The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-06-23
AVISIT TOPORT ARTHUR
War Correspondent Who Entered
Fortress Tells His Story.
WAS IN PRISON FOR FIVE DAYS

! WAS IN PHiSON fOh FIVE IN =
After Being Subjected to Seven eX-
aminations. He Was Freed BY Cen
eral stoessel-says Japanese Block
ade Is Ineffective.
Chefoo. June 22-War Correspond
ent Hector Fuller. who effected an ON
trance into Port Arthur. where he was
imprisoned five days. has returned To
Chefoo Among other things he says.
After being rowcd across from the
Miautao Islands in an open boat by
two Cinnamon. landed at Louisa
Bay The hay is near Port Arthur and
is separated from it by range OF
hills The bay was occupied 10y a
Russian notilla of four torpedo boats.
two destroyers and two cruisers
landed at daybreak on the morning of
| June 10 without detection.
Il had not proceeded far when /
came upon a party of sappcrs. Ia
order 10 avoid them | made dash mp
a hill, only to run into another rcgi-
ment. engaged in rigging entrcnch-
mcnts Instantly / was surrounded
There was no possibility of escape.
THE officer in command detailed a
guard to take me to Pigeon Bay. There
| was searched was stripped 10 the
skin and all my garments were sub
jected to the closest scrutiny NV
money was taken. and all the papers
in my possession were infinitely exam
/ ined. Thercupon | was blindtoldcd and
marched TO Port Arthur. The route
taken was over the military roai
which has recently been constructed.
In spite OF the bandage over my eyes
was able to note that the road Is of
admirable construction. along which
troops and artillery could move easily
and rapidly.
Port Arthur was full of life and
gayety. quite out OF keeping with the
stories of distress that had reached
Chefoo Indeed. nothing Of this sort
was observed There seemed 10 De- an
abundance of supplies. and fresh sup
plies were coming in from Chinese
sources The Japanese blockade has
not been effective The harbor en-.
trance has been freed OF distractions.
the battleships have been reprinted.
and the Notifications are constantly
being made stronger The garrison is
larger than outside information has
led me 20 believe There seemed 10 Dee
no fear that the city was likely soon
to fall
The night was marched into Port
Arthur. under guard, the city was un
usually lively. as the officers were Civ.
ing a ball. Three officers were detail
ed to examine me. and they made thor
ough work of it, After the eXamna
tion was completed / was lodged in
prison The prison is directly opposite
Golden Hill From the window Of my
cell had a good view of the inner
bay and could see distinctly the RAJ
paired battleships lying al anchor
In the same prison were confined
100 japanese who had been captured
from the blockading expedition. Sew
eral OF these had become insane.
while | was in the prison / was
subjected to seven different examina-
tons The thing that evidently reused
the greatest suspicion was the pass
port that had been issued 70 me at
Toxic II is pretty evident that the
Russian officers more than half sus-
peCted that was Japanese spy.
II demanded the opportunity OF see
ing General Stoessel. the commandaut
at Port Arthur. that / might lay my
case directly before him. At last. af-
ter five days in prison. my plea was
allowed and | was taken before the
commandeT.in.Chief made straight
forward statement of my purpose in
seeking TO penetrate the Russian lines,
and gave a detailed account of my
trip. At last he was convinced Of my
good faith. He said You Americans
must be crazy
LAS the result of this hearing of my
case General Stoessel decided that
was to be allowed to leave Port Ar
thur on condition that promise never
to return. The promise was promptly
forthcoming.
81 was sent away then in junk
along with a host of Chinese. These
were the men of an entire village who
we're being depOrted because the VII.
lage had harbOred some japanese. The
Junk was escorted outside of the har-
Dor by Russian torpedo boats and then
was left to make its way alone as best
IT could across the gulf. ! was without
food for so hours but finally reached
here. little the worse for my ten days
experiences.
con the whole. may say that while
was in the hands Of the Russians
| was kindly treated.
"On the night of June Is the Japan.
csc made another attack on Port Ar
thur both by land and sea. ! saw dis
tinctly the firing from my cell window
When the affair was over the Russian
officers returned laughing, to their
quarters. reporting that the enemy
had been easily repulsed.
"The talk is that General KurOpat
kin is likely soon to take charge in
person at Port Arthur"
Japanese Schooner Captured.
VladivostOk. June PA large Japa-