Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1904-03-02
THEIR RUSE FAILED
The PIucky Japs Went Against Hard
Proposition
RECEIVED A STUNNING REPULSE
All Does Not Appear to BE Smooth
Sailing to the Hopeful Hosts of the
Island Kingdom.

st. Petersburg, By Cable-RePsrts
of a Russian victory at Port Arthur
were current late Wednesday after
noon and early in the evening. but
the stories Of the dimensions of this
victory were most conflicting and con-
fusing in character.
The most circumstantial report was
that the Japanese had attempted to
bottle up Admiral Starks fleet in Port
Arthur by sinking two stone laden
vessels at the entrance OF the harbor,
employing the tactics which were
considered. but not executed, by the
late Admiral Sampson. U. S. N. with
the Merrimac at Santiago during the
Spanish American war. According to
this account two Japanese ships ap-
peared on the harbor with Japanese
fleet behind them and ostensibly in
pursuit. The Russians however. sus-
pected a rise, snd their ships steam.
ed out, sank the Stone-ladened vessels
and engaged and defeated the enemy
and drove them OF. The reports OF
the losses inflicted, however, are con
fiicting. All the stories include the
feature OF the vessels laden with
stones. but, according TO some YER
sious. the japanese fleet was convoy
ing the two ships with n purpose OF
efecting a landing at Pigeon Bay.
and with the failure of this prelim-
mary maneuvre. the Russians played
I havoc with both the Japanese war
ships and the transports. sinking
four OF the former and two OF the
! latter. One account gives the name
OF the battleship Retzivan as the YES
sci which particularly distinguished
herself during the action by ramming
and sinking one o. the Japanese bat
| ileships.
Rumors OF this victory were spread
far and wide over the city during the
early part OF the evening. and the
crowds which gathered in the streets,
In spite OF the severe cold, to discuss
the news, were greatly excited. The
news OF the victory was accompanied
by the two stories, one that after the
first decisive Russian victory the En-
peror would offer peace, and the 9TH
CT OF Corea. and formally annexed
that country. Both these reports are
without confirmation. and they are
given simply as examples of the
stories which floated about in the cX-
cited crowds.
| Instead Of diminishing the crowds
at the admiralty and newspaper and
! telegraph agencies OFFICES kept in.
crcasing. and the excitement attained
the fever point when IL was definitely
| known that the Emperor had received
/ telegram giving more details and
! showing that the Russian victory was
/ even greater than was at first report
! ed. Newspaper messengers waited
! at the admiraltJ with fest horses
ready to carry away the news while
| it was being prepared. When the
sheets were finally distributed at 80
O'Clock this morning 4 rush was made
/ for the exits and The assembled ot;
GERS cheered wildly and repeatedly
! The crowds showed no inclination TO
disperse. showing that further news
would be received showing the exact
extent Of the Russian victory.
! 1t must be observed that IN his dis
| patch Niceroy Alexicff docs not mcn-
| tion the number OF steamers winch
the Japanese tried to sink. or drive
upon the Russian ships. and 1t Is not
yet known whether the four vessels
the captain of tee Re:ziVan observed
going down were also laden with in
f1ammables or whether they were
| warships.
The greatest praise is given TO the
commander OF the Retzivan. and the
splendid action OF this American
Quilt vessel places her name foremost
| on the roll of the Russian navy.
Niceroy AleXicff's dispatch was an
smplihcation of a BRIEF telegram re-
oeived by the Emperor earlier, hut
which was not given Out.
Later it was said that Russia sus
tanned no losses in the engagement
IL is evident that Vice Admiral
| Stark no longer commands the Rvs.
sian Port Arthur naval forces. Vice
roy AleYien mentioning Temporary
commander OF the fleet without Civ
ing any name.
| pe0Orf of Dns NirsNrxy