The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1904-03-16


CINCINNATI, O., March 16.-
Bishop Moore Of the Methodist church
witnessed the naval battle between
the Russians and Japanese at Che
mulpo, and he vividly describes the
clash in letter to the Cincinnati
Post. The bishop left Shanghai
February 8 in a Russian liner, which
anchored on the morning of the sth
at Chemulpo near the Russian cruis-
ers variag and Korietz.
mot n japanese ship was in sight
then" says the bishop. AT 4 o'clock
the next day Japanese ships, IL in
number, steamed in and anchored.
Three thousand troops were landed.
Six cruisers and torpedo boats with
drew to within eight miles of the har
Dor and formed line across the
channel.
"On the. 9th the Japanese consul
notified the Russians to leave the
harbor and the ships were stripped
for action. At noon they sailed out.
Shortly roar began
Fifteen minutes we thought would
suffice to end the unequal combat, but
the earth and sea shook under the
awful thunder of the guns, 80 min
utes, 40. SO and even two hours. Then.
unable to break through the Japanese
line and scorning to surrender, the
Russians swung around and steamed
back to their anchorage with their
flags still flying. Sure Of their prey,
the Japanese resumed their station
In the roadstead, blocking the only
channel
"'fhe four-funneled Variag was evil
the port side. The Korietz was ap
parently uninjured. We FASTENED to
row out around the vessels. We saw
no sears OIL the Korietz, although the
sailors were putting paint on the hull
as if to conceal places where she had
been hit. We asked an officer with
a bandaged head how he Jared. He
replied that they had no chance and
that the ships would have to be
blown up.
"Th1Nariag was evidently sinking.
She wits MORALLY wounded amidships
and there was a huge rent in her up
per works. Two tunnels were riddled
iron. A lieutenant on that bridge had
been torn to pieces. His right arm
was found holding signal flag.
BOTS from the other warships in
the harbor began to remove the
wounded. A hundred, more dead than
alive, were taken off the Russian yes
sells. 1t was pathetic to see the ten
derness and veneration with which
the men handed down the ears por-
trait"
The United States gunboat assisted
in the removal of the crews from the
Russian warships.
I'VE hailed the officer, first officer
on the steamer Sungarian. on which
we came. He indicated that all was
lost, and shortly we saw men hurry
ing below. Now the men are hasten
ing to leave the Koreitz. We are with
in n few yards of her last two boats
as they put off. 1t is 30 minutes
to o'clock and we recall the words
of the captain as he orders the rowers
to hasten.
''rhere is a land surmounted by
revolving light 500 yards away.
We make for it, land and climb to
the summit and wait and watch.
The hands of my watch denote 4
o'clock. Instantly there is terrific
explosion on the stern of the Kor--
ietz, and almost simultaneously there
Is another forward. Two malignant
columns Of smoke and debris leap
writing and twisting upward as
though two monsters in mortal COM
bat. Then just as they pull apart
the sinking sun. fearful with the
films of haze hanging on the hort
xon, shines through.
And listen, through the black
rain, of falling fragments of their
ruined ship. comes stately and grand
from the French ship. on which the
Korietz crew had found an asylum,
the majestic chant Of the Russian
national hymn. their new allegiance
10 the car and their requiem to their
lost ship.
Now fierce fire RACES In the bunk
ers of the Variag, as she lists more