The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1886-04-23
BLOWING UP a TURKISH MONITOR.
An Account of the Affair from the Lips of
One of the Russian Omcers.

An Account of the Affair from the Lips Of
One of the Russian OfRcers.
The following account OF the affair was
written by contributor TO The Figaro
who heard it from the lips of one of the
Russian officers ordered to perform the
service:
My new acquaintance seemed suddenly
to have fallen into reflective mood, a
mood I attributed to too much cham
pagne.
"And do these torpedoes interest you
very much" he inquired, after short 81
lence
"They are O mysterious and terrible
weapon, and must interest everybody who
knows anything of naval affairs" said I.
@Well, / can tell you more about them
than anybody else." And without waiting
for my answer he continued: "You have
heard of the use that was made of tor
.pedoes during the Tnrco- Russian war? I
was the officer who blew mp the Turkish
monitor, . at the same time fixing dis deep
blue eyes upon me, us if to read my
thought at this confession.
tThe Turkish monitors were anchored
in the bend of the Danube early in May
Our feet had been stationed below to
watch it. We We're hidden from each
other, but on the 25th it was discovered
that the Hisezi Rahman was getting up
steam preparatory to leaving her position,
after which we kept a more careful watch
upon her. Maneuvering> was difficult
there, with sandbanks on every side, and
we were afraid of being taken by surprise.
We expected an attack from the Turks,
they being in much stronger force and bet
ter armed than we, but did not receive it,
Whereupon we resolved to test our torpe-
does upon their monitor. | was ordered
to take command of the boat that was to
undertake the expedition. At that time
torpedOes were not the arm which you
know to-day. 1t was much more simple,
but a great deal more uncomfortable TO
handle. We had to place it under the
ship and light it. I started out in the
darkness an hour after midnight, sur
rounded by vast plains and in the silence
of sleeping nature. My men could rely
upon; they were brave, resolute and full
of hope. The enterprise, however, was to
be a most difficult one, and as our COM
mantler shook my hand at parting he COM
mended me to the grace of God. We must
succeed or die in the attempt. Should
the Turks discover us there was no escape.
at was to be trial which, if successful
would revolutioniZe the navy. | loved my
profession and would do my duty The
oars were enveloped in felt; we made NO
noise, advancing with exceeding caution,
At last the Turkish squadron appeared to
view The admiral's Ship the monitor,
lay in the front line. Her enormous form
was shadowed in the calm water before us.
I chose her for my trial We approached
her without the noise of rippling wave
The lights were few; that was careless in
them! My men rowed silently on. Now
Now we were within twenty yards and
had not been observed We gained the
side of the vessel. As placed the torpedo
under her was filled with delirious joy
felt like shouting Take care!' The peril
GUS task had been performed The sailors
bent to their oars; with a few vigorous
strokes we were out of harms way But
soon sudden cry from the ship pierced
the midnight air. The guards were mad9y
running up and down the decks shouting
in Turkish 'Torpedoes! torpedoes!"
''The Turks had but vague idea of
what this fearful engine of death could do,
INT sn naralyzed with alarm had the Off
GERS become that our boat not ships
cable distant, was allowed to glide out of
range without a shot When far enough
away to avoid the danger Of being en-
quilted, | applied the electric current. An
instant more and a vticanic explosion rent
the air; an inhuman, despairing cry rose
to heaven; the vessel parted, and ship,
officers, and crew were swallowed up in
the believing abyss! That, sir, was the
first experiment made with the torpedo"
said the officer, passing his hand abstract
edly across his brow.
at must have been terrible scene to
witness" said I. Were there many on
boards"
"How can l know that" said he, rather
impatiently, Destruction and death are
inevitable in war; but not such destruc-
tion and death as that, you say? say the
same sir GOod-niohf -Eychanoo