The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-14

twenty of his men were saved by boats
from the Chinese cruiser Saiyung.
Interviews with Admiral Sab ana
Captain Ching who is in command OF
the Haiyung. show that when the first
Japanese torpedo boat destroyer, tow
ing the Ryeshitelni. departed TO the
northward. the second Japanese de-
Stroyer steered a course past the nag
ship and the cruiser Haichi. The lat
ter cleared for action and signalled to
the destroyer to stop. This was done.
Admiral Sab informed the commander
Of the Japanese destroyer that the
Ryeshitelni must be returned as neu-
trality had been fiagrantly violated.
70 this the commander of the second
destroyer replied that he would over
cake the first destroyer and return to
'hefoo Admiral Sab accepted the
word of honor of the Japanese COM
nander and allowed him to depart.
rhe Chinese admiral is deeply cha
,rined at this occurrence and is Ill as
result. He has turned the command
IF his squadron over to Captain CHING.
Captain Ching says that when the
Japanese deStroyerS entered the har-
DOR of Chefoo he sent an officer on
BOARD and assured Commander Full
motto that the Ryeshitelni was disabled
md that his officers and crew had
5,igned a parole. Later the admiral
Followed his messenger and personally
'epeated this information at length,
Shereupon Commander Fujimoto said
ne had no designs on the Ryeshitelni.
When the lieutenants from one of
he Japanese deStroyers boarded the
Syeshitelni at half-past three o'clock
n the morning the crew which brought
aim with bayonets affixed 10 their
cifes in their hands, followed their Of
faiY, h. Il
against this, saying:
II am unable to resist, but this is a
breach of neutrality and courtesy"
Fight Or Well Drag You Out.
Captain Snestakovsky then secretly
commanded one OF his lieutenants to
prepare the gunpowder with which to
blow up the Russian destroyer. TO
gain the time necessary to make ready
or this step Captain ShestakoVksy ar
sued International law with the Japa-
leSe officer, whose reply to all the con-
entions of the Russian officer was:
Come to the open sea and fight on
prepare to be towed out
In the meanwhile the command was
ssued quietly to the Russian soldiers
20 resist the Japanese with their fists
n the manner which would be shown
them by their captain.
Continuing his account of the oc-
,urrence, Captain Shestakovsky said:
The japanese officer told me to sur
Gender and that as Il prisoner my life
would be spared. This insult SO stung
ne that | struck the Japanese before l
Intended to. | was afraid that the eX-|
)losive to blow up our vessel had not
yet been prepared. My blow knocked
the lieutenant overheard. In going he
ragged me with him. He fell into
Lon IL 1i 20
nto the water. l slung to his throat
md pummeled him until my hold was
broken"
Fierce Fight on the Deck.
The crew of the Ryeshitelni mean
while had begun fighting with the Jap
tnese sailors, who used their rifles AND
9ayonets. The fighting men scutlied
Jver the deck and fell overheard in
struggling pairs, after the example ac-
:identally set by their captain. Captain
ShestakovSky, seeing his men fighting
III the deck of the destroyer, attempt
ID to climb on board and command
hem. He was shot at four times and
wound in the right leg.
There We're fifty-one Russian officers
md men on board the Ryeshitelni, ana
Up to this hour (noon) thirty-five have
oeen accounted for A number of the
have persisted.
Being unable to regain the deck of his
ship, Captain Shestakovsky swan to-
ward nearby junk from which he
vas driven away by blows with q
BOAT hook He remained in the water
tor fifty minutes, swimming in spite of
ais wound, and was finally picked up
oy one of the three boats sent out by
he Haiyun. Captain Ching cared for
the Russian captain and two of his
ieutenants in his own cabin.
Under His Admiral's Orders.
Before leaving Chefoo Commander
Fujimoto sent an outline report OF the
occurrences of the night to the Japa-
nese consul here. This report says
that the commander was acting under
nis admiral's orders to fiPht or capture
he Ryeshitelni. Captain Shestakovsky
s unable to explain why his vessel was
not sunk by the explosions made for
that purpose He declares that he is
iisgraced, although the other Russian
refugees here insist that he is hero.
His sailors say that he told the Japa-
lese officer to kill him and that he
would never Surrer -
The nature of Captain ShestakOvsky's
mission to Chefoo is not known, al
though it is doubtless important. Dur
ing the interview with the Russian
captain regarding the capture of his
s.,f hot nj md