The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1913-05-24
THE CRY OF DEATH

We were sitting on board the Rus
sian cruiser. Livadia. which was lying
outside the harbOr of TOulOn. To-
gether with several of my comrades l
was visiting the officers of the Llva-
dia, who were giving a dinner to off,
GERS of the French army.
AS all the world knows, Russians
are hard drinkers and Russian officers
do their best to live up to this national
reputation. At Russian dinners you
very often continue drinking until the
majority Of the diners are under the
table"
The walters kept our champagne
glasses filled all the time-for cham
payne is the favorite beverage of all
Russians; and. as a matter OF fact,
there is more champagne consumed
IN Russia alone than the French cham
payne district produces. The Rus
slams did not sip their champagne as
we do. but threw back their heads
and swallowed a whole glassful at
time. The quantity of wine which my
neighbor drank was something quite
incredible.
Il suppose you will return to Paris
tomorrow" he asked
We'll. l was to have left tomorrow,
but l postponed it to watch the tor
pedo practice Of the squadron"
He was startled; his eyes shot fire;
and his forehead grew dark, as If some
unpleasant thought had suddenly oc-
Cured to him.
Then you are interested in torpe-
does?" he asked after a moments
silence.
Yes, l am" l replied, "the torpedo
is dreadful weapon and l am inter
ested in it,"
Then he said, with bitter smile,
Il can tell you something more about
1t than any other man in the world"
For a few moments he sat lost in
thought; then he Strengthened himself
up and asked:
Have you heard Of the first use Of
the torpedo in actual warfare? 1t was
during the Russo-Turkish war"
why, certainly"
Then listen: 1t was l who blew up
the Turkish flagship
He stared at me to watch the i'm
preston this statement made on me.
you"
yes, lit was dreadful, horrible
thing. A terrible catastrophe"
And he began his story, evidently
less to arouse my interest than to
ease his conscience.
1T was on the Danube, you remem-
Der? For several days we had been
anchored some distance away from
the Turkish feet, but hidden from
sight by a bend of the river, which
here is as wide and deep as bay. We
kept sharp lookout and were always
ready, though a surprise attack was
very unlikely, as the river is full OF
sand banks, which make navigation
very difficult. Still we expected to be
attacked, for the Turkish feet was far
superior to ours. We waited in vain;
they did not come.
Then we decided to attack their feet
with our torpedoes. l was put in COM
mand Of torpedo boat and we made
ready to start.
AT that time the torpedo was not
and dangerous to handle. 1t was nee
essary to lower 1t alongside the ship
side Of the enemy, explode it by an
electric battery and run away as fast
as you could. SO as not to be blown
up yourself.
1T was dark, quiet night My
crew were picked men, every one of
whom l could trust not to lose his
head under any circumstances, and
every one of whom was eager to get
at the enemy. The undertaking was
an exceedingly dangerous one, and my
chief was visibly moved when he
shook my hand as we parted.
I'VE were running great risk, for
II the Turks discovered US in time we
had no chances to get away. But I
had full confidence in myself and my
men.
"Noiselessly we sailed up the river,
and at last l could make out the
Turkish feet.
THE flagship doomed up straight
ahead Of US, little nearer than the
rest. 1t looked like a gigantic fort,
and this target chose for our attack.
Not a sound was heard. Everything
was calm; no one dreamed Of the
threatening danger. A few lanterns
we're the only signs Of life on board
the flagship.
I'VE we're nearer and nearer l |
could hear my heart beating wildly. l
no longer doubted that would be sue.
cessful. My men stood motionless.
We were alongside the flagship now,
and they had not discovered US. l |