The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-11-16
Russian Torpedo Boat Destroyer
Escapes from Port Arthur.
She Takes Refuge in the Harbor
of Chef0O.
CARRIED DISPATCHES
From the Commander of the
Fortress to the Emperor.
Russians Destroy Her to Escape
Capture by the Enemy.

The Russian torpedo boat destroyer
Rastoropny has been blown UP by hel
% commander in the harbor of Chefoc
after having eluded the blockade OF
Port Arthur and succeeded in filing
dispatches from General StoesseI to St
Petersburg. 1t is presumed that she
was destroyed to prevent the japanese
from cutting her out as they did the
Ryeshitelni.
a dispatch from st. Petersburg says
the dispatches filed by the vessels
commander at Chefoo have reached
there, but their character has not
been divulged. 1t is surmised from
the fact that a serviceable vessel was
removed from Port Arthur and ex-
posed to large risk of destruction or
capture, that the dispatches she bore
are of great Importance. Interviews
with the Rastoropnys officers give
optimistic accounts of the conditions
at Port Arthur. No advices of i'm
portance have been received today
from the armies facing each other
along the Shakhe river.
Chefoo, Nov. 16.-The Russians have
blown up the torpedo boat destroyer
Rastoropny.
The Russians, with the exception of
one man left the destroyer during the
afternoon
This last man lit the fuses and blew
up the vessel.
There were three dull explosions
which were scarcely discernible a hun
dred yards from the place where they
occurred
Almost simultaneously the Rastro-
pony sunk and settled on the bottom.
orIr-
1t is impossible tonight to secure an
explanation of the action of the Rus
slams, but it is believed that they were
determined not to allow a repetition of
the RyeShitelni incident. Prior to the
destruction of the destroyer the taotai
sui that her disarmament had been
completed, the breechlocks and ammu-
milton having been removed and the
machinery disabled.
During the afternoon the Russian
consul officially notified the taotai that
the destroyer had been driven towards
Chefoo by a heavy sea and that it had
been decided to diSarm her because her
machinery had been injured. This is
looked upon in some quarters here as
the throwing of a transparent veil over
the purpose Of the vessels visit.
She Brought Dispatches.
Chefoo, Nov. 16.-The Russian tor
pedo boat destroyer Rastoropny put
into this harbOr this morning. Firing
was heard half an hour before she
entered the harbOr. A snow storm and
high wind was prevailing ct the time
and it is believed that the Russian VeS-
sci under cover of the storm attempted
to escape from Port Arthur. The cor
respondent of the Associated Press sue
ceeded in reaching the destroyer after
her arrivalhere but he was not allowed
to board her. The captain of the Chi
nese cruiser Hal Yung was the first
person to go on board the Rastoropny.
hold F,,-sr-
commander after which the Rastoropny
came further in the stream and anchor
ed in the same spot that the destroyer
RyeshiteIni did last August before she
was cut out by the Japanese.
1t is humored that the Rastoropny
brought dispatch from General Stoes-
sci, asking the st. Petersburg authori-
ties for instructions as to whether he
would continue to hold out, awaiting
relief, or make immediate arrange
ments with the Japanese for surrender
upon the most advanta geouS terms pos
sible. This rumor can not be confirm
ed, but it is obvious that only dis
patches of the highest Importance
would impel General Stoessel to risk
the loss of a warship by sending her
out upon such mission, in face of the
close blockade maintained off Port
Arthur by the Japanese fleet
The captain of the Rastoropny has
notified the Chinese authorities that he
will disarm. 1t is believed that his de-
eating with st. Petersburg.
There is no reason to believe that
japanese cruisers have been watching
the port, although a steamer that has
just arrived saw no Japanese war YES
sels-
The commander of the Rostoropny in an
interview on his adventurous voyage, |
said:
I left Port Arthur at midnight in a |
binding snow storm. The boat was nav |
igated through all the dangers of float |
ing mines without mishap. On reaching /
the open sea we saw a Japanese cruiser |
and some torpedo boats in the distance |
storm with lights eXtinguished and passed |
them unnoticed- We reached Chefoo with /
out mishap of any kind
The commander of the torpedo boat de-
stroyer was optimistic with reference to |
Port Arthur He declared that all the |
forts remained in Russian hands and that
spirits.
The former Russian governor of Port
Dalny. NJ. Sakharof. died recently at Port
Arthur of enteric fever.
Dispatches for the Gar.
st. Petersburg, Nov. 16.-Advices from
Lieutenant General Stoessel and Rear Ad-
pedo boat destroyer ROstoropny to Chefoo
from Port Arthur have reached the em-
lie The great Importance of the infor-
nation is apparent from the fact that the
torpedo boat destroyer was deliberately 1
Saerlhced in order to get the cOmmunica-
lions from the beleaguered garrison The
only word which has reached the admiral
ty is a telegram from the captain of the
Rostoropny announcing his arrival with
official dispatches. An attempt of the
Japanese to repeat the Ryeshitelni Incl
lent in Chinese waters is confirmed The
reports that the Rastoropny will
be disarmed and hauled out on the shore
entering the harbor and forcibly towing
her out.
Put on Bold Face.
} Chefoo, Nov. 16.-Commander Pc