Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-06-18
CHAINED A WARSH|P,
An Incident Of the War Between
Greece and Turkey.
A YOUNG OFFICERS DARING.

| ou'teu N waking Powerful creek
Vessel q Helpless Prisoner Within
the Landloeked Waters Of Arta.
II was during the war between
Greece and Turkey in 1897 that tho
Inhabitants OF Gala Krini--n large VII.
, age. since destroyed by the Turks. on
the shores OF the gulf Of Arta-awoke
one morning TO fnd that Hellenic
battleship lad entered tho gulf and
cast anchor of the shore. The sur
prise OF the inhabitants OF Gala Krini
was nothing compared with that OF
party Of Ave Turkish officers. who.
| fresh from the crest OF hill towering
above the village. watched the vessel
through their telescopes.
These Turkish officers were on an
urgent and important mission - to
block out the Hellenic fleet from the
| gulf of Arta. Behind them. at the
bottom Of the deep ravine. were
number of heavy guns which had been
dragged all the way from SalonilSi. a
long and difficult task. and with this
artillery they had been ordered to for
| tify tho strait.
| To reach the strait, however, the
Turkish column had to run tho gantlet
OF the .battleship's heavy guns. which
meant sheer destruction. Somehow or
other they must escape the man-of-
war or prevent her Interference with
their work. but to do this seemed I'm
| possible.
| In the midst OF their discussion
young officer who had been listening
said he could hold the vessel prison.
er II they would allow him. His plead
ing won. and. burriedly changing his
clothes for those OF shepherd. he de-
scended in that disguise TO Gala Krini.
Late that night a number OF figures
stole through the dark alleys Of the
| village toward the shore. Close to the
waters edge was an old boathouse.
used as shed for repairing boats.
This the party silently entered and by
the pickering light OF taper search
ed the black interior. At length there
was gentle rattle and from the gloom
emerged Hassan. stripped TO the waist.
dragging a heavy chain. This. with
the help Of his comrades. he began TO
pull, and after an hours laborious
work the end OF the great chain-onco
the cable OF a Turkish vessel-was
| reached.
From the beach the chain was load
| ed on board large caique. whose
sides and door had been covered with
cloth to deaden the sound. This task
accomplished. three men got In with
| Hassan and rowed with muflled oars
toward large rock in the middle OF
the blight. Round this rock the chain
was laid and securely fastened. One
nun having been landed on the crag
to keep guard over this ond. the boat
set out cautiously for the battleship.
looming like phantom In the dis
| lance Not n sound did tho men make
as link by link the massive chain was
| paid out over the stern into the still
water till they reached the vessel.
There was an excited CLEAN IN Has
sans eyes as. with sign TO his com
| rades, he gradually lowered himself
into the dark water. guiding himself
by passing his fingers over the battle.
ships plates. 4 slight grating OF the
chain against the hull was all that his
anxious companions In the boat heard,
though now and then a reassuring pull
| was felt OH the line that Hassan held.
| directing them how to pay out the
| chain. Hours rather than minutes
seemed 10 have gone by ere the young
| officer came 10 the surface So ex-
hausted by his long dive was he that
he had TO be almost lifted into the
boat.
1T Is round the propeller" he gasp
ed. II have fixed II so that nothing
can move II. Back you go
Then link 10y link the tedious work
was renewed until the boat returned
10 It's starting point. where the other
end OF the chain was secured. The
risky task was done and the Hellenic
battleshlp was securely moored TO an
| immovable rock by double thickness
| OF cable.
The early rays OF dawn revealed a
sight which astonIshcd the Greek COM
mander. A whole regiment OF Turks
were on the march toward the strait
OF Arta. with train after train OF artil-
lery. the last Of which disappeared be-
| yond the intervening head before the
ships guns could be brought 10 bear
on them. The commander gave orders
for the guns TO be run OUT and decks
cleared for action. while the anchor
was weighed. his intention being 10
prevent the Turks from terrifying the
strait before they had become too
strong. "E'ull speed aheadr' went the
order TO the engine room. and. pro-
PEELED by her mighty screw. the bat
tleshIp advanced. only 10 lurch back.
ward as II dragged by some unseen
force. Work MS the engines would,
the vessel seemed to be IN nm enchant-
cd circle. beyond which II was impos-
sible to go.
| II was mol until the suns rays had
| penetrated the deep blue water along
side that the secret was revealed aud