Arizona republican., 1904-05-15
AN EXCITING RIDE.
The First Train to Port Arthur After
 Reopening Communications.

Liao Yang, May t4.-Nemirov.ch Dan- chenko, the Russian war correspondent in the service of the Associated Press, gives the following personal narrative of his passage on the train to Port Ar thur after the restoring of communica- tions: Having. reached the flaming village of Wafandian, ] wished to pre- ceed thence to Liao Yang and after wards join General Zassalitch eastward. With nightfall, from the hills, outlined against a blaze of fire, shots were heard occasionally. The locomotive showed no signals of starting. The Chinese ap- preached us with complaints against the governor who had executed eight more of our friends. The Chinese were frightened and huddled around our campfres. The telegraph wire was working all night at headquarters. At ciaybreak a monster ammunition train drawn by several engines, arrived. It was essential to take that train through to Port Arthur, an exceptionally dan gerous undertaking in view of the re- appearance of the enemy. Two squad rons of frontier guards were sent out to reconnoiter the neighborhocd. The cars were armored by a double TOW of rails against rifle fire and had on al
 "A locomotive was sent ahead to act as a scout, in charge of Lieutenant Zavadsky, who acted as engineer, and Lieutenant Non Roop, two armed sto- kers and the correspondent of the As sociated Press. Our mission was to signal the train, which was follow ing ten minutes behind, if there was any danger that it would attract the enemy's attention, in which case the train would have been blown up by the Russians. Colonel Spiridorof (who with force of officers and men of the Amur railroad battalion, had come over the damaged line. repairing it as he camel. gave the signal, and we moved off. with the engine swathcd in clouds of smoke from the burning sta tion of Wafandian.
 "On beth sides were verdure-cov- cred slopes, with blue hills in the dis tance and occasional glimpses of an emerald sea.
 "Chinese villages and miniture gard ems alone relieved the monotonS of the picturesque scene. The typhoon had passed and there was nothing then to prevent the enemy's landing. Doubt less it was proceeding not far away.
 ''I saw Chinese women and children fleeing with thsir families and Valua.bles. We eagerly scanned treacherous hooks and gorges of hills, where the enemy might be lurking. A single successful shot from Q hidden battery might blow up the mammoth train behind. There was no sign Of life at Polandien. The charred station house was as desolate as a grave. We overlook the cavalry scouts and thereafter-acted as our own nITtv "a he hr-id ,,f | which had been repaired by Col Spiri- dorOf on the previous day, still guard ed by our sentries who reported that the enemy had not appeared. The ! locomotive steamed on quickly, with out encountering any sign of life, as far as San Shilipou. There the troops were drawn up to meet us. We heard | the good news that thirty-six men, who had been surrounded by the en- emy the previous day and who had | been vainly sought by the Kin Chou ! garrison, had succeeded in breaking through the enemy's lines unaided.
 After again starting we saw a de- | tachment of cavalry in the midst of | a cloud of dust, near the seashore and | stopped to see whether they were friends or fees. Through field glasses we recognized Russian uniforms. It was squadron sent by General Fock to meet and escort us. The soldiers hurrahed and galloped forward with | joyful faces. At Kin Chou, General Flock and his staff came to offer their congratulations on the accomplish ment of such a dangerous and import ant mission.
 Now that you have fed Port Arthur in every sense we need have no anX- iety. The enemy is everywhere, but they also missed you" said General Fock. The general thanked Col. Spiri- dorof and the other officers and men and the train proceeded thence over a well protected line. There was no ne- cssity for us to go any further. A telegram came from Port Arthur ex- pressing heartfelt gratitude.
 As we left and resumed our jour ney to Liao Yang we could hear echoes of the distant explosions caused by the blowing up of the piers. docks and quays of Port Dalny.