Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-04-11
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 !
was visiting the officers Of the Liva-
dia, who were giving dinner to ON
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 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. a..
Il suppose you will return to Paris
tomorrow" he asked.
!! We'll. l was to have left tomorrow,
but postponed 1t 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. IL.
Eyes, am" I replied. 1.-The torpedo
is dreadful weapon and am inter
ested In it, ..
"Then," he said, with bitter smile,
Il can tell you something more about
it 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 I who blew up
the Turkish flagship"
He stared at me to watch the i'm
preston this statement made on me.
your"
Eyes, lit was a 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-
bera For several days we had been
anchored some distance away from
the Turkish fleet, but hidden from
sight by bend Of the river. which
here is as wide and deep as bay. We
kept sharp lookout and were always
ready, though surprise attack was
very unlikely, as the river ID 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. was put in COM,
mand of torpedo boat and we made
ready to start.
AT that time the torpedo was not
perfect as today. 1t was very crude
and dangerous to handle. 1t was nee
essary to lower 1t alongside the ship
side Of the enemy, explode it by AM
electric battery and run away as fast,
as you could. SO as not to be blown
up yourself.
ut was a 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.
1--WE were running great risk, for
If the Turks discovered us in time we
had no chances to get away. But
had full confidence in myself and my
men. 49,
"Noiselessly we sailed up the river.
and at last I could make out the
Turkish fleet. 49,
"The flagship doomed up straight
ahead OF us. little nearer than the
rest. It looked like a gigantic fort,
and this target chose for our attack.
Not sound was heard. Everything
was calm; no one dreamed of the
threatening danger. A few lanterns
were the only signs of life on board
the flagship.
1--WE were nearer and nearer.
could hear my heart beating wildly. I
no longer doubted that would be sue
cessful. My men stood motionless.
We were alongside the flagship now,
and they had not discovered us.
was mad with delight as I lowered
my torpedo and fastened 1t to the ship.
side. A few seconds more and we
would be safe. -..-
Then we suddenly heard cries and
noise on board. ...M.
'Torpedoes! Torpedoes!" the Turk
ish sailors shouted. The Turks had
an insane idea that torpedoes we're
something unearthly and phantastic.
when we had got cable length
away l pressed the electric button.
There was a cry-an uncanny, super
natural cry. No, you can never con-
ceive any idea Of its sound. l am
brave man. You may take my word.
am afraid of nothing in this world
but this cry. Then everything was
swallowed up by the river-ship. crew,
officers and sailors. The cry follows
me everywhere and at tioes it nearly
drives me mad. In the middle of the
day, If close my eyes, ! can hear it."
His voice was full of anguish as he
I,npt to1uo ri mo md xuhiopornd. t- A.g