Chapter XVI
Captain Morgan takes the Castle of Chagre, with four hundred men sent to this purpose from St. Catherine's.
CAPTAIN MORGAN sending this little fleet to Chagre, chose for vice-admiral thereof one Captain Brodely, who had been long in those quarters, and committed many robberies on the Spaniards, when Mansvelt took the isle of St. Catherine, as was before related; and therefore was thought a fit person for this exploit, his actions likewise having rendered him famous among the pirates, and their enemies the Spaniards. Captain Brodely being made commander, in three days after his departure arrived in sight of the said castle of Chagre, by the Spaniards called St. Lawrence. This castle is built on a high mountain, at the entry of the river, surrounded by strong palisades, or wooden walls, filled with earth, which secures them as well as the best wall of stone or brick. The top of this mountain is, in a manner, divided into two parts, between which is a ditch thirty feet deep. The castle hath but one entry, and that by a drawbridge over this ditch. To the land it has four bastions, and to the sea two more. The south part is totally inaccessible, through the cragginess of the mountain. The north is surrounded by the river, which here is very broad. At the foot of the castle, or rather mountain, is a strong fort, with eight great guns, commanding the entry of the river. Not much lower are two other batteries, each of six pieces, to defend likewise the mouth of the river. At one side of the castle are two great storehouses of all sorts of warlike ammunition and merchandise, brought thither from the island country. Near these houses is a high pair of stairs hewn out of the rock, to mount to the top of the castle. On the west is a small port, not above seven or eight fathoms deep, fit for small vessels, and of very good anchorage; besides, before the castle, at the entry of the river, is a great rock, scarce to be described but at low tides.
No sooner had the Spaniards perceived the pirates, but they fired incessantly at them with the biggest of their guns. They came to an anchor in a small port, about a league from the castle. Next morning, very early, they went ashore, and marched through the woods, to attack the castle on that side. This march lasted till two of the clock in the afternoon, before they could reach the castle, by reason of the difficulties of the way, and its mire and dirt; and though their guides served them very exactly, yet they came so nigh the castle at first, that they lost many of their men by its shot, they being in an open place without covert. This much perplexed the pirates, not knowing what course to take; for on that side, of necessity, they must make the assault: and being uncovered from head to foot, they could not advance one step without danger: besides that, the castle, both for its situation and strength, made them much doubt of success. But to give it over they dared not, lest they should be reproached by their companions.
At last, after many doubts and disputes, resolving to hazard the assault and their lives desperately, they advanced towards the castle with their swords in one hand, and fire-balls in the other. The Spaniards defended themselves very briskly, ceasing not to fire at them continually; crying withal, "Come on, ye English dogs! enemies to God and our king; and let your other companions that are behind come on too, ye shall not go to Panama this bout." The pirates making some trial to climb the walls, were forced to retreat, resting themselves till night. This being come, they returned to the assault, to try, by the help of their fire-balls, to destroy the pales before the wall; and while they were about it, there happened a very remarkable accident, which occasioned their victory. One of the pirates being wounded with an arrow in his back, which pierced his body through, he pulled it out boldly at the side of his breast, and winding a little cotton about it, he put it into his musket, and shot it back to the castle; but the cotton being kindled by the powder, fired two or three houses in the castle, being thatched with palm-leaves, which the Spaniards perceived not so soon as was necessary; for this fire meeting with a parcel of powder, blew it up, thereby causing great ruin, and no less consternation to the Spaniards, who were not able to put a stop to it, not having seen it time enough.
The pirates perceiving the effect of the arrow, and the misfortunes of the Spaniards, were infinitely glad; and while they were busied in quenching the fire, which caused a great confusion for want of water, the pirates took this opportunity, setting fire likewise to the palisades. The fire thus seen at once in several parts about the castle, gave them great advantage against the Spaniards, many breaches being made by the fire among the pales, great heaps of earth falling into the ditch. Then the pirates climbing up, got over into the castle, though those Spaniards, who were not busy about the fire, cast down many flaming pots full of combustible matter, and odious smells, which destroyed many of the English.
