The San Francisco call., 1904-11-08
War Writer Runs the Blockade
and Reports City'S Condition.
Partakes Of Horse Meat
With StOeSSel and Wife
Special Dispatch to The Call.


NAGASAKI, Nov. Edward Emer-
son Jr., correspondent of the Chicago
Daily News, is the latest war writer to
have run the Japanese blockade and
enter besieged Port Arthur. Emerson
has just returned and gives an interest
ing description of conditions in the be-
leaguered stronghold, which he left just
previous to the recent general assault.
He says:
After having arrived, along with
companion at the lighthouse on Lao
shan promontory, close to Port Arthur,
the boat in which we had sailed from
Miaotao Islands was picked up by a
small Russian torpedo-b boat attached to
the battleship Peresviet and towed to
that vessel which lies two miles out
side Of the harbor. The Peresviet is as
badly battered by Japanese shells as
the Cesarevitch. Both ship and crew
were in a filthy condition. From the
Peresviet we were taken to Admiral
Wiren, who was on board the Bayan,
outside of the Tigers Tail. The Bayan
also was badly damaged and dirty.
Admiral Wren asked for news of the
Baltic fleet and learning that it was
then still at Reval expressed his de-
spair.
Altogether there are sixteen fighting
ships in the harbor. None of these have
been dismantled. The sailors are kept
on board and only small machine guns
have been sent ashore. There is plenty
of coal, but ammunition is scarce.
stTn ne iSfa Y11ilpS off he
seen the smoke of Admiral Togo's
blockaders. The Japanese feet has been
doing little bombardment of late.
In the military prison behind Gold
en- Hill there are thirty three japanese.
VISITS STOESSEL'S HOUSE.
From the flagship 1 was escorted to
the harbor master, who was found in
a bombproof cellar under the Admiralty
building, equipped with telephone. tele-
graph and electric mine connections.
I'VE were then escorted to General
StoesseTs house. All along the road to
the generals house were seen the raw
ages of the incessant bombardment.
The Japanese guns fire at ten-minute
intervals. The Russians reply every
half-hour One battery of ten guns is
placed d lew IOQS llOll biC 6NilNA al .
house Ninety per cent of the Japa-
nese shells do no damage.
Most of the killed are coolies, the
weekly average being thirty.
The city is remarkably tranquil and
street traffic goes on smoothly. The
shops are open all day. Two restau-
rants are running. Meals cost two ru-
bles ($D. There is no fresh meat ex-
cept hOrsehesh. Ten horses are slaugh-
tered daily One hundred horses are all
that remained when / left. There is
plenty of canned stuff and large sup
plies of rice, wheat and bean cake.
There is no lack of vodka. Single eggs
cost thirty kopecks Q5 cents).
Since the japanese captured the res
ervoir there is nothing to be had but
cistern water. Typhoid is prevalent.
Nobody, apparently, minds the bonn
bardment. Children play in the streets.
Coolies work under guard. Carriages
and carts are driven about. / observ-
ed an officer teaching a woman to ride
a bicycle while bombs passed over
head.
OLD WARRIOR ASTOUNDED
The general learned from me for
the first time of Kuropatkin's defeats.
He was not inclined to credit the story
until convinced by some Chefu news
papers that ! showed him. 1t perfect
ly astounded him to know that Kuro-
patkin was at Mukden. He believed
him to be advancing southwark. He
said in Russian: There is no help,
then, but to die or go to Matsuyama
prison.
He asked that Kuropatkin's re-
verses be concealed from the garrison.
which still believes that Kuropatkin
is attacking General Nogi's rear.
''Stoessel praises the bravery and
kindness of the Japanese who take
great care of the Russian wounded.
He feels proud of fighting such foes.
AT luncheon / was presented to
Nine. Stoessel and her daughter. Seven
persons sat down to luncheon. which
was a frugal meal in the Russian
style, with vodka. wine and tea.
praised the beefsteak Stoessel
laughed. 1t was horsefesh Nine.
Stoessel laughed. She processes to like
horsefesh.
After luncheon a bomb burst out
side, the whole house was shaken and
the upper windows shattered The
conversation, however, continued with
out interruption. No one was killed.
Nine. Stoessel quietly told her servant
to mend the windows with paper.
In the afternoon we visited the
Army and Navy clubs Everybody
was very gay"
NoGI DRIVES IN WEDGE.