The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-15
BATTLE oF EMU
story of the Engagement in Detail
Made Public.

Seoul, Friday, Feb. 1.-THE following
account Of the battle off Chemulpo,
which resulted in the loss of the Rus
sian cruiser Variag and the gunboat
Rorfetz, has reached here:
During the night of February 8 the
japanese landed 1900 men at Che
mu1po, and on the morning OF the !Sth
three Japanese cruisers, four gunboats
and eight torpedo boat destroyer, I'M
der command of Admiral Cvtu, ap-
preached the harbor ut did not enter.
The Korietz and Varisg were lying in
the harbor. The Japanese admiral gave
until noon to come out. Both Russian
vessels cleared for action. All the ship
ping in h arbOr was notified by Ad-
miPal Uriu to get out of the firing line.
There were in the harbor also the
British cruiser Talbot, h French
cruiser Pascal, the Italian cruiser Elba
and the United States gunboat Vicks-
bur All were active. The Var1age
signal1ed the Talbot and a boat from
Shortly afterward the Variag and Ko-
reitz got away and steamed out of the
harbor. The crew of the English war
ship cheered them as they went out to
fight. When the Russians were four
miles out the Japanese threw a shot
across their bows, but they did not
stop. The Japanese lay between the
islands, ten miles out, blocking the
only entrance to the harbOr. When
the Russians were six miles from he
Japanese feet heavy firing began on
both sides. The Variag turned her
bros side loose at 11:55 g. m. e the
Var turned at right angles to he
yves ard and steamed a short dis
tai as If to make for the beach, but
was seen to suddenly turn east again
and to give the enemy her other broad
side. The Japanese continued firing
until 1922, when the Variag was seen
to be on fire near the stern. The Rus
sian vessels then turned back toward
the harbor and ceased firing at 1912
p. m.
The Japanese followed almost to the
entrance Of the harbor, firing on the
Variag, which had a heavy list to port
and VAS evidently in a sinking condi-
ton The Koreitz was practically IN
touched. Count Murowski stood on the
bridge. About 900 shots were fired in
all, but the firing was not very accurate
and the Variag was hit only in six
places. One shot which struck her on
the water line wrecked one of her en-
gines. When the Russians reached the
entrance to the harbor the British
cruiser sent four hospital boats on
BOARD with a doctor and nurses. The
United States gunboat Vicksburg also
sent three boats with surgical assist
ance.
The Koreitz was abandoned at $3.50
p m. her crew going on board the Pas
cal, and at 1857 D. m. she blew up with
abandoned soon after her officers
deeming her situation hopeless. Her
dead was left on board. The crew of
the Variag went on board the Talbot,
h Pascal and the Elba. Some aIso
went to the Vicksburg. The Variag
burned until 6 p. m. with frequent ex-
plosions IS the flames ignited her am
munition. She sank, turning over to
port as she went down. The Rnssiane
eventually went from the Pascal TO the
steamship Sungai. A Russian officer
told the captain of the Vicksburg that
he had come to ask asylum for one
night only.
The Japanese casualties are moi
known, but it is rumored that one tor
pedo boat destroyer was sunk in
action.