The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-04-19
JAPANESE SHELL FIRE.
It's Fearful Effects as Seen on
the Variag.
TEN GUN CAPTAINS WE'RE KILLED

surgeon on the Russian Cruiser
sunk on ehemuIpo Became Insane,
and wounded HAD No one TO care
For Them-Tvo Japanese Vessels
Did the Damage.
Details Of the fight or Cbemulpo
Korea, between the Russian cruiser
Yariag and the Japanese feet which
haze never been published on this
side were supplied by passengers Of
the Northern Pacific liner Victoria
which recently arrived at Victoria, b.
G., from the orient
The principal details relate 70 the
awful effects of the Japanese shell fire
and the strange attacks Of the battle
A copy Of the Korean Review Of late
date gives the following version Of
the historic combat:
The yariag and Korietz made
straight for the easterly channel, steer
ing a little west Of south, the Japa.
nese feet waiting for them eight miles
away When four miles separated
them the Japanese threw shots across
the Russians bow as a signal to heaye
to and surrender
The only answer the Russians made
was to crowd on more fire, and the
Variag began TO leave the Korietz, and
steaming twenty-four knots, headed
straight for the japanese flagship The
object was to get as close as possible
to the Japanese, as the Yaraigs guns
were only 6.4 inches and quite useless
at the damage range Of the japanese
guns
This was at five minutes before
noon The japanese feet was de-
ployed into line facing the approaching
steamers, apparently not intending to
bring their whole force to bear on
them. The two Japanese vessels that
smashed tie yariag to pieces were the
Asama ana Chiyoda; no other vessels
Of the Japanese fleet took part.
Not long after the warning shots the
two Japanese ships let loose their
whole batteries. the noise being ter
rife. The yaraig sweryed to eastward
and gave the Japanese her starboard
broadside
All about her the sea was torn into
foam and spouting fountains Of water,
with machine gun fire and exploding
shells. Her steering gear was smash
ed early Id the fight and she had to de-
pend entirely on her engines to steer.
Seeing it was impossible to make the
eastward passage, the Varlag's COM
mander headed for the west and came
around in a course which brought the
yariag very much nearer the Japa-
nese. Then the deadly work was done
Oh her.
Ten Of her twelve gun captains
we're shot away A shell struck her
forecastle, passed between the arm
and body Of a gunner, who had his
hand on his hip, and bursting, killed
every other man on the forecastle
Both bridges were destroyed by burst
ing shells. and Captain Rubnieh was
| seriously wounded.
/ A lieutenant who was in the con.
/ ming tower, peertng through the oD'
servation slit. had his face beaten
clear in and his head reduced to pulp
by the terrific impact Of a shell which
struck the slit just opposite his face
and exploded
The scenes on the fore and aft decks
we're sickening. The Yariag's surgeon
| went violently insane shortly after the
| engagement, SO that the wounded mer
had to wait until boats with medical
assistance arrived from the neutral
ships
The explosion Of the Korietz was SC
violent that the neutral commanders
asked that the Yariag be not blown
up. she was accordingly set on fire
and sunk
! The variag's forty-one dead were
placed iii one OF the cabins and burned
and went down with their ship,