The Spaniards, with all their resistance, could not hinder the palisades from being burnt down before midnight. Meanwhile the pirates continued in their intention of taking the castle; and though the fire was very great, they would creep on the ground, as near as they could, and shoot amidst the flames against the Spaniards on the other side, and thus killed many from the walls. When day was come, they observed all the movable earth, that lay betwixt the pales, to be fallen into the ditch; so that now those within the castle lay equally exposed to them without, as had been on the contrary before; whereupon the pirates continued shooting very furiously, and killed many Spaniards; for the governor had charged them to make good those posts, answering to the heaps of earth fallen into the ditch, and caused the artillery to be transported to the breaches.
The fire within the castle still continuing, the pirates from abroad did what they could to hinder its progress, by shooting incessantly against it; one party of them was employed only for this, while another watched all the motions of the Spaniards. About noon the English gained a breach, which the governor himself defended with twenty-five soldiers. Here was made a very courageous resistance by the Spaniards, with muskets, pikes, stones, and swords; but through all these the pirates fought their way, till they gained the castle. The Spaniards, who remained alive, cast themselves down from the castle into the sea, choosing rather to die thus (few or none surviving the fall) than to ask quarter for their lives. The governor himself retreated to the corps du gard, before which were placed two pieces of cannon: here he still defended himself, not demanding any quarter, till he was killed with a musket-shot in the head.
The governor being dead, and the corps du gard surrendering, they found remaining in it alive thirty men, whereof scarce ten were not wounded: these informed the pirates that eight or nine of their soldiers had deserted, and were gone to Panama, to carry news of their arrival and invasion. These thirty men alone remained of three hundred and fourteen wherewith the castle was garrisoned, among which not one officer was found alive. These were all made prisoners, and compelled to tell whatever they knew of their designs and enterprises. Among other things, that the governor of Panama had notice sent him three weeks ago from Carthagena, that the English were equipping a fleet at Hispaniola, with a design to take Panama; and, beside, that this had been discovered by a deserter from the pirates at the river De la Hacha, where they had victualled. That upon this, the governor had sent one hundred and sixty-four men to strengthen the garrison of that castle, with much provision and ammunition; the ordinary garrison whereof was only one hundred and fifty men, but these made up two hundred and fourteen men, very well armed. Besides this, they declared that the governor of Panama had placed several ambuscades along the river of Chagre; and that he waited for them in the open fields of Panama with three thousand six hundred men.
The taking of this castle cost the pirates excessively dear, in comparison to what they were wont to lose, and their toil and labour was greater than at the conquest of the isle of St. Catherine; for, numbering their men, they had lost above a hundred, beside seventy wounded. They commanded the Spanish prisoners to cast the dead bodies of their own men from the top of the mountain to the seaside, and to bury them. The wounded were carried to the church, of which they made an hospital, and where also they shut up the women.
Captain Morgan remained not long behind at St. Catherine's, after taking the castle of Chagre, of which he had notice presently; but before he departed, he embarked all the provisions that could be found, with much maize, or Indian wheat, and cazave, whereof also is made bread in those ports. He transported great store of provisions to the garrison of Chagre, whencesoever they could be got. At a certain place they cast into the sea all the guns belonging thereto, designing to return, and leave that island well garrisoned, to the perpetual possession of the pirates; but he ordered all the houses and forts to be fired, except the castle of St. Teresa, which he judged to be the strongest and securest wherein to fortify himself at his return from Panama.
Having completed his arrangements, he took with him all the prisoners of the island, and then sailed for Chagre, where he arrived in eight days. Here the joy of the whole fleet was so great, when they spied the English colours on the castle, that they minded not their way into the river, so that they lost four ships at the entry thereof, Captain Morgan's being one; yet they saved all the men and goods. The ships, too, had been preserved, if a strong northerly wind had not risen, which cast them on the rock at the entry of the river.
Captain Morgan was brought into the castle with great acclamations of all the pirates, both of those within, and those newly come. Having heard the manner of the conquest, he commanded all the prisoners to work, and repair what was necessary, especially to set up new palisades round the forts of the castle. There were still in the river some Spanish vessels, called chatten, serving for transportation of merchandise up and down the river, and to go to Puerto Bello and Nicaragua. These commonly carry two great guns of iron, and four small ones of brass. These vessels they seized, with four little ships they found there, and all the canoes. In the castle they left a garrison of five hundred men, and in the ships in the river one hundred and fifty more. This done, Captain Morgan departed for Panama at the head of twelve hundred men. He carried little provisions with him, hoping to provide himself sufficiently among the Spaniards, whom he knew to lie in ambuscade by the way.
