Evening journal., 1904-11-17
The Rastoropny De-
stroyed after Running
the Blockade at Port
Arthur
Fearing Capture by Jap
anese Last Man to
Leave the Ship Lit
Fuses


pedo boat destroyer Rastoropny, which
entered the harbor here. bringing dis
patches from Port Arthur for trans
mission to St. Petersburg. was blown
up by her crew, in order. it is sup
posed, to avoid capture by the Japa-
nese.
It is impossible 10 secure an ex-
planation Of the action of the Rus
SLAMS, but it is believed that they were
determined not to allow a repetition
OF the Ryeshitelni incident Previous
TO the destruction OF the destroyer the
taot had officially notified the Japa-
nese consul that her disarmament had
been completed, the breeck blocks and
ammunition having been removed and
her machinery disabled.
The Russian consul officially notified
the taoti that the destroyer had been
driven towards Chefoo by heavy sea,
and that It had been decided to disarm
her because her machinery had been
disabled This Is looked on in some
quarters here as the throwing OF a
transparent veil over the purpose Of
the vessels visit
The Russians, with the exception Of
one man, left the destroyer during the
afternoon. 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 occurred.
Almost simultaneously the Rastor-
opny sunk and settled on the bottom.
A single spar marks her grave.
The correspondent OF the Associated
Press learned authoritatively that the
Rastoropny carried sealed orders pro-
viding that unless there came a highly
favorable opportunity to escape the
vessel should be blown up.
Sufficient powder for this purpose
was secreted before the destroyer left
Port Arthur.
Small charges Of ordinary powder.
placed in each OF the five water-ught
compartments, were exploded.
Customs Officer Joenig was on board
the destroyer. and the Russians ex-
perienced considerable difficulty in get
ting him of without arousing his sus-
picions The destroyers cutter, man
ned by two men, was lying near, and
the Official was persuaded TO take a
ride around thd Rastoropny in order
that he might see the injuries she was
alleged 10 have received. No sooner
had The customs officer stepped into
the cutter than a petty officer drew
his watch and urged the rowers to
make all speed away. When the de-
stroyer had gone down the official was
taken on shore
The Japanese consul says that the
Russians wasted their vessel, as the
Ryeshitelni incident would not have
been repeated.
Two Japanese torpedo boat destroy
ers were seen at the mouth OF the har-
Dor, and their presence undoubtedly
precipitated the action Of the Russians
in blowing up-the. Rastoropny
The explosion was so subdued and
the crew remsined so silent that II was
some time before the report OF the
affair became current. Even the off,
cials most intimately concerned got
the news from the correspondents.
The Japanese consul says that nine
Of the Russian crew came ashore with
their rifles, against which action he
has protested to the authorities.
A private letter received from Port
Arthur requests the Associated Press
to publish a statement to the effect
that all the foreigners there are well,
and that none Of them has received
any wounds during the fighting.
The Port Arthur newspaper. Novi-
krai, of November II. copies Of which
were brought TO Chefoo by the Russian
torpedo boat destroyer Rastoropny.
prints brief details Of daring exploit
which resulted in the sinking Of a four
funneled Japanese torpedo boat de-
stroyer while laying mines.
Midshipman Dimitrieff and half
dozen volunteers secured a steam
launch from the battleship Retvizan.
and in the dense darkness slipped out
OF the harbor. Circling around the
Japanese boats with the launch NOV
ing at top speed, the midshipman came
within striking distance from the sea-
ward side and launched a torpedo. Il
sped toward the destroyer. There
was a sudden explosion and the de-
stroyer sank Immediately. The launch
then sped towards the harbor, but was
not pursued, the Japanese evidently
not having observed the launch and
thinking that the destroyer had struck
one Of their own mines.
The Novikrai of November 12 con-
tains romantic story of Haritena
Korotkiewitch. who, although a wom-
an, served valorously in many fights
at Port Arthur, until death closed her
strange career.
The Noyilrai gives many details Of
the adventures Of the woman, which
90 to make the story one Of undoubtea
authenticity.
The husband Of Haritena Korotlxie
witch was serving at Port Arthur In
endeayoring to join him she was stop-
ped at Harbin, and was not allowed 10
proceed further owing to her sex. She
then donned masculine attire and suc-
ceeded in reaching Port Arthur shortly
before the landing OF the Japanese on
the peninsula OF Liaotung.
While fighting side by side with her
husband the latter was wounded. Hi.
wife nursed him until the crisis in his
a4aa Vas ranaad 49,. a. d. --.--. .