Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-04-21
GRAPHIC STORY.
Eyewitness Reports What He Saw
From Port Arthur.

lr0paEloYsk and sends the following
graphic description OF the AFFAIR."
For four nights ! wat. he'd with the sem
tries on Golden hill. Three nights passed
quietly.
Tuesday night, April u, Vice Admiral
Makaroff took to sea with his entire
squadron, including II torpedo boats.
The next night, April 49, in the teeth Of
gale, eight torpedo boats were sent out to
reconnoitre. From Golden hlll, on which
] was standing, through the blaekness the
searchlights of the fortifications flashed
over the inky waters of the roadstead and
far out to the hazy horizon.
At eleven o'clock | heard firing at sea
and counted seven shots, but could see
nothing At daybreak / made out through
the light haze to the southwark about five
miles from shore six torpedo boats strung
out in line, all firing. In the lead and out
stripping the others was a boat heading at
fun speed directly for the. entrance OF the
harbor. The last in line was beclouded in
steam and tagging. She had evidently
been hit. 1t was difficult to distinguish
our boats. but finally through my glasses /
saw that the leader and the laggard were
Russian and that the four others were Jap
anese.
The flash of the guns and the splash Of
the pFoiectiles as they struck the water
showed the intensity of the conflict.
escaping was firing viciously. The four
centre craft drew together, concentrating
their fire upon her, but the crippled de-
stroyer poured out her fire and was sue
cessfully keeping off her assailants.
The signal station flashed the news to
the men OF the batteries that the vessel
was the Strashni.
The unequal combat was observed with
breat hless interest, but the ret drew close
az 10 a
anese vessels formed a semi-circle and
poured in a deadly fire. The steam from
the Strashni grew denseT, covering her
like a white pail Still she fought like
desperately wounded animal brought to
bay.
Running straight for the adversary BAR
ring her way to safety, she passed the Jap
anese astern and fired at them.
At this stage Vice Admiral Makaroff,
who had been observing the progress OF
the conflict through a telescope, signalled
to the cruiser Bayan, lying in the inner
harbor, to weight anchor and 60 out to
the rescue.
The japanese destroyers clung to their
victim like hounds IN a chase. They had
become separated, but again resumed close
formation. Small Jets OF flame and smoke
were squirting from the light rapid fires,
varied by denser clouds, as torpedoes were
discharged against the StrHshni.
The stricken boat loosed final round,
and then disappeared beneath the waves.
only little cloud OF steam marking the
place where she went down.
The japanese torpedo boats turned and
made OF at full speed, followed by the
Bayan. To their support came six OF the
enemy's cruisers. still the Bayan went on
seemingly inviting certain destruction.
She soon turned and sent brOadside into
the enemy's line. The Japanese returned
the fire. all their guns bearing on the Bay
an. Projectiles rained around the ship
but none struck home.
To the eastward suddenly appeared five
more OF our torpedo boats returning to the
harbor under forced draught. Two Of the
japanese cruisers were Immediately de-
tached 10 cut them off, but the Baypn, no
ticing the movement, eheckmated II by
turning a hot fire upon them.
The movement was effective. The Jap
anese cruisers slowed down and the tor
pedo boats slipped through into the har-
Dor.
Meantime. in accordance with Vice Ad-
miral Makarofs order, the battleships
and cruisers in the inner harbor slipped
anchor. The Petropavlovsk, flying the
admiral's flag, steamed through the en-
trance. On her appearance the formidable
array OF japanese cruisers turned and
fled. The admiral signalled, "Bravo Bay
am
By this time the entire Russian squad
ron was in the outer harbor. Besides the
Petropavlovsk, ] saw the battleship Po-
resviet, Poltava, Pobieda and Sevastopol,
the cruisers Novik, DiGna and Askold and
the torpedo boats.
Another signal from the flagship and
the torpedo boats dashed ahead and the
heavier ships began to spread out.
Seeing the flight OF the japanese cruis-
n Il H.aaA UtiaN d
her great guns, but the enemy was out Of
range and soon disappeared.
Our squadron continued the chase, final
ly fading from view.
I'm about an hour it came in sight Far
beyond il was the enemy. AT last | made
out behind our squadron fleet Of II, Of
which SIX were battleships and tine re-
maiuder armored and unarmored cruisers.
Unable to get within effective range Of
Vice Admiral Makaroif's ships the enemy
stopped Is versts from shore.
our suuadron, with the Eetropaylovsk
leading, arrived at the entrance to the har-
Dor and drew up in line OF battle. An
other signal was fioated from the flagship,
and the torpedo boats at once proceeded
through the entrance into the inner har-
Dor. Vice Admiral Makaroff was evident
ly unwilling 20 risk his vulnerable craft
to heavy proiectiles. watched the Pet
ropaviovsk closely as she steamed toward
Electric cliff,
All was quiet. It was the hush before a
battle.
looked for the japanese ships, but they
were without movement save that caused
by the heaving sea.
NV glance returned 10 our squadron.
The PetropavlOvsk was almost without
headway when suddenly ! saw her trem-
ble. She seemed 70 rise out Of the water,
a tremendous explosion rent the air, then
a second and then third.
Fragments flew in all directions and
wreckage and men we're mixed up IN a
terrible mass
was hardly able to realize the horror OF
il when the ship began 10 list.
In moment the sea seemed to open and
the water rushed over her. The Petropav-
lovsk had disappeared.
The floating woodwork and the few
men struggling in the water were all that
was left to recall the splendid lighting ma
chine. which few hours before had sail
ed out Of the harbOr.
The same shock experienced by the OBJ
servers on Golden hill paralyzed for mo-
ment the men on the ships, but when Il
passed torpedo boats and small boats hast
ened to the rescue Of the survivors.
Eager to ascertain what had occurred on
board the sunken ship / FASTENED to q
landing where a small remnant Of the gall
liant crew were being put ashore and con-
!. tai NrFHfH