The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-03-05

OF events already reported Dy CdD4S, d.
taken from the files of the Japan Ga
zette, which arrived in yesterdays mails
SINKING OF THE NAKONOURA
MARU.
AS reported in the Geographic col
umns OF our last issue, the crew anc
passengers of the japanese steamer Ma
announcement, which was sunk by tour
Russian warships near the Isugaru
straits on the nth inst, returned to
Nagasaki by German steamer yesteT-
day morning.
Captain Y. Enuma of the ill-fated
steamer has sent in the following re-
port to the authorities -
About a. m Con the nth inst.) the
Nakonoura-maru encountered four Rus-
sian warships when the latter fired a
blank cartridge preceding the signal :
"We do not allow you to proceed; aban-
don your ship quickly; leave the ship
within fifteen minutes" The Nakono-
ura-mafu, therefore, prepared to lower
boats and signafled TO the Russian men
of-war asking them for assistance as
much as possible The Russian squad
ron then replied: I'VE are going to
save YOU The four ships surrounded
the Nakonoura-maru and began the
firing, discharging several shots each.
The Nakonoura lowered the life boats
from the port side and transferred to
them one-half of the crew and the pas
sengers. She turned her hull, and, be-
fore lowering the life boats from the
starboard side, was pierced through the
bu1warks by several shots, one of which
fell near the life boats. The remaining
members of the crew all got on the
boats At this time, shells from the
Russian cruiser Gromoboi were feared
TO be falling on them but they rowed
to the Gromoboi having abandoned all
hope of being saved. The Gromobol
sent down a rope ladder by means of
board the Russian warship. After they
had been deprived of their effects, four
(passengers) were given room and
the crew of thirtv-seven were distrlb-
uted in three rooms. All the rooms were
locked and protected by guards. The
prisoners were given black bread and tea
thrice a day After cruising through
the Japan Sea. the Russian squadron re-
turned to Vladivostok at a p. m. on the
18th On the 18th. the Japanese pris-
oners took their final breakfast on the
Russian ship and afterwards were fav-
ored with warm clothing, such as over
coats, hats, shoes, etc. At 10 a. m.
they were sent ashore and re-imprisoned
until q. m. when forty-one Japanese
were released without condition About
three o'clock, the Vladivostok harbor
Office forwarded them to the German
steamer, which left for Nagasaki at 10
a. m on the 10Th.
The Captain of the Nakonoura-m aru
adds that the four Russian men-of-war
were staying at Vladivostok at the time
of his departure.
The above is published by Japanese
paper as a summary of the Captains re-
port to the authorities. The Captain in
his official report, does not speak of any
loss OF life, but is alleged to have told
the press representatives at Nagasaki
that sailor named Tsuneyemon Murata
was injured by shell, which fell near
the life boat lowered from the starboard
side. and was drowned, having been
precipitated into the water. Another
early report, from Nagasaki mentioned
the loss of two lives.
Later on we learned that the Asahi
had published the full text OF Captain
Enuma'S official report which clearly
announces the death OF two sailors. The
Nakonoura-maru suffered from the fire
of both the Grornoboi and the Rossia.
All the important ships articles and
documents went down with the vessel.
The exact time when the Nakonoura
came in sight of the four Russian war
ships was II go a. m on the nth inst
when she was knots distant from the
Russian feet and IL knots off the nearest
point of land
According to NagaSaki telegram to
the Asahi, after thew had been removed
on board the Gromoboi. the crew of the
Nakonoura-maru considered that they
could no ionver look for life. and at
tempted to set the Gromoboi's powder
magazine on fire with the idea of sink
ing with the Russian warship. They,
however. could not accomplish their OBJ
iect owing to the strict precautions OF
the Russian guards.
FIRST PORT ARTHUR ATTACKS.
We have been favored with the fol-
lowing extracts from a letter written
from Chefoo on the 18th inst by an
English commercial man who was in
Port Arthur when the first attacks were
made by the japanese:
''On Monday night last (Sth inst }
I heard shots being fired outside but
thought nothing of it. When / turned
out next morning there were three men
o'-war completely blocking the entrance
to the harbor, where they had been