The opening scenes show the bombardment of a Turkish town by the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. This view was taken from the deck of a Russian battleship and the details of loading the huge guns, firing them, and watching the results of their deadly accuracy are all horribly apparent. A whole town bursts into flames, and a new target is sought. A steamer is sighted in the distance making hurriedly for port, and at once it becomes the mark of broadside after broadside of volleys. The first shots tear up the water about the ship and the next instant the vessel is slapped as by a vindictive Triton, a cloud of smoke; she lists grotesquely, shivers and splinters as a few more shells find their mark and then settles sickening, head first to her final port
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