Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1904-06-01
RUSSIAN DESTROYERS SUNK
TELL OF TWO TOR.
PEDo BOATS BLOWN UP.
At Port Misunderstanding Of Small
Boats the Cause of Heavy Casualties
on the Yoshino-Captain Sayoki Of
Japanese Game to Core-He Re.
mains on the Bridge and Goes Down.

Toxic, May 31.-Certain Russian cor.
respondence which has meen inter
cepted by the Japanese at the block
ade of Port Arthur gives the informa.
ton that some Russian torpedo boat
destroyers have been sunk by mines
outside Port Arthur, as well as details
of the placing by the Russians of the
mines which destroyed the japanese
battleship Hatsuse ON May Is.
The sixth Japanese squadron, which
was blockading Port Arthur, over
hauled and searched junk and seized
a number Of letters written by Russian
officers. One letter said that a tor
pedo boat destroyer had successfully
placed series of mines during
the night which preceded the
loss Of the Hatsuse and tells of the
loss of some Russian torpedo boat de-
stroyers. How many is not mention,
but it is indicated that there were at
least two.
~ Luck on the Yoshino.
The heavy loss of life which accom-.
panied the sinking of the Japanese
cruiser Yoshino as a result of collid-
ing with the Japanese cruiser Kasuga
on May Is was due to the smashing
of five of her boats by falling masts.
When the ships came together col
lision mats were used and a tar
paulin was placed over over the hole,
but it was Impossible to stop the in
rush of water. The ship settled quick
ly, listing to the starboard. Captain
Gin Sayoki ordered the crew to the up
per deck, where they manned the
boats. Five boats were lowered on the
starboard side and one on the port
side. but before they were cleared the
ship lurched to the starboard and com
menced to sink. The masts and davits
smashed all five of the boats on the
starboard side.
Captain Game to the Core.
Captain Sayoki remained on the
bridge and cried "Banzai" to the sail
ors as they were entering the boats.
When last seen he was shaking hands
with Commander Hirowatari and bid
ding him farewell. Lieutenant Naito
at this moment sprang overboat and
swan to the only cutter which had
escaped from the wreck. He rowed
to the cruiser Kasuga and returned
with three boats, but no trace Of the
Yoshino or her crew could be found,
except six men, who had already been
rescued by boats from the cruiser
Chitose. The fog was so dense that
the searchlight Of the Kasuga. though
not more than 600 meters distant. was
only family disceInible. The kasuga
struck the Yoshino on the port side,
near the engines, and the force of
the blow was SO great that the
dynamos Of her lighting plant were
destroyed, leaving the ship In dark
ness.
The portrait OF the emperor aboard
the Yoshino was rescued and carried
to the Kasuga.
Men Lose Their Hearing.
Commander Honda, who command
ed the flreship Totomi in the success
full sealing of Port Arthur, has arrived
here. Honda and the entire crew OF
the Totomi were deafened by their ter
rible experience. The explosions and
awful cannonade reputured the sympa.
mum of their ears. Commander Honda
may recover the hearing Of one ear,
but he will be permanently deaf in the
other. Honda and his comrades did
not discover their unfortunate condi-
tions until they were leaving the ship.
He shouted his orders to his men, yet
he failed to hear his own voice. and he
was forced to make signs indicating
his orders in order to successfully
bring the crew back to Vice Admiral
Togo's squadron.