The New York herald., 1877-09-14


.mixed carriage" which happened to DO at the
station.
RUsTcHuK AFTER THE BoMBARpMENT--A WALK
PEDo.
RusIcHuK, July 13, 1877.
When was last at Rustchuk, toward the end OF
June, the Russian siege train stn battering tho
unfortunate town daily, and the Inhabitants
pouring out In thousands, either 10 encamp in the
neighborng vineyards or to put still greater distance
between themselves and the Krupp shells. Every
evening, as regularly clocKwork, Russian gunners
when the sun went down behind their backs opened
nre all along the line Of batteries and every morning,
just as regularly, while tho sun as yet was be-
hind theirs the Turkish artillorymcn omitted
fire. Since the time-ths memorable Sunday-when
the Russians took the town by surprise and began
hur death and destructo upon IT, never once 10 my
knowledge did the Turkish batteries take the initia
tive. But now all different the batteries on both
sides werc silent For days the great guns had re-
maned pointed threateningly at the hostile quarter
but mute ana UNNAMED Over tho big gray Krupp,
which had paid such marked attention to Giurgevo,
stood solitary sentry and the ruined street, through
which, = few weeks ago, had seen terrned crowd
rushing panic stricken the outlets OF the town. were
peoped with inhabitants TO whom the cessa-
ton OF the bombardmen had gwen renewed confidence
and hope.
DgsoLAroy.
made once more the tour OF the bombarded quar-.
ter The English French aud Austrian cons ulates had
not been struck again, but remained In the already
ruined and uninhabitabe condition which they had
been reduced at the commencement OF the lombard
ment The Kavass OF the British Consulate had sw opt
the fragments Of the tour shells which
had entered tho building into a neat heap
on tho floor of tho ONCE; in the
neghborng Consulate Of France the great une oded
eight inch shell renamed embedded the inside Of
the front wall tho window OF the Austrian Con.
suste ssill hung away and threatening fall into the
street; aud. Tor all know, tho silver Ash was still
swimming about merrIly in his uncracxcd globo of
muddy water, with hole ia the wall three inches dis
tant, big enough to pass himself and his habitaion
bodily through into the next room! noticed, how
ever that shell had struck the iron railing OF river
side building belonging to the Russian Consulate and
bursting inside, had pitted the whole front of tho
building with deep holes, in many Of which the iron
fragment remained embedded But II was in the
Konak square that tho additional ruin and devastation
wrought by the latter days OF the cannonade were
apparent Even the ruins Of the Pacha's palace
had pcrshed and tnero remained only the lowor por.
Of the walls and the shattered steps which once
led into the entrance hall.
SWEET REVENGE.
the broken heap OF rubbish which marked the site OF
the room from which had SO often been politely
bowed out with tho assurance that "Hls Exceilency
the Vail asleep his divan and could not DO dis
turbed, or that "His Excecncy's rheumatism really
prevented his seeing any one that morning." A iow
nicely calculated flights Of six inch shells had driven
HIS Excellency from his divan and the rheumatism
from His Excelencyl Tho side of the square adjon
ing that occupied by the Konak was also OF
tering ruins and the mosque at the burned and
shattered heap Of masonry. Its tile covered dome
was an irregular jagged pyramid and the top OF tho
minarct had been taken off as ccany as ono can cut
u candle with a knife searched In vain among the
ruins for tho sharp pointed apex Of metal which gives
the minaret Of Turk sh mosque tho appearance OF
candle with the extingulshcr iefG upon II.
GOOD SHOOTING.
One hoars often Of some "crack'' pistol shot who
can snun his candle at twelve PAGES, but here was
candle from which artilicryman had knocked the
extinguislsr at 900 yards with sixty -four pound
shell! | never Rustchuk from tho Wallachian
side OF the rver but should that that distance
the minares OF the town must look ko slender white
threads, and IL the m9n who fred that shot really
trained his gun upon the minaret which seems ex-
ceedingly probable (what gunner could resist min
are, or fagstaGy he ought to get u mark sman' IS
badge. The whole block OF buildings adjoining tho
u
melancholy front Oi ruined wall and staring ramoless
WINDOWS. Over the door OF the Orphan Asylum which
tion In Bulgarian, Greek and Turkish setting torth
the object and use OF tho house, but the door
into emptiness and desoiaton. On the opposite side
OF the the charrcd remains OF the printing
Office and pharmacy. hot and smoking still.
IN THK TURKISH QUARTER
Continuing my walk through the Turkish quarter Of
the town noticed many preached wall and shat
tered root which had been SOUND and whole when
last passed by and returning BY tho river trout be.
o IA
ri vor LON, saw many evidences Of the heavy lro
which tue Russians had directed upon them Tue
houses III the nelghborhood rddled and those
the rear OF the batteries Knocked to pieces. In the
dcn by the side OF tho road lay unexploded She'll
water every one tnat passed gave u wide berth.
THE CAPTURED TORPEDO.
Arrived at tho Naval Arsenal, which rs situated
the shore of the river south Of the town, was en-
aUled, through the courtesy OF the British. American
Consul, whom had met during my stroll through the
town. TO accompany HIM inside the gates for the
pose OF seeing the torpedo found in the hsned
out ny the Circassans. The officer who accom- panied
us pointed out several places where the Russian smells
bad fallen during the bombardmont; or, OF course
tho Naval Arsenal camc IN tor good share OF atten
toa; but apparently, no damage OF any consequence
had been inflicted other on tho buildings or the
stores Passing between piles or old round shot and
obsolete cannon which probably finished their career
IN the war at the beginning OF this century, we
rived at the spot whore the internal machine iayin n
ali by itseiL The torpedo Of tho ordinary
electricity from tho shore The fra gments OF the
wires siill remained dangling IRON beneath From
half and upon the base was painted in rod letters
"No. IjJ."
OBITUARY POETRY
This torpedo, whose career early nipped in the
bud, was pulled out OF the river near Pyrgos, about
ten miles above Rustchuk by come daredevil Crcas-
SLAMS, who had The wires which connected IL with
tho Wallachian shore. They wore well rewarded for
their service. No doubt this torpedo Of sew
era wnch had been laid down to cut of the Turkish
gunboats lying AZ kustchuk from Sisiova and such "A
wholesome terror had the commanders OF The gun
boats OF these submarine macnincs that the TURKISH
foa on the Danube, which, In tho hands OF resoluie
men, might have rendered Invaluable service The
fence oi the river was, from first To last parayzed aud
ceased 10 exercise any iuuenc upon the ques the
passage And here before us lay one OF tue dreaded
engines whch had so much contributed TO the success
ful accomplishment OF one OF these great military
operations Harmless enough now, We could take all
sorts OF liberties with tho monster although TO light
match upon him. rs the Consul did, perhaps going
too lar, nor should care while those wires remain to
SIT on tnat torpedo during thunder storm. IL would
not surprise me 70 hear hno day that certain OF
the buildings and some OF the officers OF tho Imperial
Naval Arsenal at Rustchuk are missing.