The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-12-07
DESTROYER BLOWN Ut
The Russian Torpedo Boat Rastor.
opny Sunk by Her Grew,
ENEMY'S WARSHlPS WERE NEAR

Tho War Vessel Having Put in at Checoo
From Port Arthur Was Ordered to Dis.
arm After T~wenty-four Hours, But
Her Officers Obeying Supposed Sealed
Orders Destroyed Her.
Chefoo.-The Russians blew mp the
torpedo boat destroyer R~astoropny,
which had arrived from Port Arthur at
$50 a. m.
Captain Ching. of the Chinese cruiser
Hai-Yung. had notified Commander Pc
lem. of the Rastoropny. that twenty
four hours was the limit he could re-
main armed at Chefoo. after which the
R~astoropny would be compelled to dis
arm. Commander Pelcm told the Chi.
nese authorities he would disarm his
vessel. - -f.,.
Prior to the destruction OF the de-
stroyer the Taotai had officially noti-
fed the Japanese Consul that her Ills.
armament had, been completed, the
breech blocks and ammunition having
been removed and her machinery dis
abled.
1t is learned authoritatively that the
R%astoropny carried sealed orders pro-
viding that, unless there came a high
ly favorable opportunity to escape, the
vessel should be blown up. Sufficient
powder for this purpose vas secreted
before the destroyer left Port Arthur.
Small charges Of ordinary powder.
placed in each of the five water-tight
compartments. were exploded. The
Russians. with the exception Of one
man. left the destroyer during the af-
ternoon. This last man lit fuses and
blew up the vessel.
There were three dull explosions,
which were scarcely audible 100 yards
away. Almost Immediately. the Ras-
toropny sank and settled on the bot
tom. A single spar marks her grave.
The explosion was so subdued and
the crew remained so silent that it was
some time before the report of the af-
fair became current. Even the officials
most intimately concerned heard the
news from the correspondents.
Customs Officer Koenig was on board
the destroyer in the afternoon. and the
Russians experienced considerable diff
Guilty in getting him out of the way
without arousing his suspicious. The
d%estroyer's cutter, manned by two men.
was lying near. and the official was
persuaded to take q ride around the
Rastoropny in order that he might see
the injuries she vas alleged to have re-
ceived. No sooner had he stepped into
the cutter than a petty officer drew his
watch and urged the rowers to make
all speed away. When the destroyer
had gone down the official was taken
ashore.
It is rumored that the Rastoropny
brought a dispatch from General StoeS-
sci asking the st. Petersburg authori-
ties for instructions as to whether he
should continue to hold out, awaiting
relief, or make immediate arrange
ments with the Japanese for surrender
upon the most advantageous terms
possible.
Commander Pelem. of the Rastor-
opny. in an interview, admitted that
the destroyer's voyage was in order to
carry dispatches. The other Russian
ships, he said, remained al Port Ar
thur. The Rastoropny, being n Of
the fastest Of the Russian vessels, soon
outdistanced her pursuers.
The other Russian officers all deny
the report that the Bayan has been
sunk. though they admit that a she'll
damaged her engines, which are being
repaired. Russian cruisers come out
of Port Arthur daily, the battleships
remaining in the harbor.
When the correspondents were al
lowed on board the R%astoropny a quar-.
ter of beef was carefully placed where
it was impossible to miss seeing it.
This, it was thought. was in order to
convey the impression that Port Ar
thur was we'll supplied.