The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-04-20

course and planning the expected bat
tie. Every man was at his post and
the great guns were being ranged for
the fray.
On the other vessels OF the fleet the
same methodical preparations were
being made to do battle. From their
bridges their officers eagerly watched
the big vessel in the morning mist
ahead OF them from which signal,
were being displayed for their diSpo-
Ntion in the lin" Of battle.
The sea fighters were well out OF
the harbor when suddenly the watch.
crS on the trailing boats saw an i'm
mcnse column OF water spout mp
amdships Of the starboard side OF the
Pctropavlovsk. reaching far above the
fighting masts and descending in a
dcluge on the stripped decks OF the
vessel There was an accompanying
muitled roar.
The giant vessel paused a. il stayed
by an unseen hand, lurchcd. sprang
forward and began to settle to star
board.
The nearest ships lowered boats.
which pulled away for the distressed
battleship. \ score Of such rcScucrs
were in the water in few minutes.
On the Pctropavlosvk there must
have been scenes OF the dircst horror
OF the 700 men all but a score were
below decks or in the turrets
When the explosion occurred tho
officers Immediately OWNED the cause
\ mine had been struck and a great
hole torn in the side OF the vessel be
low the water line Into this the sea
poured. listing the vessel rapidly.
Orders were issued to food the
compartments on the port side OF the
ship in order to bring it to an even
keel, but these instructions could not
be carried out.
Gradually over went the big battle
ship. Into few boats scrambled
such of the men as were above deck.
The first thought was Tor the Grand
Duke Cyril and he was helped to
boat by his lieutcnants
St. Petersburg. CBy Cable Barely
recovering from the shock OF the
catastrophe to the battc,hip Pctro-
palvlovsk. the city and nation were
again plunged more deeply plunged
INTO grief when official tclegrams were
given out announcing the sinking OF
the torpedo-boat destroyer Bczstra-
shni, with a crew OF forty-fi:e, and
the damaging OF the battleship Po-
bicda on mine IN the Port Arthur
horbor.
No news was received from Port
Arthur until 10 o'clock in the morn
ing, when long cipher message
was received and hurried to the naval
officials and translated. The message
was from Rear Admiral Prince Ouk-
tomsky, who tcrscly told OF the new
misfortune which had overcome the
squadron. The message after CON
frming the loss OF the Pctropalovsk,
.aid;
The torpedo boat Nestrashni was
sent out with others, on a night ex-
pidition. and was unable to return.
Cwing to the stress Oi weather She
was surrounded by the cnemy's tor
pcdo boats and sank fighting Five
men were saved.
After the sinking of the Petro-
paylovSk | took over temporarily the
command OF the fleet.
While surrounded by the enemy's
squadron. the battleship Pobieda ran
board side amidship. The Pobieda
ruNNCtutu III llldklllS lhc ndTDOT WllH-
out aid. No one on board was hurt.
The Pobieda is a battleship OF 49,
674 tons displacement and OF 4,5oo
horsepower. She is 4oIH feet long,
has IN feet beam and draws 70 feet
ot water and is heavily armorcd with
steel. She was completed in 1901
has a complement of 732 men. Her
estimated speed is I8 knots. The
steel armor OF the battleship varie,
in thickness from four to nine and
nalf inches along her belt he arma-
ment nf the Pobicda consists OF four
guns. eleven siX-inch guns,
sixteen three-inch guns, ten I.S-incn
guns and seventeen I.4-inch guns.
She has six torpedo tubes.