Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 9.djvu/95

 OPERATIONS IN THE SEA OF AZOF. 05 is ordered to tear out the nest of inveterate con- chap. IV trabandistas, and seize their forfeited goods. L_ With regard to those unarmed vessels busied b in the transport of food that could be caught by, , „ at sea ; war-steamers at sea, the task or course was an easy one; but Lyons and M. S(klaiges, and the officers and crews of both the united squadrons, agreed to make it easier still. At the sacrifice of their pecuniary interests, they agreed to forego their clear right of bringing the craft before prize courts, and to substitute destruction for capture. It was only when applied to those vessels which aud those had fled towards the land for shelter, or else to fled toward, the ranges of corn-stacks and other Government property disposed on some parts of the shore, that the task of destruction left room for the skill and the daring of seamen. From an anchorage it found off the lighthouse 26th May. on the Spit of Berdiansk the united flotilla com- offthe manded the harbour as well as the beach ; and Berdiansk. — covered by the fire it delivered — the boats of both the squadrons effected a landing under Commander Sherard Osborn. The men who had landed destroyed the vessels in port, and after- wards other craft found at a distance of nearly four miles. They also burnt a Government store. Several steamers detached from the squadron were meanwhile chasing such vessels as could be descried out at sea. When oil' the beach of Berdiansk, Captain Lyons The wrecks there found run on shore, aud burnt down to the war-steam- , ., „ _ „ crs that had waters edge, those tour Kussian steamers of war escaped VOL. IX. K