The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-28
VIII Die There.

Shanghai. Oct. 2S.-A private letter
from Port Arthur dated October Il, re-
ceived here today says:
General Stoessel wired the Russian
emperor and court recently:
e. L now bid you all good bye foS ever.
Port Arthur is my grave
General StoesseI has instflled the
garrison of the beleagured fortress with
the spirit that to court a glorious death
is preferable to capitulation.
The Japanese shells are inflctlng
great damage to the Russian fleet in the
harbor and to the Notifications The
arsenal with it's contents Of amnuni-
tion and small arms has been destroyed
and preparations are being made for
the last deadly struggle at close quar-
ters. The water supply having been cut
off. wells are being sunk. Provisions
are scarce. Only timed meats being
left the soldiers hold gala feaSts on
horses killed by the shots.
General SimOnof, IT is said. would
surrender but is oveFruled by General
Stoessel.
Certain troops included in the garri-
Son have to be closely watched at pres
ent for fear of desertion or treachery.
The field and naval hospitals are
crowded and hygienic conditions are
becoming desperate. The bombardment
at times is so incessant that it is i'm
possible to bury the dead to any depth.
over one-half of. the original garrison
is dead, wounded or sick
The high angle at which their artill-
lery fire is directed by the Japanese has
practically destroyed the new town.
When the fleet attempted to break
through the blockade some time ago the
garrison was TO have made desperate
sortie and infiiot as much damage as
possible and If necessary cepitulate. The
failure of the fleet to escape frustrated
the plan.
The besiegers are pressing closer
daily and it is hard to say how long
We can hold out. When the end comes
there viii be desperate fight and sur
prise Thousands of the enemy will
perish, as everything is mined
This letter was entrusted to a native
boatmen who ran the blockade and
mailed it at Chefoo.
The recipient is a prominent continen-
tai business man of this city with a
branch house at Port Arthur.
Bringing Up Siege Guns.
Chefoo, Oct. 2S.-5 p. m.-Japanese at
Dalny report the continued arrival of
huge siege guns.
A junk from Port Arthur with IL Chi
nese who left there on October 19, on
account of the costliness of food, ar
rived here today. They say that sew
eral of the Russian warships have been
hit by dropping shells but none has been
sunk They estimate the able bodied
soldiers there now at 10000. saying a
smaller force would be insufficient to
garrison the various positions.
Scarcely night passes without small
engagements over minor positions and
Opium is scarce. The Chinese econom-
ically inclined eat it as smoking require
much larger quantities.
Last winters uniforms are being
worn by the soldiers who are now most
ly supplied with Chinese shoes.
Sweden He's Case.
Gef1e. Sweden. Oct 2S.-The captain
and crew of the Swedish steamer AL
debaran. from Hull, previously report
ed to have been fired on by a foreign
cruiser. apparently Russian. have been
examined on oath by a ma gistrate at
the instance of the government. An
afnrned their conviction that the crui-
ser hred shot and not merely blank
charges The captain deposed that
shells were seen to burst in the air
near his steamer.
The guns used are supposed to he
quick firers. The ships We're a half
mile apart at the attack The witness-
es said they we're convinced that the
warship from which the shots were
on the Aldebaran.
Outlook Is More Peaceful
St Petersburg. Oct 2S-2:1o p N-ne
spite the Chauvinistic tone of the Russian
which is being indulged in regardinE the
possibility OF war, the Associated Press
situation has entirely a distinctly better
phase and that the basis of an agreement
between the two governments now ap-
pears probable There is still danger
however, that some untoward incident in
view of the excited state of public onin-
ion IN both countries. may precipitate an
other crisis Both the Russian and Brit
fsh governments are animated by a desire
promptly to reach common ground
on which both can stand in order to oh
tain the fullest light upon the circurn-
stances of the incident which are left
more mysterious than ever by the start
ling statements made in Admiral Rojest-
vensky's report palpable solution. il
Is recognized by both sides. would be the
submission of the affair to an fnterna-
tional tribunal and that steps already
have been taken in this direction is be-
yond doubt
aton of the dispute to such court would