Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-10-29
sToEssEL DECLARES THE CITY
WILL BE HIS ToMR-coNDI-
TloNs FRIeHTFUL.
SHIPS ARE Amazed
Japanese Bombardment Continues
With Increased Fierceness-The
Japanese Drive the Russians Across
the Shahke River.

vdPdHeSe 0rive tne nuSSidnS AcroSS
che shahke River.
Shanghai, Oct 2S.-A private letter
from Port Arthur, dated October 81,
and received here today, says that
General Stoessel wired the Russian
emperor and court recently:
II now bid you all goodbye forever.
Port Arthur is my grave"
Stoessel has instiIled the garrison
with spirit that to court glorious
death is preferable to capitulation.
Ships Severely Damaged.
"The Japanese shells are inficting
great damage to the Russian fleet in
the harbor and to the Notifications.
The Last Stand.
"The arsenal with it's contents of
ammunition and small arms has been
destroyed and preparations are being
made for the last deadly struggle at
close quarters.
Water and Food Short.
"The water supply having been cut
off, wells are being sunk. Provisions
arc oCdlCS 1u0 HOlu gaia
feasts on horses killed by shells.
Stoessel Refuses to Surrender.
General Simeonoff would surrender
but is overruled by Stoessel. Certain
troops included in the garrison have to
be closely watched at present for fear
Of desertion or treachery
The Sanitary Conditions Frlehtful.
"The field and naval hospitals and
the crowded hygienic conditions are
becoming desperate. The bombardment
Is at times SO incessant that 1t Is I'M
possible to bury the dead to any
depth.
Russian, Garrison Depleted.
"Over half Of the original members
of the garrison are dead, wounded or
sick. The Japanese have practically
destroyed the new town.
viii Die Hard.
aThe besiegers are pressing closer
daily and it is hard to say how long
we can hold out. When the end
comes there will be desperate fight
and surprise. Thousands of the en-.
emy will perish as everything is man
ned"
This letter was entrusted to ma
tive boatman who ran the blockade
and mailed it at Che Foo.
Japs Close In.
Toxic. Oct. 28.-It is reported that
the Japanese opened a desperate gen
eral attack on the eastern forts of the
Kekwan group north of Port Arthur.
during the morning of October 26, and
silenced the Russian batteries. A
shell exploded the Russian magazines.
Other Forts Taken.
simultaneously the Japanese at
tackled the forts on Rihlung mountain
and Sunghowian mountain, silenced
the Russian batteries and stormed and
occupied the forts in front of these
mountains.
Town and Fleet Damaged.
On the night of the 26th there was
conflagration in old Port Arthur and
on the 9th shell hit the Russian
battleship Sevastopol and two Rus
sian steamers were sunk Official con.
f1rmation of the above is lacking, but
the reports are believed to be true
Siege Guns at Dalny.
Chez Foo, Oct 2S-The Japanese at
Dalny report the continued arrival
there of huge siege guns. Eleven
Chinese who left Port Arthur October
19 arrived here today.
Shells Strike Ships.
They say several Russian warships
have been hit by dropping shells, but
that none have been sunk. They esti
mate the able bodied soldiers there now
at 10000. Scarcely night passes with.
out small engagements over the minor
positions and the artillery fire is ex
changed daily.
JaPs Take Important Post.
Kuroki's Headquarters, Oct. 2S. -
Yesterday in determined fight the
japanese drove the Russians from
High Hill. ten miles east of the rail
road in Kuroki's front, which is i'm
portant strategically as post obser
walton and was the only point south o1
the Shakhe river which the Russians
held About one regiment of Russi
ans are entrenched there with five ma
chine guns.
Russians Retire Across River.
The Japanese rushed the Russian
trenches and shot many Russians as
they were running down the hillside
and captured two machine guns. The
Japanese had twenty men killed ant
eighty wounded. The Russians lef
thirty dead on the field. There was
hand to hand fighting when the
trenches were taken. The Russians
retired across the river.
British Steamer Released.
Vladivostok, Oct 2s.-The British
steamers Allanton and Calchas which
We're seized by the Russian Yladivos
sok squadron. have been released.