VIII. Конец семьи
Побег из ГУЛАГа. Часть 1. VIII. Конец семьи
Катастрофы всегда внезапны, сколько бы их не ждали. Месяц ночных мук, прислушивания к шагам, к словам, к каждому шороху — а случилось это почти днем, когда возвращались со службы. В это время легко не застать дома, но услужливый коммунист-сослуживец справился по телефону: — Дома? Ну, как поживаете? — Вам что-нибудь нужно? — Нет, ничего. Я хотел спросить, не уезжаете ли куда? Через четверть часа агент ГПУ был у нас с ордером на арест... Я задержалась на службе, а когда пришла, все было кончено. Почти ничего не тронуто: обыск производился поверхностный, небрежный, потому что действительное положение вещей их не интересовало. Возможно, что и развязка была уже предрешена... Какой-то безликий молодой человек в штатском с равнодушным видом сидел в кресле и курил. Больше ничего, а дома, семьи уже не было. Все кругом будто оледенело, умерло. Муж переодевался, собирал вещи, быть может, в последнюю дорогу, я ему молча помогала, но все это так машинально, что я не знала, живы ли мы еще или вместо нас двигались наши тени. Все стало каким-то призрачным, ненастоящим... По окончании формальностей с актом об обыске все сели за стол в столовой. Собрала чай, его никто не пил, — нельзя было сделать ни глотка. Машину все не подавали: при таком разгоне у ГПУ не хватало автомобилей. Мы сидели и молча, в последний раз, смотрели друг на друга.
1789 - 1815
С 1789 по 1815 год
Эпоха Великой французской революции, Директории, Консульства и Наполеона с 1789 до 1815.
The voyage of the Beagle
Charles Darwin, 1839
Preface I have stated in the preface to the first Edition of this work, and in the Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle, that it was in consequence of a wish expressed by Captain Fitz Roy, of having some scientific person on board, accompanied by an offer from him of giving up part of his own accommodations, that I volunteered my services, which received, through the kindness of the hydrographer, Captain Beaufort, the sanction of the Lords of the Admiralty. As I feel that the opportunities which I enjoyed of studying the Natural History of the different countries we visited, have been wholly due to Captain Fitz Roy, I hope I may here be permitted to repeat my expression of gratitude to him; and to add that, during the five years we were together, I received from him the most cordial friendship and steady assistance. Both to Captain Fitz Roy and to all the Officers of the Beagle [1] I shall ever feel most thankful for the undeviating kindness with which I was treated during our long voyage. This volume contains, in the form of a Journal, a history of our voyage, and a sketch of those observations in Natural History and Geology, which I think will possess some interest for the general reader. I have in this edition largely condensed and corrected some parts, and have added a little to others, in order to render the volume more fitted for popular reading; but I trust that naturalists will remember, that they must refer for details to the larger publications which comprise the scientific results of the Expedition.
Новейшее время
Новейшее время : период с 1918 года по настоящее время
Новейшее время : период с 1918 года по настоящее время.
The Effects of a Global Thermonuclear War
Wm. Robert Johnston: Last updated 18 August 2003
4th edition: escalation in 1988 By Wm. Robert Johnston. Last updated 18 August 2003. Introduction The following is an approximate description of the effects of a global nuclear war. For the purposes of illustration it is assumed that a war resulted in mid-1988 from military conflict between the Warsaw Pact and NATO. This is in some ways a worst-case scenario (total numbers of strategic warheads deployed by the superpowers peaked about this time; the scenario implies a greater level of military readiness; and impact on global climate and crop yields are greatest for a war in August). Some details, such as the time of attack, the events leading to war, and the winds affecting fallout patterns, are only meant to be illustrative. This applies also to the global geopolitical aftermath, which represents the author's efforts at intelligent speculation. There is much public misconception concerning the physical effects of nuclear war--some of it motivated by politics. Certainly the predictions described here are uncertain: for example, casualty figures in the U.S. are accurate perhaps to within 30% for the first few days, but the number of survivors in the U.S. after one year could differ from these figures by as much as a factor of four. Nonetheless, there is no reasonable basis for expecting results radically different from this description--for example, there is no scientific basis for expecting the extinction of the human species. Note that the most severe predictions concerning nuclear winter have now been evaluated and discounted by most of the scientific community. Sources supplying the basis for this description include the U.S.
