The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-08-15
ABOARD THE AsKoLD.
Despite Defeat Good Spirit Evidence
by Runsfans,


by Russians.
Shanghai. Aug. 14.-It Is expected
that the Russian protected cruiser
Askold. which arrived at Wossung ON
August IL, will dock tonight.
correspondent Of Associated Press
went to the Askold today for the pur-
pose of inspecting her, but at first 1t
seemed impossible to obtain permission
to do so. The sentry at the gangway
refused every request to come on
board with a stern refusal. no matter
in what language the request was
made. Finally appeal was made to
Captain Grammatchikoff. who with the
consent of Captain Seiberstein, gave
permission for the correspondent to
como on board.
On reaching the deck Of the cruiser
everything was found to be in con-
fusion and 1t was noticed that no i'm
provement had been made to put
things in shape. There were many
evidences of hurried fight and q
running fight The correspondent had
expected to notice a universal depres-
sion and gloom on board the war ship.
but on the contrary, he soon became
aware of remarkable spirit of cheer
fulness and confidence on all sides.
The crew generally appeared to
although some of the men seemed to be
downcast and absent minded.
From all hands, however, the cor
respondent, received a hearty hand
grip, in answer to his words. showing
the appreciation and sincerity of the
men with whom he spoke.
Many of the men OH board the As
kold spoke highly of the bravery of
the Japanese and of their readiness to
fight. There have been misgivings as
to the ultimate results of the present
conflict, however, and this in spite OF
the disastrous first six months. They
consider II impossible for Great Rus
STA" to succumb before Little Japan"
They say that for every man who dies
another comes out; that for every ship
lost another will Immediately come
over the sea and that ultimate victory
is certain. 1t was surprising to find
men on the Askold whr knew French,
English and German. When question
concerning the present loss. they sim
ply answered.
ut is fate" and say they do not con-
slider IL hard to die for their country.
Twelve men and one officer were Kill
ed ON board the Askold and about nifty
men were wounded. The badly woun'
ed have been taken to hospitals and
the captain of the cruiser has toll
them to be ready to sail in weeks
time.
Upon noticing the condition of the
Askold which has nearly zoo shell
holes in her. 1t is difficult to under
stand why her casualty list was not
greater.
The work of repairing the cruiser
is now proceeding night and day. The
sound of hammers and the noise OF
men working on metal is audible all
night long. In ten days time she can
be sufficiently patched up to render
her seaworthy, but full repairs would
take much longer. Her first and third
tunnels are riddled with machine qua
bullets, and the base of another fun
mel has been almost entirely blown
away at the deck level by a big shell.
The after tunnel was cut in two and
telescoped on itself. and the remains
of it are held up now by guy ropes.
With only an eight inch of armor.
piercing shell entered the Askold for
ward, on her starboard side, about two
feet above the water line, and lodged
in a coal bunker. A 12-inch shell ex-
ploded In her starboard hammock net
ting amidships, the fragments Kidding
and destroying metallic life boats.
Another twelve-inch shell entered
stateroom on the starboard quarter.
cutting It's way the uOCh anu
exploded in the officers quarters on the
port side of the vessel, destroying ev-
erything within reach. The deck house
on the superstructure, under the for
ward bridge, was riddled by the frag-
ments of a shell which exploded in the
forward funnel
All the searchlights on the cruiser
are damaged beyond repair. The tor
pedo netting was cut up by a shell and
is practically useless. The bottom of
the Askold has several old and new
injuries. one torpedo having made
big hole through her side into a bunk
er which happily was fairly water
tight. The cruisers steering gear is
supposed TO have been damaged. but
her engines and boilers are in perfect
ly good conditiono.
The Russian destroyer, Grozovoi,
which also reached here on August ~,
has no serious injury. She was towed
up the river today and took a posi-
ton alongside the dismantled Russian
gunboat Mandjur.
RURIK is SUNK.