Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1904-04-21
RUSSIAN SHIP GOES down.
STRIKES A MINE WHILE RE
TREATING.
The Vessel, With Almost It's Entire
Complement of Men and Officers
Goes Down Mourning in
st. Petersburg.

st. Petersburg, April 13.-While
going out to meet the japanese fleet
off Port Arthur, the Petropavlovsk
struck a mine in the outer roadstead,
keeled over, turned turtle and sank.
Practically the whole of her crew
were lost. Only four of her officers
were saved, among them being the
Grand Duke Cyril. The Petropav-
lovsk was flying the flag of Vice
Admiral Makarof.
Grand Duke Cyril was only saved
from death by a miracle. His broth
er. Grand Duke Boris, witnessed the
catastrophe through a marine glass.
1t is estimated that from 600 to
700 men persisted when the Petro-
pavIcvsk sank.
The PetrOpavloYSk turned turtle
ia a similar to the British
b~attleship Victoria, which was
rammed by the CamperdoWn in1893,
and ito the incident in the Chino
Japanese war when a Chinese war
ship turned turtle, many of the crew
remaining alive for several days,
hammering desperately on the up
turned hull.
The following dispatch to the a
has been received at st. Petersburg
from Viceroy Alexief:
Mukden, April 13.-"According
to reports from the commandment at
Port Arthur, the battleships and
cruisers went out to meet the enemy,
but in consequence of the enemy re-
ceiving re-inforcements, making his
total strength thirty vessels, our
squadron returned to the roadstead,
when the PetropavlovSk touched
a mine, resulting in her destruction.
Grand Duke Cyril, who was on
board, was saved. He was slightly
injured. The whole squadron then
re-entered port. The japanese are
now OF Cape Liao-Shan. Nc reports
have been received from the acting
commander of the feet up to the
time this dispatch was sent"
Wei-Hai-Wei, April 13.-Judging
from the report of the British gun
boat Espeigle and other reports re-
eeived here, the naval battle off Port
Arthur was severe while it lasted.
st. Petersburg, April 13.-It is
rumored here that the fighting off
Port Arthur was resumed this after
noon, Admiral Ukhitomsky being
engaged with eighteen japanese
vessels.
Admiral Molas vas among those
killed on the Petropavlovsk.
The disaster has stunned the city.
The loss of Admiral Makaroff, who
is among the dead, is felt to be a
more severe loss than that of the
ship. The Russians, being an emo
tional people, officials, as well as the
public, undisguisedly wept when
they heard the news, of which they
only speak in trembling tones.
The fated ship was a frst-class
battleship of 1O,96O tons displace-
ment and 1923 indicated horse
power. Her armament consisted of
four 12-inch, twelve 6-inch, thirty
four smaller guns and six torpedo
tubes. The complement Of the ship,
when fully manned, was 700 men.
She was built at st. Petersburg and
was completed in 1898.
London, April id a. m.-In
the absence of any japanese report,
and In view of the fact that the Rus
sian dispatches omit 10 mention any
thing about a fight, it cannot be de-
termined what the exact conditions
of the Port Arthur naval engage.
ment were. The result of the acct
dent is evident, however. The Rus
slams were ~retreating under the shef-
ter of their land forts when the
Petropavlovsk was blown up.
TThe dispatches to-day are con
Aicting, all manner of reports widely
differing, being printed concerning
the naval engagement and conse
auent sinking of the Russian battle
ship. No news is received from
Toxic, consequently the Japanes
london IF tho affair has not hoo,
given, but is a~nxiously awaited
Tt is claimed in some of the dis
matches that the Petropavlovsk wa
hardly sunk by a mine, but wa