The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1904-04-25
MAKAROFFS HEROlSM.
Exploits Of Russian Admiral
Lost at Port Arthur.
BEST OF THE GEARS SEA FIGHTERS

In Russo-gurkish War lie Distin-
guished Himself BY Desperate Brav-
cry and won Great Honors-Fa-
nous Throughout the world as an
Inventor Of Naval Appliances.
Vice Admiral stepan osipovich Ma
karoff. commander Of the Russian
neet in the far east, who lost his life
at Port Arthur on a sinking battle
ship, was considered the best naval of
fcer in the cars service, says the New
York Globe.
His reputation for heroism and skill
dated back to the Russo Turkish war.
At that time only a lieutenant, Maka-
rolf was given command OF small
merchantmen Of 1900 tons, called the
Grand Duke Constantine. Around
this unprotected ship, which he con
yerted into his flagship. be gathered
flotilla Of small vessels, and with this
force be assaulted the Turkish iron
elads that were seeking shelter in the
harbor Of Batoum, Sulina, Nikopolis
and sukhum Kale
Torpedo warfare was then in its ele-
mentary stage, and MakaroG had to
develop his own methods Of attacking
ironclads with bombs. The torpedo
tube had not then been invented, and
the men OF Makaroffs squadron had
to row In the night TO the sides Of the
enemy's battleships and fasten noat-
ing torpedoes to them. The firing
mechanism Of these torpedoes was de-
signed by the then young lieutenant,
and many were the Turkish ships sent
to the bottom by them.
Night after night the men Of the
Grand Duke Constantine put out in
rowboats with the young lieutenant
himself in command, the oars mufied,
the torpedoes III tow. More often than
not the Turkish lookouts would detect
their approach and give the alarm,
ana the batteries Of the whole fleet
would be directed against them. At
other times the little party would
make good It's attempt to reach the
Turkish ironclads and would retire
after igniting the time fuses attached
to the torpedoes which they had fas
tened to the ships sides.
one dark night two Of Makaroff's
boats attacked his own ship, the Grand
Duke Constantine. BY mistake, and
were on the point OF blowing her up
when lie shouted to them to draw of.
AIakaron was well rewarded for his
desperate bravery and conspicuous
ability by the ear. He was given the
cross Of st. George most priced Of
all Russian decorations gold sword
81 honor and the rank Of captain. Aft
er that he was marked out for dis
tinction and was rapidly promoted
through various important Offices IN
! til he commanded successfully the
Baltic, Mediterranean and Pacific
squadrons
| Makaron was a member Of a dis
tinguished naval family, his father
having been a flag captain Through
| out his long career he showed remark
/ able skin in the handling Of fleets.
He was also famous in all the navies
| Of the world as an inventor Of naval
appliances, Of which at least couple
Of dozen are now in use aboard Rus
sian warships.
Among these Is his invention Of the
ice breaker Yermak, used to keep open
| the icebound ports Of the Pacific and
| the Siberian lake Baikal In order to
test the value Of this invention be
made two trips to the arctic circle in
the Yermak, trying her against the
eternal ice Of the polar zone. That Is
good illustration Of his character.
lie left nothing to theory Or chance.
Admiral Bfakaroff was commander
at Cronstadt, the Russian Gibraltar,
before he was ordered to the far east,
and had held that post for many years.
| Unlike many Russian naval officers, be
took the keenest interest in the vel
fare OF the enlisted men and could be
approached By them with petitions and
grievances at any time AT Cronstadt
he used frequently to pay surprise
visits to the ships In port and eat
some Of the dinner served to the men,
III order to make sure that the pursers
and cooks were doing their duty.
! III person Makarof was tall, finely
built, broad shouldered man, with
bushy gray beard and whiskers. he
looked ten years younger than his age
which was ffty-six. His manner was
genial and friendly. whether he was
talking to an officer OF his own ranB
OF to an ordinary seaman.
Since his appointment to the com
mand Of the Russian Pacific feet
AIakaron had shown himself to be q
man of great courage and energy
Early in March he personally went 4
the rescue Of Russian torpedo boat
destroyer which was hard pressed BY
the japanese and inspired the nava
forces Under his command with {
! great deal Of enthusiasm. He passed
Easter on board a guardship at tbs
entrance Of Port Arthur and every
night personally supervised the pre-
cautionary measures adopted to pre-
vent the Russians from being sur
prised By the Japanese.
The first thing that attracted atten
ton toward Makaroff was his efforts
tn sim holes in naval armament below