Explore "The Vultures" by Henry Seton Merriman on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
The Vistula is the backbone of Poland, and, from its source in the Carpathians to its mouth at Danzig, runs the whole length of that which for three hundred years was the leading power of eastern Europe. At Krakow -- the tomb of many kings -- it passes half round the citadel, a shallow, sluggish river; and from the ancient capital of Poland to the present capital -- Warsaw -- it finds its way across the great plain, amid the cultivated fields, through the quiet villages of Galicia and Masovia.
Warsaw is built upon two sides of the river, the ancient town looking from a height across the broad stream to the suburb of Praga. In Praga -- a hundred years ago -- the Russians, under Suvaroff, slew thirteen thousand Poles; in the river between Praga and the citadel two thousand were drowned. Less than forty years ago a crowd of Poles assembled in the square in front of the castle to protest against the tyranny of their conquerors. They were unarmed, and when the Russian soldiery fired upon them they stood and cheered, and refused to disperse. Again, in cold blood, the troops fired, and the Warsaw massacre continued for three hours in the streets.