Глава 9. Второе рождение Тихоокеанского подплава [195]
Короли подплава в море червонных валетов. Часть III. Обзор эволюции подводных сил СССР (1935-1941 гг.). Глава 9. Второе рождение Тихоокеанского подплава
С окончанием в 1922 г. Гражданской войны и военной интервенции иностранных государств Дальний Восток постепенно стал «приходить в себя». [196] К этому времени морские и речные силы края практически перестали существовать: Амурская речная флотилия превратилась в небольшой отряд, почти вся Сибирская флотилия ушла на Филиппины, в Манилу, а оттуда — кто куда. Еще в апреле 1920 г. в ходе противостояния военной интервенции со стороны США и Японии и борьбы с Белым движением создается Дальневосточная республика (ДВР), имевшая свои войска и взаимодействовавшая с партизанами края. 25 октября 1922 г. войска ДВР вошли во Владивосток, а уже 15 ноября она объединилась с РСФСР. Созданные в апреле 1921 г. из судов Байкальской и Амурской флотилий морские силы ДВР (МС ДВР) в конце ноября 1922 г. образовали Морские Силы Дальнего Востока РСФСР (МС ДВ РСФСР), основное ядро которых составляли 3 миноносца, канонерская лодка и сторожевой корабль. Характеризуя создавшуюся обстановку в Морских Силах страны, Нарком по военным и морским делам М. В. Фрунзе писал: «В общем ходе революции и случайностях Гражданской войны на долю морского флота выпали особенно тяжкие удары, в результате их мы лишились большей и лучшей части материального состава, лишились огромного большинства опытных и знающих командиров, игравших в жизни и работе флота еще большую роль, чем во всех других родах оружия, потеряли целый ряд морских баз и наконец потеряли основное ядро их рядового краснофлотского состава» (Фрунзе М. В. О молодежи. М., 1937. С 62). Просуществовав всего 4 года, в сентябре 1926 г. МС ДВ оказались расформированными. Однако в 1932 г.
Chapter IX
The pirates of Panama or The buccaneers of America : Chapter IX
The origin and descent of Captain Henry Morgan His exploits, and the most remarkable actions of his life. CAPTAIN HENRY MORGAN was born in Great Britain, in the principality of Wales; his father was a rich yeoman, or farmer, of good quality, even as most who bear that name in Wales are known to be. Morgan, when young, had no inclination to the calling of his father, and therefore left his country, and came towards the sea-coasts to seek some other employment more suitable to his aspiring humour; where he found several ships at anchor, bound for Barbadoes. With these he resolved to go in the service of one, who, according to the practice of those parts, sold him as soon as he came ashore. He served his time at Barbadoes, and obtaining his liberty, betook himself to Jamaica, there to seek new fortunes: here he found two vessels of pirates ready to go to sea; and being destitute of employment, he went with them, with intent to follow the exercises of that sort of people: he soon learned their manner of living, so exactly, that having performed three or four voyages with profit and success, he agreed with some of his comrades, who had got by the same voyages a little money, to join stocks, and buy a ship. The vessel being bought, they unanimously chose him captain and commander. With this ship he set forth from Jamaica to cruise on the coasts of Campechy, in which voyage he took several ships, with which he returned triumphant. Here he found an old pirate, named Mansvelt (whom we have already mentioned), busied in equipping a considerable fleet, with design to land on the continent, and pillage whatever he could.
Upper Paleolithic
Upper Paleolithic : from 50 000 years before present to 12 000 BC
Upper Paleolithic : from 50 000 years before present to 12 000 BC.
