The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-06-27
LIFE AT PORT MEJR
Gay Despite War Measures,
Says Hector Fuller.
no EVIDENCES OF DISTRESS.

American Correspondent. Recently
Captive. Found Russian Troops In
Excellent condItion-omeers Mt n
Dance-Reieased BY General stoes-
sci. who Remarked on Herring 81
Ills Exploit. @Nou Americans Mast
BE crazy.
Hector Fuller the war correspondent
Of the indianapolis News. III a message
sent recently from Chefu, China. de
scribes his experiences at Port Arthur
where be was imprisoned. as follows
after being rowed across from the
Miautao islands jim an open boat by two
Cinnamon, | landed at Louisa bay. The
bay is near Port Arthur and Is separat-
ed from it By a range Of hills. | land.
ed at daybreak on the morning OF June
10 without detection. With tlie full
coming Of the day | could see that
every hilltop near the shore was alive
with soldiers, busily engaged in
strengthening the already formidable
fortifcations. which occupied every
point Of vantage
1T looked at first as though 1t would
be impossible to pass through the lines
and make my way over the hills to-
ward Port Arthur, but By keeping down
i'll the narrow valleys. which were free
Of soldiers, | gradually made my way
into the interior Of the peninsula. Aftey
asday aud night of effort / succeeded in
reaching Port Arthur. The hazard Of my
position became SO obvious that the
same day, Saturday, June Il. | set out
on my return to Louisa bay. / present
" came In sight Of a large body Of
Russian infantry when | took refuge
In a Chinese village, where j found a
hiding place until the danger was over
II had not proceeded far from this
village when came upon a small
party Of sappers. IN order to avoid
them made a dash up a hill, only to
run into another regiment Instantly
/ was surrounded.
"The officer in command detailed
guard to take me to Pigeon bay. There
/ was searched. ! was stripped to the
skin, ana all my garments were sub
| jected to the closest scrutiny My mon
ey was taken, and all the papers In my
possession were examined Thereupon
/ was blindfolded and marched to Port
| Arthur The route was over the milf
tary road recently constructed. In
spite Of the bandage over my eyes !
was able to note that the road Is Of al
! mirable construction.
Port Arthur was full of life and
gayety. There seemed to be an album
dance Of supplies, ana fresh supplies
We're coming in from Chinese sources.
/ "The japanese blockade has not been
effective. The harbor entrance has
been freed Of Instructions. the battle
| ships have been repainted, and the for
tihcations are constantly being made
stronger. The garrison IS larger than
4 outside information had led me to be-
HeYe. The troops are In excellent CON
dition. and the general health condi-
lions of the city are good There
seemed to be no fear that the city was
likely soon to fall
"'Fhe night ! was marched into Port
Arthur under guard the city was I'M
usually lively. rs the officers were Civ
ing a ball. Three officers We're detailed
TO examine me. and they made thor
ough work Of it. After the examina
ton was completed I was lodged in
prison The prison is directly oppo-
site Golden hill From the window OF
my cell had good view Of the inner
bay and could see distinctly the re-
paired battleships lying at anchor
TN the same prison were confined
100 japanese who had been captured
from the blockading expedition sew
eral Of these had become insane
myself was kept on Russian black
bread and water for two days. Then
I was permitted by the authorities TO
purchase such food as 1 desired While
l was in the prison l was subjected to
seven different examinations The
thing that evidently reused the great
est suspicion was the passport that,
had been isstied to me at Tokyo.
Il demanded the opportunity of see
ing General Stocssel. the commandant
ut Port Arthur. that | might lay my
case directly before him After five
days my plea was allowed | made q
straightforward statement Of my pur
pose In seeking to penetrate the Rus
sian lines. aud gave detailed account
of my trip. AT last he was convinced
of my good faith. He said: You Amer
leans must be crazy
Gas the result Of this hearing Of ms
case General Stoessel decided that
was to be allowed to leave Port Arthur
on condition that | promise never to
return. The promise was promptly
forthcoming ThereuponI was again