New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-10

and Bleaching of the Russian vessels. which were
at first supposed TO have been in collision. At
40 o'clock Russian naval officers boarded the
Columbia in a great state of excitement saying
the Viceroy had ordered the Columbia not to
attempt to depart. Tits was apparently done
With the idea Of preventing the ship from ac-
quainting the japanese with the extent Of the
Russian damage.
CONSIDERATION AMONG RUSSIANS.
Daylight revealed two japanese cruisers
watching on the horizon. After daybreak q
strange apathy seemed to possess the Russians
The vhitc-faced. gaping crews crowded for
ward on the decks OF the damaged vessels. and
mono Of tine Russian ships showed a disposition
to chase the enemy fire a single shot till the
japanese had departed. AT $50 o'clock. when
tho Russians started in pursuit, going inshore
toward Port Dalny. They returned, however
at 9:15. without having fired.
II apparently having occurred to them that
the japanese had effected complete surprise
owing to their had outlook the Russians have
now outside the harbor five effective hattleships
and FIVE effective oruisers besides smaller yes
sells and seventeen torpedo boats.
It wac almost II O'Clock when the japanese
squadron Of sixteen. including five battleships.
appeared I'm fine order. At 11.15 o'clock there
came the frs; fash from a japanese vessel. and
a Finch shell landed near the torpedo boats
grouped near the entrance Of the harbor. The
aim was splendid.
A NoN-COMBATANT IN DANGER.
/ owing to confusion on the part OF the quaran-
/ tine officials. or perhaps because the Russians
| thought the japanese would not like TO fire near
/ the British nag the Columbia was close TO the
! Rrssfan feet and in the -pRa- -ot ag~ rnGt the
/ Japanese shells fell thickly around her. several
bursting near by end s;rewing her decks with
! Tplintefs and water.
! The captain Of the Columbia then got under
way IN spite Of the protests Of the Russian
! guards on board. and got his vessel out OF
danger. making full speed fer Chc-Foo The
Russian guards were praying fervently and the
Chinese crew OF the chip was frightened. but
! they worked well. Those on board the steamer
| feared the Russian batteries would sink them
for disobeying orders. the captains repeated
signals for permission to proceed having been
| ignored.
JAPANESE GUNNERY ACCURATE.
The bombardment lasted until 11:45 o'clock.
The Japanese aimed their fire WELL two shells
bursting at the summit OF one fort and num-
her on the cliff and the beach. All were heavy
shells. Some Of them emitted a yellow smoke
but from a majority came dense black smoke.
The rate Of fire on both sides was slow.
Three Russian battIeships were hit. but the
extent OF the damages could not he ascertained
Apparently no ship either side was disabled
The Russian cruiser Novik fought plucky
keening closer ny FAR than any other Russian
vessel to the japanese. until the heavy fire
concentrated on her compelled her to retire on
the battleships The other Russian cruisers
fought at first outside the line Of battleships.
The Russians seemed to fight with little for
nation. but this was probably due to the
cramped space. they being never more than one
and a half miles from the shore and under the
guns of the forts, which fired over them. This
fire. however was not frequent.
Before the action the men the warships
could be seen throwing beds and lumber over
board The Russian ships constantly wheeled
around in the same position. while the Japanese
kept in splendid formation. The latier retired
slowly in line TO the southeastward
The Columbia escaped with a small hole in her
af,erdeck.