Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-11-19

Chefoo.-The Russians have blown
up their torpedo boat destroyer Kat
storpny.
The Russians with the exception OF
one man, left the destroyer in the after
noon. This last man lit fuses and
blew up the vessel.
There were three dull explosions.
which were scarcely discernible 100
yards from the place where they oc.
Cured. Almost simultaneously the
Ratstoropny sunk and settled on the
bottom.
A single spar marks her grave.
The Ratstoropny brought a number
of copies of the NoW krai, a Port Ar
thur newspaper In one OF the issues
it is stated that while Japanese de-
stroyer was laying mines, on Nov. II,
she was surprised by the battleship
Retvi2an and sunk.
The commander of the Ratstoropny
in an interview on his adventurous voy-
age, said:
II left Port Arthur at midnight in a
binding snowstorm. The boat was nav
igated through all the dangers OF float
ing mines without mishap. On reach
ing the open sea we saw a Japanese
cruiser and some torpedo boats in the
distance, but we were steaming rapidly
through the storm, with lights eXtin-
guished, and passed them unnoticed.
hap ef any kind"
The commander Of the torpedo boat
destroyer was optimistic with reference
to Port Arthur. He declared that all
the forts remained in Russian hands
and that the garrison was confident
and in good spirits.
Commander Pelem added that the
destroyer's object was simply to carry
dispatches. The other Russian ships
remained at fort Arthur.
The Chinese cruiser Haiyung raised
steam within 20 minutes and came
close to the Ratstoropny, Capt. Ching
of the Haiyung boarded her and held a
brief conference with Commander Pei
EN-. Ensign Wainwright, Rear Admir-.
al Folger's aide, boarded the RatstOrO-
pny Immediately, but he and Capt.
Ching were not invited to enter the
RatstorOpny's cabin. although a bliz-
zard was cutting their faces.
Capt. Ching notified Commander Pei
EN- that "a hours was the limit OF the
time he could remain armed at Chefoo,
after which the Ratstoropny would he
compelled to disarm. While delivering
| this ultimatum the Russian sailors who
seemed to be healthy and carefree,
continued greasing the torpedo tubes,
| which were loaded.
Following the conference with Capt.
Ching the Ratstoropny was moved
further in to the old anchorage OF the
torpedo boat destroyer Riesitelni,
where the Russian consul boarded the
Ratstoropny and brought her dis
patches ashore.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press has learned authOritatively that
the Ratstorophny carried secret orders
providing that unless there came !
highly favorable opportunity to escape
the vessel should be blown up.
Sufficient powder for this purpose
was secreted before the destroyer left
Port Arthur.
| Customers Officer Koenig WAS on
board the destroyer and the Russians
experienced considerable difficulty in
getting him off without arousing his
suspicious The destroyer's cutter man
ned by two men, was lying near, and
the official was persuaded to take a
ride around the RatstorOpny in order
that he might see the injuries she was
alleged to have received.
No sooner had the customs officer
stepped into the cutter and petty OF.
ficer drew his watch and urged the
rowers to make all speed away. When
the destroyer had gone down the OF.
ficial was taken on shore.
The Japanese consul says that the
Russians wasted their vessel, as the
Riesitelni incident would not have
been repeated.