Bombardment of Thames.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3548, 10 May 1880, Page 2

Bombardment of Thames.

On the morning of the 19th the sun rose brightly and diffused his soft rays over the picturesque little town of Graham. The inhabitants following the general rule, did not rise so early as on ordinary occasions, as some of them took an extra dose of sleep—it being Monday morning. Lone; before the sleepy god had withdrawn from his court, the booms of the distant cannon could be heard. The peaceful denizens of the Thames rose hurriedly, rubbed their eyes, and won* J dered where the uuaccustomed sound came from. Everything was, however, calm, until again the report of a solitary gun resounded among the hills. Turning out en masse, everyone looked anxiously for some indication of the existence of an enemy. A rush was made for the beach, and more honour to Major Murray, who i reached it first scantily clad in shirt and pantaloons, and whose Herculean frame i could easily be distinguished underneath the folds of the former garment. Indeed it may be said that the irregalar deshabille showed his form to advantage, and he appeared more of the soldier than in the regulation togs. The new Captain of the No. X Scottish, only elected two nights before was also present, and although looking every inota a soldie?, vest assured he was equally heedless of his dress as the worthy Major of the district. Hawkins also arrived with bugle slung, aud he immediately gave the call to arms. In a few minutes six volunteers and three Naval Brigade men " fell in." The crowd by this time had reached Tararu Point, from which point of vantage could be seen tour armed cruisers flying the .Russian ensign, and standing up stream A universal feeling of awe , was excited in the minds of the witnesses

of this unaccustomed sight, and not a few were greatly agitated thereat. The genial general draper of Owen street rushed off to remore his stock to a place of refuge and security, and after hastily viewing Mr Long Drive he transferred his stock to the gloomy tunnels.of the Kuranui with lightening despatch. Then clothing himself appropriately he joined the ranks and waited with 'bated breath the onslaught that was to follow. Geordie, who was also roused from his natural rest by the reverberating echoes of the ordnance, mustered his men, and in a. fewminutes the thirty inmates of the G B. were under arms, and _ were marching with fearless hearts to theVrendez vous of of the other "troops." When arrived at the spot other volunteers had turned up, some, be it remarked, smelling very much of whisky, as they had evidently been rising their spirits by the inward application of the same. Two hundred fully armed defenders were in the ranks, and still no sound came from the cruisers, wL© had by this time brought to an anchor opposite the settlements. One was opposite Shortland wharf, another between Shortland and Grahamstown, the third was in a line with the wharf, and the fourth was outside Tararu Point. Not a sound was heard from the mysterious ineno'-war, and no indications of life on board were visible, save the smoke lazily rising above the stacks. The Naval Brigade now appeared on the scene, bringing with them the guns which were to be the chief defensive ordnance of the Thames people. Unfortuuately it was discovered tbat one of them would not work, and doubts were entertained of the efficient condition of the other. Still not a sound from the cruisers, and Major Murray then proceeded to harangue the assemblage. "Men of Thames, citizens,4 and brothers," said he," the time has come when we may have to fight to defend our hearths and homes. Let no man flinch, for the character of oar men is at stake. If we are attacked, let us show by our dauntless bearing and courageous conduct that we can maiiitain the honour of our Queen and country."

A murmur run through the assemblage, and erery one swore to fight d Voutranci.

Captain Comer then spoke. He mid that it was with some feelings of emotion that he addressed his men of the No. 1 Company. He had only been honoured by Ihe captaincy on a previous evening, but he thought that his men would uphold the honour of the Thames. (Loud applause.) "Rest assured" said he, in conclusion, " that we will fight to the death, aud 1 have no cfowirt thatwe shall come off victorious."

Hardly had the last words been spoken when the smoke burst simultaneously from the breaches of the guns of the cruisers, which belch forth their leaden hail from the ports. A council of war was then hastily held,' and McGowan the three bob tea man, proposed an orderly retreat out of the - line of fire. The advice was taken and a retreat took place, the jyiUant teaman taking the lead, with an alacrity which ; showed his desire to save the township bj clearing from the enemy. He wanted his country saved, but he wanted some* one else to Bare it. Hardly: had they reached Owen street when they were charged by a body of the enemy, who had unperceived landed a number, of men, and now attacked them both in front and rear. The volunteers fought with desperation, bat the leaden hail from all points was too much, and although they succeeded in thinning the ranks of the invading party there was no hope for them, and they were forced to fly from the enemy, and take refuge in the mines. The enemy now added shell practioe, and the town was quickly in a blaze. At 8 o'clock only one house remained standing, in which lived a volunteer who often boasted what he would do in case of invasion, and whose motto was Dum vivo bibo, and whose crest was two thistle-eaters aspectant on field vert, surmounted by an arm issnant holding whip flectant. He rose, and with a shout exclaimed, "Where are the enemy?" He dressed, descended the stairs, and looked out, the picture of abject terror. The houses were just the same as on the night previous, the neighbours were chatting gaily over their garden gates, and everyone looked happy. "Where are the enemy?" Why the man had been dreaming, or rather had had the night-mare through partaking too freely of a tripe supper, and the whiskey drunk in honour of the Captain's appointment on a previous night. The boom of the cannons was merely the Navals practising in the early dawn, and the mixed nature of our hero's spirits conjured up to his brain the remaining attributes which made up the whole of this melancholy affair. He was suffering from the effects of temporary gastric fever. It is only fair to him to say that the effects of the whiskey, and the military talk indulged in had the same effect on his fellows, and when they woke they found much to their delight that the whole affair had been a phantasy of the brain. But, volunteers, think if such a thing should happen where would you be, after drinking unlimited quantities" of Dunville or Hennessy! Organise yourselves! You have good officers, and with such men as Major Murray and Captain Comer at the head, you may feel safe, and may be able to form a good system of defence, which is greatly net led. .Remember the warning:— Si vis pacem para helium,

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