The San Francisco call., 1904-08-13

CHEFU, Aug 12.-Captain Shesta-
kOvsky of the Ryeshitelni, who was
wounded in the leg by bullet, when
the Russian destroyer was attacked
early this morning. was saved with
twenty of his men by boats from the
Chinese cruiser Hainyung.
Interviews with Admiral Sab and
Captain Ching, who is in command Of
the Haiyung, indicate that the Chinese
naval authorities were more active
than WAS at first supposed. When the
first japanese torpedo-boat destroyer,
towing the Ryeshitelni, departed to the
northward, the second Japanese de-
stroyer steered a course past the flag
ship and the cruiser Haichi.
The latter cleared for action and sig
nailed to the destroyer to stop. This
was done. Admiral Sab informed the
conn. ander of the Japanese destroyer
that the Ryeshitelni must be returned.
as neutrality had been flagrantly vio-
lated. To this the commander of the
second destroyer replied that he would
Overtake the first destroyer and return
to Chefu. Admiral Sab accepted the
word of honor of the japanese COM
mander and allowed him to depart.
The Chinese admiral is deeply cha
grined at this occurrence and is i'll as
a result. He has turned the command
Of his squadron over to Captain Ching.
Captain Ching says that when the
japanese destroyers entered the harbor
of Chefu he sent an officer on board
and assured Captain Fujimoto that the
Ryeshitelni was disabled. and that her
officers and crew had signed a parole.
Later the admiral followed his messen-
ger and personally repeated this IN
formation at length, whereupon Com
mander FuJimoto said he had no de-
signs on the Ryeshitelni
Admiral Sab next sent an officer in
a small boat to the lightship, which
was near the Ryeshitelni, TO watch de-
VelOpments.
APPEALS FOR AMMUNITION.
Captain Shestakovsky, feeling inse-
cure, requested that his ammunition
and one torpedo be returned to him, or
that a Chinese cruiser prepare to guard
him. To this the Chinese officer on the
lightship replied that he had been or
dered merely to report developments.
Accordingly, Captain Shestakovsky as
sembled his crew and addressed them,
saying that an attack was possible. All
the men of the Ryeshitelni slept that
night on deck, with life preservers un-
der their heads.
When the lieutenant from one of the
japanese destroyers boarded the Rye
shitelni at half-past o'clock in the
morning the crew Of the boat which
brought HIM, with bayonets affixed to
the rifles in their hands, followed their
officer. Captain Shestakovsky protest
ed against this, saying:
Il am unable to resist, but this is a
breach of neutrality and courtesy"
Captain Shestakovsky then secretly
commanded one of his lieutenants to
prepare gunpowder with which 10
blow UP the Russian destroyer. To
gain the time necessary to make ready
for this step Captain Shestakovsky
argued international law with the Jap
anese lieutenant, whose reply to all
the contentious of the Russian officer
invariably was:
Come to the open sea and fight
or prepare 10 be towed out"
RUSSIANS USE THEIR FISTS.
In the meanwhile the command was
issued quietly to the Russian sailors to
resist the, Japanese with their fists, in
the manner which would be shown
them by their captain.
Continuing his account Of the oc-
currence, Captain Shestakovsky said
The japanese officer told me tC
surrender and that as a prisoner my
life would be spared. This insult sc
stung me that 1 struck the japanese
before I intended to. 1 was afraid
that the explosive to blow up our YES
sci had not yet been prepared. MY
blow knocked the lieutenant over
board. In-falling he dragged me with
him. He fell into his small boat
alongside, while 1 fell into the water
1 clung to his throat and pummelet
/ him until my hold was broken"
Tho orau- of tho RUeehitaIOi IN fhI