The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-05-19
JAPANESE SHELL FIRE.
is Fearful Effects as Seen on
the Variag.
ZEN GUN CAPTAINS WERE KILLED

Surgeon ON the Russian Cruiser
Sunk Off ChemuIpo Became Insane,
and wounded Had No One to Care
For Them-Two japanese Vessels
Did the Damage.
Details Of the fight off ChemulpO,
Korea, between the Russian cruiser
Variag and the Japanese fleet which
nave never been published on this
side were supplied by passengers of
the Northern Pacific liner Victoria,
which recently arrived at Victoria, b.
c., from the orient.
The principal details relate to the
awful effects of the Japanese shell fire
and the strange attacks of the battle.
A copy of the Korean Review of late
date gives the following version Of
the historic combat:
The Variag and Korietz made
straight for the easterly channel, steer
ing a little west of south, the Japa-
nese fleet waiting for them eight miles
away. When four miles separated
them the Japanese threw shots across
to and surrender.
The only answer the Russians made
was to crowd on more fire, and the
Variag began to leave the Korietz, and,
steaming TWEEN .y-fOur knots, headed
straight for the Japanese flagship. The
object was to get as close as possible
to the Japanese, as the Varaig'S guns
We're only ga inches and quite useless
at the damage range of the japanese
guns.
This was at five minutes before
noon. The Japanese fleet was de-
ployed into line facing the approaching
steamers, apparently not intending to
bring their whole force to bear on
them. The two Japanese vessels that
smashed the Variag to pieces were the
Asama and Chiyoda; no other vessels
Of the Japanese fleet took part
Not long after the warning shots the
two Japanese ships let loose their
whole batteries, the noise being ter
rife. The Varaig swerved to eastward
and gave the Japanese her starboard
broadside.
All about her the sea was torn into
foam and spouting fountains Of water,
with machine gun fire and exploding
shells. Her steering gear was smash
ed early in the fight and she had to de-
pend entirely on her engines to steer.
Seeing it was impossible to make the
eastward passage, the Variag's COM
mander headed for the west and came
around in a course which brought the
q. Variag very much nearer the Japa
nese. Then the deadly work was done
on her.
Ten Of her twelve gun captains
were shot away. A shell struck her
forecastle, passed between the arm
and body Of a gunner, who had his
hand on his hip, and, bursting, killed
every other man on the forecastle.
Both bridges were destroyed by burst
ing shells, and Captain Rubnieff was
seriously wounded.
A lieutenant who was In the con-
ming tower, peering through the OBJ
servation slit, had his face beaten
clear in and his head reduced to pulp
by the terrific impact Of a shell which
struck the slit just opposite his face
and exploded.
The scenes on the fore and aft decks
were sickening. The Variag's surgeon
went violently insane shortly after the
engagement, so that the wounded men
had to wait until boats with medical
assistance arrived from the neutral
ships.
The explosion of the Korietz was so
violent that the neutral commanders
asked that the Variag be not blown
up. She was accordingly set on fire
and sunk.
The Variag's forty-one dead were
placed in one of the cabins and burned
and went down with their ship.