The Newtown bee., 1904-04-15
U. s. s. "Pompey, :" Chemuulpo, Korea.

CnemuulpO, Korea.
 February l2, 1904.
 Dear Mother and Father: They have just signaled over from the U. s. s. "Vicksburg" that a mail closes at o'clock to-day so will try and get a a few days ago but doubt if you ever eotit on account of the war out here as it was on board a Russian vessel and the Japs are the bosses here. Well have seen naval fight and an awful thing it is, too. You probably have read in the papers by this time of the fight of Chemulpo. There was fleet of Jap- anese in here consisting of 5 torpedo boats and four cruisers and four battleShipS, February sand the Russian fleet, which consisted of only two ships, the "Variag," built at Philadel- phia by Cramps, a noble ship and one of the finest warships afloat. Well, lon the morning of the 9th, the Japanese gave notice to the Russians that they must leave the harbor at noon or else We were just going alongside of the U. s. $. "Vicksburg" to give her coal when Japanese official came aboard and said war had been declared As they control the wires here the Rus sians did not know anything about it until the Japanese told them to get out. However the Russians were plucky and at once commenced to clear ship for action, throwing overheard immense quantities of inflammable material, tables, chairs, desks, everything made of wood. They laid about 200 yards from where we did so we could see them hustle saving off masts, etc. At 11.2O they got under way, the big Russian 1oo1 xUifh ho oo1lor hou port quarter. As they neared the Japs the Japs started for them. At l1.55 the Japs fired the first shot, which was answered immediately by the small Russian cruiser. Then it con- menced in earnest. The roar was ter rife, dozens of shots being fired at the same time, we thought the "Variag" was on fire the way the guns fared when they were fired. About 12.3O a 12 inch shell struck the large Russian on her port quarter and she burst into flames. The JapS kept firing all the time. They began to chase the Rus sians into the harbor where we were, so we got all ready to get out of the and the Russians headed for the har- bor, the "Varaig" being on fire aft. The small Russian was not hit at all, so they say. forgot to say that the Japs sailed about three hours ahead of the Russians and waited for them. All the different ships in the harbOr sent thelr hospital corps aboard the Russian. Were six officers and 30 men killed and as many more seriously injured. The shrieking and moans of the dying and injured was awful to hear. At p. m. as we were sitting around on deck, a terrific explosion took place, the small Russian cruiser blow ing up. It was the grandest sight l ever saw and which l won't forget as long as live. Just think; one moment in the next moment nothing left. The smoke arose, I should say, to a height of half mile. Masts went up, also hundreds of bags of flour which they used in the battle to shoot from behind. We afterward heard that the Russians blew her up so the Japs could not capture her, but when the ex- plosion occurred we supposed everyone had gone with her and it made quite an impression on our nerves. During the afternoon they began to abandon the "Variag" as the fire was gaining too rapidly, explosions taking place continually, and at 6 p. m., an ex- plosion little larger than the others
 
 she was no more, she rolled over on her side and sank. Two ships gone that six hours before had not a thing the matter with them. They say the large one. cost $3, 100000 Then during the evening the Russians burned and sank Russian merchant steamer to prevent the Japs getting hold of her. Well, there was more excitement that day than l ever had. 1 send you a picture of the Russian warships re- turning from the fight that snapped. You can see the large one has listed over to port. The small one is going to an anchorage where they blew her up. You can see the smoke coming out of the middle of one of the smoke stacks on the big Russian, where the Japs shot a big hole through it. The arbOard side of her forward bridge was shot away, too, carrying the navi- gator with it. 1 don't know how much longer they are going to keep us up here, but they will keep us expect, to take off refugees in case of war ashore, as there are many Americans here. There are three American ships here including our vessel. l hope we get out as it is too cold here to suit me, about Is above zero yesterday and we had snow storm last night, so the mountains look quite wintry here. We'll, must hurry and close this so as to catch the mail. Hoping this finds you well, will close with love to all. IA. B. Randall, Chief Officer, U. s. N. 0. "Pompey."
 The Spring is the time for house.