The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-05-06
ATTACK PORT ARTHUR.
Japanese Attempt to Block Harbor by
Sinking Eight Fireships-Was
/ H Vicious Attack.

Port Arthur. May 5.-Another vicious
attempt was made by the Japanese this
morning to block the entrance to Port
Arthur.
At a few minutes before / o'clock tie
first shots We're fred, awakening the
town with their ~thunderous noise. The
g%unboats lying at the mouth of the ar
Dor joined in the ~cannonade of the bat
teries, the firing gradually increasing
In volume until there was a continuous
crash OF great guns.
Some of the enemy's torpedoboats
were discovered, but they were finally
swallowed up In the darkness, n the
batteries and warships, after forty min
utes' activity, We're again shrouded in
gloom, though the flashing searchlights
showed that the military We're alive
to the warning conveyed of the APP
proach OF the Japanese ships.
Shortly before 2 o'clock q searchlighs
played from the sea directly upon tn
entrance of the harbor, lighting it UP to
show the way for the lreships. The
protector moved to the right from
Eiaotishan to Golden Hill. For a quar-
ter OF an hour the light was watched
with curiosity, and then a second cam
nonade began, the heaviest firing being
directed to the, left of Golden Hill
where the fireships were located.
AT about 4 o'clock the batteries
ceased firing, save for an occasional
shot.
Fierce Bom%bardment.
Just about dawn the bark OF the rap
id-fire guns and the cracking OF the
mitrailleuse was heard from Golden
Hill. Occasionally there We're sounds of
explosions, as OF mines going off. It
was the enemy's ships striking Russian
t%orpedoes.
At this hour q magnificent sea pic
ture was formed by the soft light of the
waning moon, the orange flashes OF the
guns, the signal rockets and the purple
fires on the steel colored sea, which
were alternately lighting up and dying
put.
The fire ships were ten in number
and of about 5000 tons each.
It Is reported that Two Japanese tor
pedoboats were sunk, the remainder
withdrawing In a damaged condition.
Eight fire ships were sunk, and very
few Of their crews were saved. Most
Of them were killed.
In the morning many lead bodies
were seeen floating about outside the
harbor. These were collected by the
Russians, who brought them ashore
and buried them.
The vigilance Of the men in the
watch towers and on the guard boats
was astonishing. To their keen eyes
was due the prompt sighting of the
enemy.
Grandeet Attempt Yet.
This new attempt Of the Japanese
was on a much grander scale than any
heretofore made, but the moonlight
aided IN the discontinue of the dis
covered enemy.
The Japanese attacked brilliantly,
without seeming to notice the murder
GUS fire directed on them.
The Russians captured two officers
and thirty men.
1t is reported that twelve ships had
been prepared by the Japaneye. but for
some unknown reason two Of them
never attempted to approach the en-
trance.
1T is stated hat the crews of the fire
ships included a number Of Japanese
cadets, who showed extraordinary
bravery. especially when the ships were
sinking. Several Of the crew sat on the
topmasts. firing revolvers. and Their
plunged into the sea. It Is believed
that non OF the cadets were saved.
The attempt to close the mouth Of
the harbor failed.
Report From Alsxieff.
st. Petersburg, May High Admiral
Grand Duke Alexis has received The
following ofacial telegram from Vice
~ Asxaetl rsportspE TIP ysRsRsse Ct.