The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-25

LIVING UNDER CANNON FIRE.
Isombnrdment Need Not Spoil n Maps
nut shooting During a. Thunder
storm Is Trying.


storm Is Trying.
From the London Leader.
Ladysmith, Nov. FL wonder how many
persons realize what a bombardment by
modern siege guns means They are
mounted five or six miles from the town,
and unless you happen to see the fash,
the shell and the report reach you almost
simultaneously
Again, too. the artillery Of to-day Is such
an exact science that there Is no need for
the gun 10 be within sight OF the object
it is intended to hit. Many of the pieces
In the battery against us are 100 yards
down the slope behind the Hill from which
they are firing, and have dummy earth
works on the sky line 10 deceive our gum
ners
For this reason you never know when
you strike them. II Is a curious fact that
during the four solid weeks that cOmpll-
monts have been exchanged between the
epemys batteries and our own, not one
gun has been definitely put out of action.
This would not have been the case had
our investment been delayed even a week.
As IL Is the town suffers the discomfort.
So far / think the most dramatic Incl
dent of the siege occurred last WedneS-
day night We were bombarded by the
enemy for all he was worth during as
terrific thunderstorm as l have ever wit
nessed In any country.
We have had nocturnal cannonades I'M
III we wake up just to know they are GO
ing on and drop off 10 sleep again with
out waiting for the end; we have had
thunderstorms, too, and welcomed them as
clearing the air But the two together,
ana 10th on a magnifcent scale, was an
exparience that viii never be forgotten.
The thunderstorm started first, and
i ~
show than the bardment-besides last
Ing longer For a fun hour before the
storm reached us we sat in front Of our
tents watching the continuous sheet OF
light which played IN the skies.
lncessant rumbling from far AWAY were
echoed among the hills around the town.
Then the sheet OF light was rent with
binding flashes followed by absolutely
deafening crashes. The hills seemed to-
quake. It was worth climbing the one
that backed our camp to watch the
storm.
just as we reached the summit we be-
came aware that the Beers were contrib
utlng TO tho entertainment But the thun-
der OF their cannon was small beer COM
pared with natures thunder.
IL Is true that you could discern the
flash Of their guns upon the background
OF lightning that played over the hills,
but II was Ike a match struck in front
OF a crystal palace set-pleee. IL IL true.
too, you could hear the sound OF their
caunonade dove-tailed into the roar of the
storm, but II was like the firing of a pop
gun to distract from the noise Of a gas
explosion.
And so the unequal endeavor TO create
aWe-inspirlng effect continued. But It was
not for long. "A quarter of an hour after
| the B0er gunners took UP the challenge
Of the storm great raindrors commenced
to fall. Then came a soaking downpour.
driving artillerymen and spectators Of the
scene to cover
The storm, to emphasize its victory,
lighted up the town and hills with two
dazzling flashes. Two fearful claps of
thunder followed them and then the storm
srowled away Ia the distant hills, as sud
denly as 1t had approached.
BY midnight all was quiet, ard the en-
envy spared us the cannonade he was ac-
customed 70 serve out at that hour.