Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-09-06
RUSSIAN STRATEGY.
HowTAE sTaELok STOLE AWAY uN-
DER THE GARNET's NOSE.
A story Of Norfolk Harbor In 1887. when
War between Great Britain and Rus
sin Was Imminent. Retoid.


Il will be remembered that in that year
a war appeared to be impending between
Great Britain and Russia. A declaration
OF war between those powers, 1t Is need
Less 10 recall, never came. but wbilo it was
hourly in prospect the interest in tho
question at Norfolk. Va, was enllyened by
the arrival in port Of Russian man,of-
war, with British one at her heels. Ihe
then Commander" Skrydiof dropped
anchor from his command. tho Strelok.
of Fort Norfolk, and an hour or two af-
forward Captain Hand. Royal navy, ap-
peared in her Majesty's ship Garnet. and
let out his cable only so much iurther
from the fort that the vessels could clear
each other in swinging with the TIDE. =.
Here was matter for May morning. 1t
was known that two British men-of-war
were following IN the wake OF this RUSSIAN
sloop. The Garnet was one OF these-a
corvette. Her companion was lowering
outside or somewhere not far away. They
had all three come from the West Indies.
Now OF the Strelok and Garnet, which
had thus arrived IN Norfolk harbor and
Law there side by side. the latter vessel
would have had conspicuous advantage IN
q battle. Both were wooden vessels, out
the Garnet's size, the number OF her crew.
and the amount Of her ordnance were pos
sibly twice those of the Strelok. Our own
officers at the navy-yard perceived That
the Strelok's were really the better guns,
but that comparison only related 10
modernness and design-the rifles were OF
smaller bore and were fewer than the Gar
nets. Perhaps the little Russian had one
advantage and that one that supersedes
everything except dignity-heelS. But
even this was not a certainty.
HIS PREDIcAxENT.
In the circumstances 1t would not have
been presumed that the Russian com
mander would linger at Norfolk should war
be declared between the British Govern
ment and his while he renamed in
the harbor of q neutral power. In
ternatlonal law would then allow him
only n few hours start of his enemy If
he put to sea before her. or if the Garnet
went out first, she with her consort
would undoubtedly blockade Skrydlof
within the Chesapeake az the alterna-
tive TO running their dangerous. gauntlet;
Skrydlof. by the way, probably would
have done this later, Is he is renowned as
a daring officer as we'll as an able one. But
that is aside. Notwithstanding these rea-
sons which the Strelok had for getting out,
she stsld where she was with the Garnet
beside her. In the newspapers the proba-
bility of the Angl Russian war alternately
subsided and returned, and the men-of-
war swung at their anchorage, ey eng each
other day after day, week after week.
Meanwhile Captain Hand and Com
mander Skrydof we're personal friends.
They met on shore, whore they were enter
tanned by civilians in Norfolk and by our
officers at the uavy-yard on the other side.
In company they gravitated TO each other
at times TO exchange word or TWO IN
French. which was indirectly expressive OF
their mutual regard. On one OF these
occasions, in the course of visit to the
navy-yard, said Hand TO the Russian;
VERY FOND OF FRUIT.
Skrydlofr. your men eat an unconscion-
mile amount of fruit. A lighter of it Is
along side OF you almost every day."
Skrydlo!T shrugged. I'VE have.very little
IF that kind of food at home" he answered,
" and nv men have grown fond of 1t since
we have been in southern latitudes."
Here il happened that IA lady interrupted
them and carried of the Muscovite. Hand
turned away and soon after he was talking
with Commander c.. United States navy
who asked him to complete theatre party
for the next night.
at will be the last performance of one
of our best actors in his best play" said
&. Ut was Joseph jefferson in Zip Van
Wrinkle. ~ "Skrydloif is coming, and
with Mrs. G. and two friends who are
visiting her, there will be lady for each OF
Hand agreed readily, and the box party
was made up.
ship. the Russian had conversation with
his executive officer.
You have no dou II that you can drive
the sticks into the bottom securely :"
Skrydlof asked.
1.-THE sounding assures me so, answered
his Lieutenant. THE spars are long
enough to support the lights just at the
height Of our own and the bottom IS soft
and will hold them up.
You will have TO be silent. "
Il shall have TO be silent, sir.
BE careful to keep clear of those
Assuredly, sir. Everything depends
upon that.
TIE CRITICAL MOMENT.
Remember that the tug have hired
TO run lightly into the bow OF the Garnet
will do it at 10 o'clock on the minute.
Watch for her. That is the moment for
YOU to put out the lights and light those
on the spars The attention of the watch
on board the Garnet will be forward
when the tug strikes her-awav from us"
THAT is the moment. sir. will await
SOnn0S
change the lights instantly"
THE tide will be half way out on tho
ebb.n
:" Yes. sir; and then shall be ready for
your orders fifteen minutes later"
IL trust YOU said the commander,
taking his officers hand with q Russians
zeal.
With that the latter saw him over the
side.
At the theatre Captain Hand and the
others had preceded him. Skrydlof
found them in one of the boxes. He was
received with pleasure. He is q charming
man, and an enjoyable evening began.
jefferson was in excellent form, and the
ladies were bright, and the people in the
circles and below looked at the command
ers in the box.
The scenes went on. and the hour was Q.
The interest was sustained on the stage,
and in this particular party among them
selves. 1t was thus that time had passed
with the apparent rapidity OF time I'M
noted TO 10 O'Clock. when the curtain fell
at the close of an act-and the Russian
rose.
q have q most disasreeable apology to
make" said Skry dloff to Mrs. c.. who was
his entertainer.
"You are not going?" she asked. with
concern.
But Shrydloff was going. The lady re-
preached him as she gave him her hand.
. And I expected you to superior ny
right hand"
"Ah, Madame, you force me to feel my
choice too much. / must hasten to leave
you or shall renounce my duty. leave
it TO Commander c." said Skrydloff, turn
ing to him, "to defend my unhappy neces-
sity-he is an officer; and to Captain
Hand" He bowed TO Hand.
Skrydlofi withdrew, and Hand babe him
goodnight friendly and regretfully with
the rest Mrs C.'s supper. however,
If the party was changed somewhat from
it's first design. was not deprived of a
of men. G. saw one of
Hands lieutenants whom he had met in
the audience, and no proved obliging
enough to be Jdute de nie,Gr, Uice Skrydlof,
retired.
THE sTRELoK.
One cannot answer for the feelings OF a
hostess but the evening
was enjoyed undoubtedly by the others,
and by none more than Captain Hand and
his officer. They spent the night on shore.
In the morning when they returned on
board the Garnet they heard a tale. for
which something missed IN the water view
as they had rowed out 10 the vessel had
prepared them. Where was the Strelok
Russian strategy, In the person of Shryd-