The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-03-16

CIECINNATI March 16.-Bishop
naval battle between the Russians and
the Japanese at ChemulpO. Vividly de-
scribes the clash in a letter to the Post.
The Bishop left Shanghai February
9Th. on d Russian liner. which anchor
ed on the morning of the Sth at Che
mulpo near the Russian cruisers Narias
and korietZ. There was not Japa-
nese ship in sight then. At O'Clock
the next day Japanese ships. twelve in
number. steamed in. anchored and
landed 5000 troops. Six Japanese
cruisers and several torpedo boats
Withdrew eight miles off and formed
Il line across the channel. ON the 9th
the Japanese consul notified the Rus
ships stripped for action. At noon they
sailed ont.
Shortly afterwards roar began.
says the bishop. "Fifteeu minutes we
thought would suffice for the unequal
combat but the earth and sea shook
under the awful thunder of guns for
80 minutes, 40. 30 and still the Japa-
nese were unable to break through
Scorning surrender the Russian ships
swung around and steamed back to
anchorage. their flags flying. Sure of
their prey. the japanese ships resumed
their station in the roadstead. there
blocking the only channel. The four
funneled NariAg was evidently badly
damaged iii her list port, but the kOr-
io+z was apparently uninjured. We
hastened To row out to them. We saw
no scars on the korietz, though her
sailors were putting paint on her hull
as if to conceal her injury. I asked
head how the ships had Jared. He re-
Piled that they had no chance and that
the ships would be lost The Nariag
was evidently sinking. mOrtally wound
ed amidship a huge rent in her upper
works. her two tunnels rdded. her
bridge a mass of twisted iron. A lieu
,cnant Oh ttat bridge was tern to
pieces. His right arm was found still
holding the signal flag Boats from
other ships in the harbor began to re-
move the wounded. a hundred were
more dead than alive. 1t was a pa
thetic. the tenderness and Veneration
With which men handed down the
ears portrait The United States ship
Jhe dead. Her Iifeboats helped to re-
move the dead and wounded men We
nailed the first officer of the steamer
Sungari on which we came He indi-
cated that his vessel was lost and
shortly we could see the men hurrying
below as if to scuttle the ship. Now
the Russians are Fastening to leave the
korietZ We are within few yards
If her last two boats as they are put
OF. 1t Is 20 minutes to four and We re-
call the captains words to our roWers
There is land surmounted by a re-
volving $500 yards away We land
climb its summit. The hands of my
watch denote O'Clock. Instantly
there was a terrific explosion in the
stern of the Korietz and almost stimuli
taneously another forward Two ma
lignant columns OF smoke and debris
leap writhing and twisting upward
through two monsters in mortal com
bat AS their black bodies pull apart a
moment the sinking sun is fearful with
the films and the haze it shone through.
And listen. Through the blackness
and rain of the falling fra gments of
their ruined ship comes stately and
grand from the French ship where her
crews had found refuge the majestic
chant of the Russian national hymns. |
at once their new oath of allegiance to |
the czar and their requiem for their !
lost ship. Now q fierce fire RACES in |
the bunkers of the Nariag. more. more |
as she lists to port. She has outlived |
the sun but at with great shudder |