Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-17
Bishop Moore Was an Eye Wit
ness of the Naval Battle at
Chemulpo Harbor
SAILORS SANG THE REQUIEM
Vivid Description of the Attack Which
Resulted in Destruction of the kor-
ietz and the variae - Russian Sea.
men scorned to surrende-scene
Wierd One.

na, Japan and Korea, and whose son
L. II. Moore, is head professor OF
mathematics at the University of Chi
cage, was an eyewitness of the naval
battle between the Russians and Jap
anese at Chemulpo. In a letter to a
resident of this city he gives vivic
description of the contest
The bishop left Shanghai on Feb. Q,
in the Sungari of the Russian line,
plying between that city and Port Ar
thur, which reached Chemuipo on Feb.
S. and anchored near the Russian cruz
sers Variag and korietz. Not a Jap
anese cruiser WAS in sight at this time.
The bishop, in describing the battle
and the events leading up to it, writes
i'll part as follows:
Japanese Fleet Arrives.
Nothing unusual occurred until
about 4 p. m, when long line Of Jap
anese cruisers, torpedo boats aud three
transports-twelve in all-steamed in
and anchored. 1t was dark before the
troops began to observation-disclosures 5000
hardy looking fellows. equipped FOR
active service.
The soldiers landed, the fleet with
drew some eight miles beyond an
island, and formed across the narrow
channel by which alone heavy draft
ships can pass in or out-the Asama
Takashito Gushirna. Nanivo. Chiyoda
Nitoka and eight torpedo boats. Be-
sides these, a second line was ru-
inored.
Tuesday, the 9th, like shock ran
thru the city the report that the Jap
anese consul had notified the Russians
that if they did not sail out by noon
they would be attacked in the harbor
at p. m. Soon after an official order
was made public that the Japanese
ships would attack the Russian mem
of-war in Cheirulpo harbor IL they did
not leave before noon. The Russians
decided to go out at once and stripped
their ships for action.
Earth and Sea Shake"
Our mission compound commands a
file view of the harbor and roadstead
md to the left and farther seawarr, a
stili better view is secured. AS the
SHIPS disappeared in the haze our
hearts stood still with almost agoniz.
ing suspense. Then came the roar Of
Two shots across their bows.
Then, refusing to lay TO. they open-
ed their batteries and were opened ON
by the concentrated fire OF the Japan-
csc. Fifteen minutes. we tho,,pbt
would suffice to end the uneouaJ con.
lssla put earth and sea shook under
the aWiW thunder OF guns thirty min
utes, forty-five minutes fifty-two MIN
1tes, and unable to break thru, scorn-
ing TO surrender, the Russians swung
around and steamed back To their an
with their flags still flying.
sure of their prey. and perhaps UNI
willing 10 fight unnecessarily in the
narbor, the japanese did not g,umble.
out resumed their station in the road
stead, completely blocking the only
shanne1. The four funneled Cramp
Quilt big cruiser Variag was evidently
badly wounded and listed to port. The
aoredtz, the smaller of the two. was
apparently uninjured
Variag Sinking.
We hastenei to row out in n sam
pan TO inspect for ourselves. We saw
10 scars or wounds on the Koreitz. thu |
ne sailors were putting fresh paint on
Ter nuH here and there as If to conceal |
scars, and the officer directing tslad his
read bandaged. Allen asked In Rus
van how they Jared. The commander
'eplied that they had no chance and
nat at p m. the ship would go UP.
me Nariag was evidently sinking. She I
vas mortally wounded amidships and
lad huge rent in her upper works.
Her two tunnels were rd1led and |
Ter bridge was a mass of twisted iron. I
A lieutenant who was on the bridge
s'hen II was struck was torn to pieces /
md blown overheard, all but his right /
lrnl and hand, which were found still 7
folding the flag with which he was
signalling orders to the Koreitz
The boats of the other warshins
we're removing her men to the security
f their own decks. The wounded were
icing taken onto the French and Eng
lsh ships, hundred more dead than
live. 1t was pathetic, the tenderness
nd veneration with which they ham
ed down the cars portrait.
Sing National Hymn.
Our United States ship, the yicks-
urg alone, gave no sanctuary. though,
er life boats helped remove the men.
We hailed the first officer of the Sun
arr. the ship we landed from the day
efore. He Indicated that all was lost
nd shortly after we saw the men dash
Glow as if to scuttle her.
Now the men are Fastening to leave
lie Koreitz We are within a few
ards of her last two boats as they mt
#. 1t is twenty minutes to D. and we
scall her captains words and hasten
lr rowers. There Is an island sur
counted by a revolving light 600 yards
way. We land and climb to it's sum :
Ill.
THE hands of the watch denote 4.
a terrific explosion in the
ern, and almost simultaneously am
her forward, sent the Koreitz to it's
pom. Two magnificent volumes of
noke and debris leaped. writhing and
visiting upward, clinching and strug-
ing like two monsters in mortal COM
At As their black bodies pulled
nart for moment, the sinking sun,
arful with filmy haze, shone through.
Sing National Hymn.
And listen. Through the blackness
darkness and the rain of falling
a gments of their ruined ship come
ately and solemn and grand from the
rench ship, VThers they had asylums, |