The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-04-20
eeH pETaeplvloTsk Sank.
slssat Parports to be Official yer-
sion From Russian Sources.

SS. Petersburg, April 14.-The AS.
1psiased Press obtained tonight what
81 specifically the official version Of the
aSakiag oa the battleship Petropav-
ssFsk at Port Arthur and it clears
1R 90 q great extent the mysterious
ssatures Of that vessels destruction.
This version is as fal1ows:
Rasiring before the advance Of su-
porior japanese feet which vas not
ghsing its. progress the Russian
asQadron approached tne entrance
sO the harbor. It was. shortly after 8
p,clock in the morning, and most OF
as. officers and members OF the crew
4rera at breakfast on the flagship.
ysce Admiral MakaroR was eating
5ysakfass in his cabin and the ward
reom was crowded with officers sur
ro0nding the tables, On the bridge
Grand Duke Cyril, his friend. Lieut..
son Kobe, Capt. Jakoylef, command
Sng she vessel. and two other officers
s were on watch examining the narrow
saseance preparatory to entering 1t.
As about $50 o'clockN there was q
terrific explosion of the boilers, follow
sd few seconds later by detonation
from Che well-stored magazines.
Huge gaps we're torn in the hull Of
5e ship and the water rushed IN.
The centre OF gravity having gone the
ship rolled on her side and sank.
Au information tends to prove that
mine was responsible for the destruc-
sion Of the Petropavlovsk. The scene
sbelow will never be described, for as
saz as known, not single person be-
swaen decks succeeded In escaping.
Ehe hot steam which scalded the men
On deck indicated what must have been
Ne character Of the death met. By
Nsoss in the engine room. The men on
deck were thown in all directions, those
Eaaaing into the water swimming and
gzssuing the wreckage to which some
e them were able to cling.
The remainder OF the squadron I'M
zasdiately stopped and lowered small
-s5oats and the torpedo boats steamed
asquickIy as possible to the rescue OF
She survivors.
The escape OF Grand Duke Cryll and
Iaeut. Won Kobe was nothing short Of
asiraculous. The force OF the explosion
seas Grand Duke Cyril flying across
tie bridge and the base Of his skull
struck on an iron stanchion. Forum
ately he did not lose consciousness.
Believing that the ship was about to
sink he clambered hastily down it's side
md boldly plunged into the water.
succeeded In reaching a piece OF
zreckage to which he clung. The grand
duke was In she water about 20 minutes
bsSore he was picked up by torpedo
boat. Lieut. von Kobe was also found
swimming and WAS picked up. Capt.
Jakovlef vas thrown against
stanchion with such force that he
WAS killed.
Gsand Duke Cyrils injuries we're
severe. Besides receiving blow on
sRe neck, his legs were burned and he
SaaHered serious shock. He was
saken Immediately to hospital at
Port Arthur, where his injuries were
astended to. Heswill remain there for
iayee days and viii theu be brought to
Petersburg.
The exact number of Vice Admiral
gakaroff's staff on board the Petro-
paTlovsk when she sank is unknown
but it is thought by. the admiralty to
hss probably Is or 16. The exact num-
Ber OF Che crew lost is unknown. The
Petropaylovsk had a complement of
about $50 OF which SO were saved at
4 3aSS accOunIs