New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-20

in the shot and shell in a continuous stream.
The variag was pierced twice at the waterline.
one of the shells bursting inside and destroying
one Of the engines Another shell burst on the
bridge wounding the captain and killing a mid
shIpnan and three or four sailors. The mid
shipman was young Count Nourod a member 81
the Russian nobility.
For half an hour. we have said. they lay
there and fought. and then the Russian ships
moved westward al right angles 20 the Japan
csc line BY 50 doing they came near the Jap
anese ships ri the end Of their formation and
the japanese machine guns perforated the arIna-
rnent 81 the Variag in hundreds OF places. From
this fact IL is argued that the Russians must have
come within two miles Of the japanese al this
stage OF the battle. But this did not last long.
The watchers on shore ana on the shipping in
the harbor saw that the VarlaE was on fire near
the stern AID that she had heavy list TO port.
The shots h.rh went through her sides At the
water line had evidently done their work, and
she Was doomed 10 sink The battle had now
lasted some forty minutes. bat the Russians
were not done vet. They wheeled around toward
The cast and gave the japanese the benefit Of
their other Iroa dside. Z must be confessed
that they did al that they could and fought
hc-8.-aUy. This does not excuse those whose
duty 81 Tras 10 see that the Russian ships should
escape the Japanese fleet by leaving the harbor
and going 10 Port arthur in time. but # vindi-
Gated the personal bravery Of the Russians on
board.
Al le.f7 c'clo.,s the Russians ceased firing and
turned back toward tho anchorage. It was their
iutoztton 10 anchor and GEEt tin they could fight
no Longer. and then blow UP their ships with ali
GA board As they dropped anchor the British
commando sent four hospital boats with sur
reaas and n.,rs,s e. ofc- any help that might
Doc needed. Tho Frerch and Americans also
sert boats 90 see 81 they could be Of any help.
Then e. Was discovered that the Russians did
lot consider he battle over, but were only
waiting III the japanese should come in ana
finish them Off. There was nothing else 10 do.
They would not surrender the ships and th'y
would not abandon ;horu and 80 ashore. ooiy
10 lie cautured nor would they blow up
their slfps with ali or board until they
had inflicted whatever r-ore OF damage they
could upon the J7pancac. They preferred TO die
fighting rather thau 20 commit suicide. wren
this determination OF theirs was communicated
/ 10 tie commanders or the various ships IN the
harlor rhcy held n conference. at which II vas
decided that tho Russians had done al tnat
1 was necessary 20 vindcate the honor Of their
! flag and that the survivors should be invited
/ on board TIE different neutral ships lying IA
/ the h-rlar. on what principle % international
] law tho. did This does not appear, but II was
done. and the Russians accepted the invitation.
f The wounded. slxty-sour in number. were trans
ferTed % the British SHY Talbot and the Fren'h
snip Pascal and the rest % the SURVIVORS, were
distributed among the British, French ana
italian ships. Application was made on noard
4 the American Eunboat NicksburE- she was SO
small that IL was impossible to accommodate
'nein' but they were permitted TO go aboard 'he
transport ZaGro. which had brought the Amerl-
can soldiers up from Manila. This offer was
] declined
when The NarIag was abandoned ii was I'M
possible 10 take or the dead. who numbered
-'''9 one Almost all Of these were carefully
F@1ea IN one OF the cabins and locked IN. IL
was a hitting burial place Tor these brave men
VINO had gone forth 10 n hopeless fight and had
fallen. Without doubt many OF the survivors
wished that IL might have been their lot 10 be
buried In such Al honorable grave. At about