Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-02-11
MONDAY NIGHTS BATTLE.
Two Russian eattleships and First
Glass Cruiser Disabled


Chefoo Feb. 10-The steamer Col
umba has arrived from Port Arthur
with additional news of the attack by
the Japanese fleet upon the Russian
fleet in the roads outside of the har-
Dor of Port Arthur.
The Columbia was in the roads at
the time and felt the first shock of
torpedo explosion at II O'Clock Mon
day night.
The attack continued all night and
at daylight Tuesday morning two Rus
sian battleships and one tirst-class
Russian cruiser were seen to have been
disabled and beached at the entrance
of the harbor. The cruiser was badly
listed
In the morning the Russian forts
opened fire on the Japanese fleet,
which was about three miles distant.
The Japanese vessels returned the
fire, hitting several Of the Russian
ships, but did little damage. The Rus
sian cruisers then went out and Jap
anese vessels disappeared. They were
seen later going in the direction of
Dalny, apparently undamaged.
Although the officers of the Colum-
bia say there were II in the attacking
party, only 16 were seen later in the
day near Foo Chow.
The Russians left one cruiser out
side to watch for the Japanese ships.
The cruiser was fired upon by the
Japanese and other Russian vessels
took up their anchors and cruised
around the roadstead.
The Japanese feet came up within
three miles and battle commenced.
The Japanese fired on the ships and
forts, which replied. Two Russian
ships were struck by shells, but were
only slightly damaged.
The Russian fire fell short. The
Columbia steamed away while the bat
tie was in progress, but later saw the
Japanese fleet leave One cruiser with
the torpedo boats is reported north Of
Che Foo.
A member of the crew of the Col
umbia tells this story of the naval bat
tie at Port Arthur:
"The Columbia was lying in the road
stead, surrounded by IA Russian bat
tleships and cruisers. At 1880
o'clock Monday night a severe shock
was felt on board the Columbia. The
Russians Immediately commenced to
operate their searchlights and opened
fire towards the sea- The firing last
ed only a short time. At l o'clock
more shocks were felt and the Rus
slams again commenced firing.
"The Japanese did not return the
fire. At 2 o'clock two Russian battle
ships went in and were beached across
the entrance of the harbor. They
were soon followed by Russian cruis-
er, which also was beached. None of
the vessels were damaged above the
water line More shocks from torpe-
does were felt during the early morn
Ing and then all was quiet
"At 10 o'clock Tuesday morning
three japanese cruisers passed Port
Arthur in sight of the Russian teet.
The whole Russian feet Immediately
weighed anchor and went after them
but returned in half an hour"
The two battleshps disabled are
the Poltava and the Czarevitch. The
disabled armored cruiser Boyarin and
the grounded battleships block the en-
trance TO the harbor preventing gun
boats from getting out and battleships
and cruisers from going in and getting
coal
Besides this Japan has the Russian
gunboats Variag and Koratz caught at
Chemulpo. They were bound for
Vladivostock
The Japanese feet was under com
mand Of Vice Admiral Togo and con
sisted of four fast cruisers, the Chi
tose. Kasagi, Tagafago and Yoshino,
which circled outside drawing the fire
of the Russians. They then Joined the