The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-15
,UKE cYRIL's ESCAPE
official Version of Disaster
 Received.
Theory is That the Men in Interior of Ill Fated Vessel Met Death From Scala
 ing Water.

St. Petersburg, April 1.-The. Associated Press obtained tonight what is practically the official version of the sinking of the Petropavloysk at Port Arthur, and II clears up to a great extent the mysterious features of that vessels destruction. The yerson is as follows.
 The Russian squadron approached the entrance to the harbor. Ii was shortly after o'clock in the morning and eInost of the officers and members of the crew were at breakfast on tho flagship. Vice Admiral MalKaroff was eating breakfast in his cabin and the ward room was crowded With officers surrounding the tables. On the bridge Grand Duke Cyril. his friend Lieutenant von Kobe. Captain Jakovlonf. commanding the vessel, and two other officers were on watch examining the nar- row entrance preparatory to entering h
 At about S:30 O o'clock there was a terrific explosion of the boilers followed few minutes later by a detonation from the we'll stored magazines,
 Huge gaps were torn in the hull of the ship and water rushed in. The center of gravity having gone, the ship rolled on her side and sank.
 All information tends to prove that a mine was responsible for the destruction of the Petropiavsk-
 The scene will never be described as so far as known not q single person between decks succeeded In escaping The hot steam which scalded the men on deck indicated what must have been the character of the death met by those in the engine room. The men on deck were thrown in all directions those fall- l ins into the water swimming and grasp | ing the wreckage to which some of them were able to cling.
 | The ram atndnr If fl4a enffadron fflnSaedf- ateiy stopped and lowered small boats and the torpedo boats steamed as quick iy' as possible to the rescue of the sur vivors.
 The escape of Grand Duke Cyril and l L.eutenant von Kobe was nothing short of miraculous. The force of the explos- ion sent Grand Duke Cyril flying across the bridge and the base of his skull struck on an iron stanchion. Fortunate ly he did not lose consciousness. Believ- ing that the ship was about to sink he clambered hastily down It's side and plunged into the water. He succeeded in reaching a piece of wreckage to which he chung. The Grand Duke was in the water about 20 minutes before he was picked up by a torpedo boat. Lieuten- ant von Kobe was also found swimming and was picked up. Captain Jakovlon was thrown against the stanchion with such force that he was killed. Grand Duke Cyril's injuries were serious. He was taken immediately to a hospital at Fort Arthur where his injuries were at tended to. He will remain there tor three days and then will be brought to St. Petersburg. Count Grube, aide 10 Grand Duke Vladimir, accompanied by physician, started tonight tor the Far East. He will meet Grand Duke Cyril probably at Baikal
 The exact number of Vice-Admiral Makaroffs staff on board the Petrol plvavosk sank is unknown, but 1t Is thought by the admirality to be probably 15 or 16. The exact number of the crow los tis also unknown. The ship had a compliment of $50. of which 52 were saved at last accounts.