The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-08-10
A DOOMED CITY.

A DOOMED CITY.
Vivid Description Of the Ronsbardmen NJ
OF observation-disclosures in she Ssreets
. aud BehiMsl the Batteries
Flight OF the Terrified
Inhabitants.
lRutschuck Cor. N. Y. Herald.
Suddenly from one Of the Russian hat
globe of grayish white smoke, and :,
shell sped screaming over Rutschuck
to explode on the slope 6f the hill
crowded by Fort Hana,mdji. 1t was
the signal for the bomhardment. I'M
nnetliately after, it seemed as il every
Russian gun was fired simultaneously,
for the earth fairly trenbletl with the
roar OF the artillery and the shells flew
over the doomed city with AN awful
aud indescribable sound. ,.t1. .,5
Although the .Roumanian shore
above, below and in front of GiurgevO
was intirely obsecnred by the smoke
from the Russian guns, the Turkish
batteries promptly opened an answer
ing fire, aud soon nothing could hts
seen on the river bank hut the 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 unin-
terupted regularity, although the
Russians shells were falling in aud
around the works with fatal preci,-
ion.
This extraordinary artillery duel
was maintained at 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 flat. Consequently every object
hit in Rntschuck was bent and torn
by penetration or demolished by OK j!
plosiop that followed. The effects OF
the Turkish fire could only be observed
at intervals, when the smoke would
clear a little but it is evident that COM
siderable damage was inflicted on the
Russian batteries. - s.j.s .-.-t 20
The terribly affected character Of the
Russian fire can scarcely be described. !
The gunners seem to have directed
every shot at Rntschnk without regard
to the buildings liable to be. injured.
Shell after shell came crushing
through the roofs Of the houses and
burying themselves in the floors, where
they exploded, denaolishing the walls.
The mosques seemed to be selected as
particular targets at times, for: two,
three, aud often more shells would fall
on aud around them tearing pinnacles
and dome with terrible effect.
Not even the hospitals We're spared
by this awful rain ot shells. Several OF
these buildings happened to be quite
exposed, and, although surMQunted by
flags indicating their character, they
were ia volvel in 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 to the occurrence, so
that the Porte may make n formal pro-
test against what it deems to be unciv-
ilized warfare, s.... .at ,4s. ....s. .H..
Although the flags OF England and
other European powers were displayed
over their respective consulates, the
Russian fire did not spare these build
ings. The guns were aimed at Ruts-
chuk and everything animate and in
animate within it's limits. Shells have
no neutrality aud do not discriminate
between cOl,snlates, mosques and hos
pitfalls. '' " ''-.
The unfortunate inhabitants Of Rust
chuck suffered terribly during the bonn
bardInent. Hid away in deep recessess,
or sheltered behind thick walls, the
Russian shells found and destroyed
them. AS they darted through the
streets toward places of grenter security
their bodies were scattered In fragments
by the explosion of these terrible mis-
silcs. Women flying from their burn
ing or ruined homes were killed AZ they
ran. Little children ,clasped In the arms
of their terrified parents, were struck
dead by the fatal fragments. The
scene was one of unqualified horror
throughout. Fis' 4nt tf' 't''I
Such Of the people as could muster
up courage to fly from their hooks Of
shelter have hurried away to the in
terror. The ruin Of the town is almost
complete, the fortifiations are Practi-
calIy intact and not much damaged.