The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-04-19

six were battleships and the remainder
armored and unarmored cruisers.
Unable to get within effective range
OF Vice Admiral Makaroff's ships, the
enemy stopped eighteen versts from
shore.
Or squadron. with the Petropav-
lovsk leading. arrived at the entrance
to the harbor and drew UP In line Of
battle. Another signal was f1oated
from the flagship, and the torpedo
boats at once went into the inner har-
Dor.
I watched the P~etropavlovsk closely
as she steamed toward Electric clih.
The frowning marine monster, whose
guns were ever turning towards the
enemy, was prepared to send huge
messengers of death against him. ALI
was quiet. It was the hush before q /,
battle-the hush when every nerve Is
strained to get into impending danger.
I looked for the Japanese ships, but
they YER without movement, save
that caused by the heaving sea.
My glance returned to our squad
ron. The Petropavlovsk was almost
without Roadway when suddenly saw
her tremble. She seemed to rise out
Of the water, a tremendous explosion
rent the air. then q second and then
a third. Fragments few In all direc-
lions and wreckage and men were
mixed up in a terrible mass.
Battleship Disappears.
I was hardly able to realize the hor-
| ror of it when the ship began to list.
In a moment the e seemed to open
! and the water rushed over her. The
! Petropavlovsk had disappeared.
The floating woodwork and the few
men struggling in the water we're all
! that was left to recall the splendid
fighting machine which a few hours
before had sailed out of the hartor.
The same shock experienced by the
observers on Golden Hill paralyzed
for a moment the men on the ships,
but when it passed topedo boats and.
small boats fastened to the rescue OF
the survivors.
Eager to ascertain what had oc-
Cured on board the sunken ship, I
fastened to a landing where a small
remnant Of the gallant crew were be
ing put ashore and conveyed to q hos
pital. Signalman Pochkoff, who was
slightly wounded, AZ able to give me
a remarkably clear statement Of the
disaster. He said:
1--WE were returning to the harbor.
the Petropavlovsk leading. Some OF
our cruisers which had remained In
the harbor came out and steamed to
ward the enemy, firing sixteen shots
at him with their bow guns. They
then retired. The enemy numbered
fourteen heavy ships, nearly all ar
mored, while ours were nine Against
their armored cruisers We had only
the Bayan. 1 stood in the wheel house
on the bridge of the PetropavlovsA
looking up the signal book. The ad
miral's last signal had been for the
torpedo boats to enter the harbor.
/ Makaroff Died on the Bridge.
"The Petropavlovsk slowed speed
and almost stood still. Suddenly thu
ship shook violently. | heard a fear
full explosion. Immediately followed
by two others. They seemed to me tt
Z be directly under the bridge. I rushed
Ito the door of the wheel house wher'
Mat an 0fsceRs pEobahls a helms
!. ~ -. =
! every monaentsyAsGeScsM
$ ION the bridge L saw an once
!, weltering in blood-it was u ad
a miral--Makarotf. He lay face dowr
; ward. I sprang to him, grasped hir
3 by the shoulder and attempted t
. raise him.
7 1.-THE ship seemed to be fallin.
somewhere. From all sides flew fras
: ments. I heard the deafening screec
and the frightful din. The smok
: rose in dense clouds and the flame
!. seemed to leap toward the bridg
y where I was standing beside the &C
miral. l jumped on the rail and wa
i washed off, but succeeded in grabbin
u something. | was sucked down.
- remember the falling masts and the
- nothing more.
"On our ship was an old man wit
a beautiful white beard. who had bee
:, good tc onr men. He had a book ]
- = his hand and seemed to be writin'
- perhaps sketching. He was Veres
= chagin, the painter"
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