, and, after lev more rounds the
gus Inn up aud retired hut opened again from
"a point a little higher up tue river The Russian Bat
terry only fred shot after the Held pieces into
aclion. fne shell came right over the island, produc
ing u roaring echo IN tho WOODS when was very
narkabe ana plunged in1o the water just N front of
tue loH Bcy ond this the Russians gave signs OF
life aurng the remainder oil the day and the Turkish
hcld battery alter anguid IRE also ceased. The bat
tic OF fyrgps was over.
THE EXPLANATION.
But the mystery OF tho sceno we had witnessed from
distance rom our observatory had yet TO DO a'homed
From Intelligent eye. witness OF the anir gathered
the following partcuiafs--Early IN tho morning SOW
cral Russian steam launches and boas crossed over
"
head OF the island with the Intention OF torpcd0cs
tue stream. They observed by lnc lew Turkish
troops who wore IN the ncighborhood, and a lvciy
bur harmless ire OF muskcry was directed upon tncln
from the bank OF tho river soon aiicrward Que OF the
Turkish gunboass moved up The stream IN order 10
check the operations Of hc tnrpcd, party, but sac had
barely arrived uIon the spot. wncn RON tne other
SIDE Of tue island onp gray vessel shot out and bore
down upon the ganboat at terrific rake NotniaI MS
visDc Vi the Grail except inpnsl anu sinai portion
OF deck. IL was 'IhOrnoycroft torpedo boat l.kc
Rash UIiie tnng She Isslcu up to tnc turkish gun
boat whicn ilpinculslciy bred Two guns ~ rapid
ssio nl be; assaient Passioy close under the stern
oi the guhi,ont The orpcdo ship pat ny her helm
aud ncw back across the rvcf She had missed
her mark; the torpedo hal been launched,
but something had sone wrong Under cover
OF heavy hrc itom the Russan battery The
boats and launches lhen rcgaincd The opposite shore
The mystcrvus obIrc, that rad hotel
tower was The Ihosncyctult, AMI HE bolts those
OF The torpedo layera. Qua OF ihis bold attempt On
the part oil tho Russjans to hem ia paraiyze Tho
1arkish notl!a VI kustcnus lad grown tho engage
nent which Witnessed later IN the day.
Although there io5n OF life IN either side the
ALTAR Important aud Interesting showing