Глава 21
Сквозь ад русской революции. Воспоминания гардемарина. 1914–1919. Глава 21
После полудня пароход пришвартовался в Ревеле. Вслед за быстрой проверкой документов и досмотром багажа военными и таможенными чиновниками мне позволили сойти на берег. По пути в комендатуру я с любопытством оглядывался вокруг. В отличие от Гельсингфорса узкие мостовые эстонской столицы казались запущенными. Городская жизнь и люди тоже казались другими. Очевиден был контраст между хорошо одетыми горожанами, прогуливающимися по тротуарам ухоженных улиц Гельсингфорса, и здешней пестрой толпой людей, одетых кое-как. Военные явно преобладали, но уступали финским: одетые в поношенную форму, они выглядели мрачными и неопрятными. В комендатуре мне дали адрес бараков для временных жильцов, и на следующий день рано утром я явился к капитану из морского отдела. После того как я отрапортовал о прибытии, он предложил мне стул и сообщил следующее. Особый морской полк из офицеров и матросов находился только в стадии формирования. Он должен был служить ядром более крупного соединения, где были люди, имевшие опыт военной службы и предназначенные для укомплектования кораблей Балтийского флота, как только Петроград перейдет в руки белых. Я рассчитывал на то, что меня включат в одно из боевых подразделений на фронте, и слова капитана подействовали на меня угнетающе. Ведь изложенный им план имел предварительный характер, а мы еще были так далеки от цели. Но я находился не в том положении, чтобы выражать свои сомнения, и на следующий же день оказался в Нарве, расположенной на несколько сотен миль ближе к линии фронта. Гардемарин не является полноценным младшим офицером, и я готовился служить рядовым.
1492 - 1559
From 1492 to 1559
From the Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492 to the end of the Italian Wars in 1559.
8. Пятилетка в «Севгосрыбтресте»
Записки «вредителя». Часть I. Время террора. 8. Пятилетка в «Севгосрыбтресте»
Наше предприятие в отношении пятилетки не отличалось от других и испытывало на себе всю тяжесть этого эксперимента. До объявления пятилетки мы, как и другие предприятия, стремились возможно шире развить дело, получить максимум кредитов, увеличить объем производства, ускорить постройку новых заводов, судов и т. д. Центр же урезывал наши аппетиты. Теперь из центра шли категорические предписания «развертываться» с быстротой, которая не соответствовала ни наличию материалов, ни рабочей силе. Так, в начале 1928 года мы после двух лет просьб, докладов, обсуждений добились разрешения на покупку за границей десяти траулеров, однако лицензия была аннулирована прежде, чем наш представитель, выехавший в Германию, успел заказать их, и мы сомневались в том, что нам удастся в течение пяти лет заменить наши семнадцать устарелых траулеров. Во второй половине того же года, после объявления пятилетки, нам было предписано исходить из расчета постройки 70 новых траулеров, на предстоящие пять лет довести улов, насколько помню, до 175 тысяч тонн в год, то есть превратиться в огромное предприятие. Наша траловая база, построенная в 1926–1927 годах, при крайнем напряжении могла пропустить не более трети этого количества; пристань же едва справлялась с наличным количеством траулеров.
Средиземноморский театр
«Шнелльботы». Германские торпедные катера Второй мировой войны. «Шнелльботы» на войне. Средиземноморский театр
В конце 1941 года кригсмарине открыло для себя новый театр военных действий - Средиземное море. Союзный итальянский флот, несмотря на численное превосходство и выгодное расположение баз, к этому времени полностью утратил стратегическую инициативу. Линии снабжения Африканского корпуса находились под постоянными ударами британских ВМС. Главной силой в планируемом контрударе должны были стать авиация и подводные лодки, однако командование кригсмарине сочло необходимым развернуть здесь и торпедные катера, которые было возможно перевести по французской речной системе. Особенность переброски заключалась в том, что минимальная ширина каналов составляла чуть больше 5 м, а это автоматически вычеркивало из списков стандартные катера серий S-26 и S-38. Меньшие размеры имели лишь «шнелльботы» типа S-30, которыми была укомплектована 3-я флотилия. Ее первая группа из пяти единиц покинула Вильгельмсхафен 7 октября 1941 года. Маршрут включал в себя переход в Роттердам, затем по Рейну до Страсбурга, а далее по системе каналов в реку Сона. В районе города Шалон катера пересекали демаркационную линию неоккупированной части Франции и далее шли на юг с соблюдением строгих мер маскировки. В частности, корпуса «шнелльботов» были окрашены в черный цвет, кормовую орудийную платформу скрывали фанерные щиты, флаги снимались. В таком виде «торпедоносцы» спускались на юг по Соне и Роне и наконец попадали в Лигурийское море. Переход первой группы завершился 18 ноября, второй (также из пяти единиц) из-за зимнего обмеления и замерзания рек окончился лишь 14 января 1942 года. Первые ночные рейды «шнелльботов» в районе Мальты оказались безрезультатными.