Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 July 1877 — THE BOMBARDMENT OF BUSTCHUK. [ARTICLE]

THE BOMBARDMENT OF BUSTCHUK.

The City Riddled with Shells and In Rains—Ren, Women and Children Blown to Atoms In the Streets—The Horrors of War. A London dispatch to the New York Herald of the 27th gives the following particulars of the bombardment by the Kussiamrof the Turkish City of Rustchuk: During Friday and Saturday the lookouts posted on the roofs of the mosques and on Ihe ridges behind the town, over which passes the main road to Shumla, discovered and reported an unusual ac-

tivity on die part of tbe Russian* at Giurgevo and it* vicinity. Trains of small wagons were observed to pase frequently between the batteries on the river bank aud the town, and there were groupings of men in the works that suggested preparations of an extraordinary character. Fears were entertained in Rustchuk that the ominous signs meant a sudden crossing of the river under cover of a heavy fire from the Russian batteries. Id view of this the Turkish Commander ordered large bodies of troops that had been previously encamped behind the southern defenses of the town to move out toward Maratin and along the Sistova road, in order to cover the railroad line and to guard against a flank attack on the westward suppliesof artillery. Ammunition from the not overlarge magazines behind Rustchuk were sent to the batteries' along the river front and to the field-works recently erected covering the railroad. Aa far as possible every precaution was taken to guard against surprise. The sun had scarcely risen on Sunday morning ere the anxious watchers at Rustchuk discovered, through the river mists, horsemen riding furiously back and forth from Giurgevo. As these horsemen were evidently carrying messages between the batteries and the town, the suspense among the people in Rustchuk became painful; for the belief was general that the day would witness some important event. Suddenly, from one of the Russian batteries, a flash was seen in the center of a globe of grayish-white smoke, and a shell sped screaming over Rustchuk, to explode on the slope of the hill crowned by Fort Hanamdj. It was the signal for the bombardment. Immediately "after it seemed as if every Russian gun was fired simultaneously, for the earth fairly trembled with the roar of the artillery, and the shells flew over the doomed city with an awful and indescribable sound. Although the Roumanian shore above, below, and in front of Giurgevo was entirely obstructed by the smoke from the Russian guns, the Turkish batteries promptly opened an answering tire, and soon nothing could be seen on the river banks but dense, rolling volumes of smoke, through which almost every two seconds flashes would dart like lightning through storm-clouds. Boom! boom! went the Turkish guns, with au uninterrupted regularity, plthough the Russian shells were falling in and around the works with a fatal precision. This extraordinary artillery duel was maintained at a range of not more than three thousand yards. The guns on both sides being heavy pieces, the fire was direct and the trajectory of the missiles very flat; consequently every object hit in Rustchuk was rent and torn by penetration or demolished by the explosion that followed. The effects of the Turkish fire could only be observed at internals when the smoke would clear a little, but it is evident that considerable damage waa inflicted on the Russian batteries. The terribly effective character of the Russian fire can scarcely be described. The gunners seem to have directed every shot at Rustchuk, without regard to the buildings liable to be injured. Shell after shell came crushing through the roofs of the houses and burying themselves in the floors, where they exploded, demolishing the walls. The mosques seemed to be selected as particular targets at times, for two, three, and often more, shells would fall on and around them, tearing pinnacle and dome with fearful effect. Not even the hospitals were spared by this awful rain of shells. Several of these buildings happened to be quite exposed, and although surmounted by flags indicating their character, they were involved in the storm, aud their inmates in many cases were killed in their beds. This has caased the utmost indignation among the Turks, and the authorities have requested the foreign Consuls to testify to the occurrence, so that the Pcrte may make a formal protest against what it deems to be uncivilized warfare. Although the flags of England and other European powers were displayed over their respective Consulates, the Russian fire did not spare the buildings. Theguns were aimed at Rustchuk, ana everything, animate and inanimate, within its limits. Shells have no neutrality, and do not discriminate between Consulates, mosques and hospitals. The unfortunate inhabitants of Rustchuk suffered terribly during the bombardment. Hid away in deep recesses or sheltered behind thick walls, the Russian shells found and destroyed them. As they darted through the streets toward places of greater security, their bodies were shattered in fragments by the explosion of these terrible missiles. Women, flying from their burning or ruined homes,’ were killed as they ran. Little children, clasped in the arms of their terrified parents, were struck dead by the fatal fragments. The scene was one of unqualified horror throughout. The Russian fire continued during Monday and with still more terrible effect. Such of the people as could muster up courage to fly from their nooks of shelter have hurried away to the interior. The ruin of the town is almost complete, but the fortifications are practically intact, and not much damaged.