2-913-616 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Boat Attack at the Sulineh Mouth of the Danube, 1854. Crimean War: the Royal Navy destroys a Romanian town under Russian control. 'The Russian batteries at the entrance of the Sulineh river had already been destroyed, under the skilful directions of Captain Parker, and thus this chief opposition to the navigation of the river was removed...Captain Parker then turned the boat round, and, as she retreated, fired his rifle with the greatest coolness at the enemy, who were now pouring in a galling and heavy fire on all our boats...[He] leaped from his galley, crying, "We must storm; follow me, my men"; and gallantly rushed forward...[He] had fired his rifle once, and struck down a Cossack, and was reloading, when a volley of balls fell around, one of which pierced his heart. He fell into the arms of his coxswain, and in a moment this noble and gallant sailor had ceased to live'. From "Illustrated London News", 1854.