Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-05-26
HOBART PAsHA'S EXPLOIT.
Running the Gantlet of the Russian
Batteries at GalatZ.


The London Telegraph's corrres-
pondent at Constantinople sent the
following dispatch, dated on the
night of April 30:
ttThe account of Hobart Pasha's
defiance of the Russians on the DAN
ube makes a thrilling story. 1t is
stated that while his vessel was ly-
ing near Rutschuck the Turkish au-
thorities received intelligence ofthe
arrival of the Russians at Galatz,
and that they were placing t0rpe-
does in the river. Hobart Pasha
was advised to leave his steamer in
the Danube and return to C COnstanti-
nople via Verna, but disdaining all
such counsel, he declared that he
would rather blow up his ship than
desert her. Night approaching, he
made everything ready for running
into the Black Sea in opposition to
all Russian hostile intentions, get
ting clear fires under the boilers of
his craft, in order to avoid smoke
from her funnel, and making other
arrangements. The RethymO, be it
said, is very fast boat, capable of
steaming at the rate of fifteen knots
an hour. When Hobart PaSha
started on his daring expedition the
Danube current was running swift
ly, being estimated at fully five
knots an hour. Upon nearing Ga
latz he found that heavily armed
Russian batteries commanded the
river, looking capable of sinking
anything afloat, besides the torpe-
does reported to be hidden beneath
the water.
Immediately it was dark the
word was passed lights OUT and the
steamer sped rapidly along. The
batteries were soon reached, and the
Russian lanterns, the heavy guns,
and soldiers in great numbers, were
clearly visible to those who managed
the saucy RethymO, when suddenly
a rocket was sent up from the Rou-
manian shore to apprise the Mus
covite gunners of Hobart Pasha's
coming. Other rockets followed in
quick succession, then the hOarse
word Of command was distinctly
heard, bugles sounded, and the
drums beat merrily, SummOning the
Russians to their posts. Hobart /
PaSha expected every moment to be
blown out of the water by the fire
of the heavy guns he was treating
so cavalierly, but being determined
to make efforts in some degree pro-
portionate to the great risks he was
facing, he ran his vessel close in |
shore, not forty metres from the
batteries themselves, indeed so near
that the Russian gunners were una
able to compress their pieces suffici-
entity fast to get a good aim. His
boat went quickly by at twenty
knots an hour, and soon all danger
was over. When satisfied he had |
to fear from his enemies, |
Hobart Pasha ordered the crew of the |
RethymO, which carries one forty
FOUNDER Armstrong gun, to throw
one shell into the center of the Rus
sian camp, an order which was
quickly Obeyed-the missile burst |
ing in the midst of the Muscovite
tents. Its effects were of course
but it was the first cam
non shot fired upon the Danube in
r RusSiO-Turkish war. Hobart Pasha |
proceeded to COnstan- |
tinople, where hereceived a hearty |
wecome, and enthusiastic congratu-
tiOnS.
"The MuScOVites fired shell and |
shot in considerable quantities, but |
the daring of Hobart Pasha carried
him into the Black Sea, past all
dangers, with flying colOrs." )"