The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-13
NINE STRUCK And
HUNDREDS PERISH
Russian Squadron Moves Out to
Meet Japanese Attack on
Port Arthur.
Petropavlovsk Runs on Submarine
While Maneuvering in Outer
Roadstead.
Vessel Sunk and Grand Duke
Cyril Wounded Battle Still
in Progress.

st. Petersburg, April 13.-The RUS
sian f1rst-class battleship Petropav-
lovsk was sunk with her crew Of near
ly seven hundred men at Port Arthur
this morning. Vice Admiral Makaroff
was drowned and Grand Duke Cyril,
was wounded. Only four officers es-.
capped.
A naval battle is still in progress
off Port Arthur. Forty Japanese tor
pedo boats and torpedo boat destroy
ers, supported by the battleship and
cruiser squadrons, attacked at day
light this morning. Vice Admiral
Makaroff ordered his entire fleet out
Of the harbor to meet the attack.
When the Russian warships reached
the outer roadstead, Makaroff gave
the order to draw up in line Of battle.
While this maneuver was in progress,
the Petropavlovsk struck a mine kon
her starboard side anidships and Inn
mediately began to heel. Before the
crew could food the port oompart-
ments Of the vessel in order to keep
her on an even keel, she turned turtle
and sank In a few minutes. carrying
down almost the entire crew.
Only -Four Officers Escape.
Captain N. Jakovloff, the Grand
Duke Cyril and two other officers,
were saved because they were stand
ing on the upper bridge. The fright
full loss Of life among the officers and
men was due to the fact that they all
were at their stations, ready for &C.
ton.
The Petropavlovsk turned turtle In
a. manner similar to the British battle
ship Victoria, which was rammed by
the Camperdown in 1898, and to the
incident In the Chino-Japanese war
when Chinese warship turned turtle.
many of tho crew remaining alive for
several days hammering desperately
on the upturned hull.
The result Of the battle is not yet
known.
Another account says twenty men
escaped from the disaster to the
Petropavlovsk.
Grand Duke Cyril, between whom
and the throne there is only one life,
was only saved from death by mir
acle. His brother, Grand Duke Boris,
witnessed the catastrophe thru
marine glass.
Grand Duke Vladimir uncle Of the
emperor, received a telegram an
nouncing that his son, Grand Duke
Cyril, has been wounded at Port Ar
thur. A service of thanksgiving be-
cause his life was spared has been held
at the grand dukes palace here.
vladimir Receives First News.
Another report is to the effect that
the telegram which Grand Duke
vladimir received was from Grand
Duke Boris, brother Of Grand Duke
Cyril, announcing that the Petropav-
lovsk, of which Cyril was first officer.
had been blown UP by striking a Rus
The Grand Duke Cyri's wound was
said to be slight.
It is officially announced that Vice.
Admiral Makaroff was drowned at the
time the battleship Petropavlovsk
sank.
| After the receipt of definite news of
Vice Admiral Makaroff's death, the
military censor committee called an
extraordinary session to pass upon the
official dispatches which will probably
| be given out soon.
| A requiem mass for the repose of
the souls Of Vice Admiral Makaroff
and the other officers and the crew Of
the Petropavlovsk has already been
announced to take place IN the adj
miralty church tomorrow.
The emperor has sent a courier to
Peterhof to express his condolences to
the widow Of Vice Admiral Makaroff.
Vice Admiral Makarof.
Born in 1S4S, Makaroff was a man of
marvellous energy and zeal Joining the
navy in 1854 he had g. distinguished ca
reer, receiving all his promotion In con-
sequence Of his mary acts Of skill and
daring when on active service.
At the time of the Russo Turkish war
In 1877, being in command Of the cruiser
Constantine. he carried out many gallant
exploits while attacking the Turkish
ports.
J On the conclusion Of this campaign he
) was made captain Of the second grade
and personally decorated by the Emperor
Alexander with the order OF st. Vladi-
mir.
In 1881 he again attracted public atten-
ton while serving on the staff Of Cen
! era1 Skobelen, and was present at the
, capture Of Cock Tepe and other success
full operations against the Turkomans.
Il Since that time he has held many Inn
portant posts In the Baltic and Black
sea squadrons, and In the Chino Japanese
! war he commanded the Russian Pacific
squadron stationed at Chi-fu.
He returned to the Baltic squadron in
. 1899 and has been commander general and
military governor OF Kronstadt.
Record in Far East.
II Since his appointment to the COM
mand Of the Russian Pacific fleet
MakaroH had shown himself to be a
: man OF great courage and energy.
Early in March, he personally wen,
to the rescue OF a Russian torpedo
boat destroyer which was hard
pressed by the Japanese. and inspired
the naval forces under his command
7 with great deal of enthusiasm.
The past Easter he lived on boar6
q guardship at the entrance of Port
Arthur and every night personally SUI
pervised the precautionary measure:
: adopted to prevent the Russians from
Y being surprised by the japanese.
The last engagement previous t
8 the fight OF to-day, in which Makarof
g took part. occurred March u, when AZ
calamity repulsed the second 'attemp
-