Clarksville Weekly Chronicle

The London Telegraph's correspondent at Constantinople sent the following dispatch, dated on the night of April 30:

"The account of Hobart Pasha's defiance of the Russians on the Danube makes a thrilling story. It is stated that while his vessel was lying near Rutschuck the Turkish authorities received intelligence of the arrival of the Russians at Galatz, and that they were placing torpedoes in the river. Hobart Pasha was advised to leave his steamer in the Danube and return to Constantinople via Varna, but disdaining all such counsel, he declared that he would rather blow up his ship than desert her. Night approaching, he made everything ready for running into the Black Sea in opposition to all Russian hostile intentions, getting clear fires under the boilers of his craft, in order to avoid smoke from her funnel, and making other arrangements. The Rethymo, be it said, is a very fast boat, capable of steaming at the rate of fifteen knots an hour. When Hobart Pasha started on his daring expedition the Danube current was running swiftly, being estimated at fully five knots an hour. Upon nearing Galatz he found that heavily armed Russian batteries commanded the river, looking capable of sinking anything afloat, besides the torpedoes reported to be hidden beneath the water.

"Immediately it was dark the word was passed 'lights out', and the steamer sped rapidly along. The batteries were soon reached, and the Russian lanterns, the heavy guns, and soldiers in great numbers, were clearly visible to those who managed the saucy Rethymo, when suddenly a rocket was sent up from the Romanian shore to apprise the Muscovite gunners of Hobart Pasha's coming. Other rockets followed in quick succession, then the hoarse word of command was distinctly heard, bugles sounded, and the drums beat merrily, summoning the Russians to their posts. Hobart Pasha expected every moment to be blown out of the water by the fire of the heavy guns he was treating so cavalierly, but being determined to make efforts in some degree proportionate to the great risks he was facing, he ran his vessel close in shore, not forty metres from the batteries themselves, indeed so near that the Russian gunners were unable to compress their pieces sufficiently fast to get a good aim. His boat went quickly by at twenty knots an hour, and soon all danger was over. When satisfied he had nothing to fear from his enemies, Hobart Pasha ordered the crew of the Rethymo, which carries one forty-pounder Armstrong gun, to throw one shell into the center of the Russian camp, an order which was quickly obeyed--the missile bursting in the midst of the Muscovite tents. Its effects were of course unknown, but it was the first cannon shot fired upon the Danube in the Russo-Turkish war. Hobart Pasha subsequently proceeded to Constantinople, where he received a hearty welcome, and enthusiastic congratulations.

"The Muscovites fired shell and shot in considerable quantities, but the daring of Hobart Pasha carried him into the Black Sea, past all dangers, with flying colors."