The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-05-15

| WoI0 l0luu&s u0U O00Rc w 01OCu "
artillery not to know what this aston.
ishing meteor was-a shrapnel shell.
Perhaps there may DO some of my
readers ignorant of what such . missile
Is; for, indeed, it is of somewhat late
invention. Let them imagine, then, q
cylindrical shell of iron, ogival-headed,
and containing as many bullets - Il
will conveniently hold, comfortably eel
in bed OF rosin. At the bottom there.
of is q small charge Of powder, ignited
by q time-fuse bored to burn anv re-
quired time. On this delightful ma.
chine exploding out fly the bullets, and,
by the memorable laws of dynamics,
partaking Of the original motion of the
shell, cover the ground before them fol
hundreds of yards with q few Genfer,
as OF whole regiment firing volleys.
Such an implement of destruction il
very well TO talk about; but when it,
violence 10 directed against oneself,
there is less pleasure in the contempla-
ton. Clearly had slept 40 long that
the ordinary afternoon practice had
begun, and from two guns evidently,
or the one shot could not have followed
the other 30 rapidly. Only q few Sec
onds had l for these thong hts ere I saw
q red flash leap out from the flag
crowned battery on shore. Instantly l
dived as deep as 1 could, and heard,
deadened by the water above me, the
sharp report of the shell. As Irose to
the surface again, saw white. splinters
on the woodwork Of the target, that
showed how true the aim had been.
Scarcely had I time to take breath
when the red flash leaped again, and
again I dived. They were good gun
observation-disclosures better anywhere;
and the guns were light ones-sixteen-
Founders. Often had competed my
self in race with time, running the
gun up again almost before the recoil
had ceased, and ramming home shot
and cartridge ere it had reached its
former position again. Now no doubt
my comrades were hard at work. won
dering, perhaps, what had become of
me.
Eight separate times had 1 dived,
and my strength was failing fast. Even
now there was ringing noise in my
head which almost stupefied me, and
was growing more painful every in
slant. If l stood up on the framework
and tried to signal to the shore, must
stand at least one shot. and that was
almost certain death.
Even in that desperate moment an
absurd idea came into my head, as such
things will come sometimes. I had read
somewhere of an ingenious recipe for
finding safe place on shipboard in &C
ton by putting ones head out at hole
where shot had come in, relying on
the improbability of another entering
at the same orifice. There was one
corner of the framework splintered by
several bullets; to it crept, and held
on despairingly.
Another fash from the battery. This
time could see the shell coming like
black speck in the sky. Anxiously l
watched for the burst to come; but this
time it came not, and the shell plunged
into the sea fifty yards short, throwing
up a mighty pillar of water, and RI
cochetting away far over my head.
Was the fuse blind? asked myself.
No; there was another flash and an
other rush through the air, and sullen
plunge in the sea beyond the target.
they were firing plugged she'll.
Now or never was my time. I
climbed onto the woodwork, sprang to
my feet, and waved my hands. From
the shore l must have looked very like
a picture of Andromeda chained to her
rock. l was too late, however, to es-
cape q shot. Once more the red flash
spouted forth, and heard the ominous
rush coming nearer and nearer, till
with roar as Of an express train it
rushed past my head, carrying away
with it the left-hand top corner of the
target, and hurting it far into the sea
beyond. The conclusion seemed to
tear my feet from under me, and fell,
striking my head against the frame
work. l had just sense enough left to
prevent myself rolling into the sea.
My last glance at the shore showed the
flag hoisted half-mast high; and then
must have tainted away, for remem-
Der no more till I found myself lying in
my bed, with the Surgeon-Major APP
plying strong ammonia to my ncstrils
with marvellous effect. l have little
more to tell. Watching the effect of
the shot from the battery, they had
seen me standing there, just too late to
stop the gun being fired; had ceased
the practice, and got boat out with
out delay, though with very faint
hope of finding me alive. Of course
the story was made q standing joke
against me ever after, and must own
that I deserved it. Nevertheless, l
have at least the satisfaction of consid-
ering that when we 60 forth again to
tight the Russians or the Germans, or
whatever other Nation may elect to try
with us game of war ON q large scale,
am never likely to be much nearer
The straight and dreadful pass of death"
than I was that day ON the sands of
Shoeburyness.-London Society.