Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-08-13
JAPAN,s BOLD ACT.


was completed at Chefoo Thursday
night and her flag was hauled down, the
crew singing the national anthem. Tears
coursed down the cheeks Of Captain
Shestakovsky during the ceremony. 1t
was evident all the preceding day that
the necessity of abandoning his ship,
which had served him so well, greatly
affected the captain, who won considera.
BILE renown while at Port Arthur. 1t is
thought that when he discerned the
purpose of the japanese he gave hur-
ried order to blow up the ship, intending
to end his life and that of his assailants
with the life of the ship. One of the
reports in circulation states that the
captain, who wa8 severely wounded,
was rescued and is now being secreted
by his friends. 1t is presumed that the
captain was wounded by the japanese
sailors who were wrestling their lieuten-
ant from him. Later reports claim that
a majority Of the Russians reached shore
safely.
The japanese torpedo boat destroyer
Asashio and Kasumi entered the harbor
under cover of darkness Thursday night
and sent boarding party against the Rus
sian torpedo boat destroyer Ryeshitelni,
which had previously been disarmed by
the Chinese. After fierce fight the
boarding party hoisted the japanese flag
on the Ryeshitelni and tOwed her out
of the harbor in northerly direction.
OF her crew of AZ, II have been account
ed for. Seven swan ashore, landing
near the American consulate. Some
were picked up by the sampans and
three, including lieutenant, were res
cued by a lightshir. The japanese
claim that they sent gig to the Rye
shitelni, under a flag of truce, lieu
tenant and interpreter, who made de-
mand that the Russians come outside
and fight.
The Russian captain replied that his
ship had been disarmed, her engines dis
abled and that the whole matter was in
the hands of the Chinese. The Jap
anese were asked to investigate the dis
armament. The japanese interpreter
claims that he overheard the Russian
captain give a hurried order in low
tone, the words not being distinguishable
to the interpreter. Immediately follow
ing, the captain seized the japanese
lieu enant aud jumped overheard with
him.
Meanwhile the japanese destroyers
had their searchlights turned on the Rus
sian ship. From the deck of the light
ship observers could see this act, which
was followed by the shooting of rifles
aud saber strokes and Russians jumping
overheard. The fighting had lasted 10
minutes, when an explosion followed.
The explosion blew away the main
bridge, but did no damage to the hull.
The Russians by this time were mostly
all overheard. The japanese at once
hoisted their flag. Presently search
light from the Chinese cruiser Haichi
disclosed a Chinese cutter alongside the
Asashio. 1t remained there only a
minute, and then went alongside the
Kasumi, where it stopped an equal
length of time. The cutter then return
ed to the Haichi. The inaction of the
Chinese fleet is unexplained so far.
Captain Ching says that when the
japanese destrOyers entered the harbor
of Chefoo he sent an officer on board
and assured Commander Fujimoto that
the Ryeshitelni was disabled and that
his officers and crew had signeda parole.
Later the Admiral followed his messen-
ger and personally repeated this infor-
nation at length, whereupon Comman'
der Fujimoto said he had no designs on
the Ryeshitelni.
Admiral Sah next sent an officer in
small boat to the lightship, which was
near the Ryeshitelni, to watch develop
ments.
Captain Shestakovsky, feeling inse.
cure, requested that his ammunition and
one torpedo be returned to him or
Chinese cruiser prepare to guard him.
To this the Chinese officer on the hight
ship replied that he had been ordered
merely to report developments. Accord
ingly, Captain Shestakovsky assembled
his crew and addressed them, say
ing that an attack was possible. All
the men of the Ryeshitelni slept that
night on deck, with life-preseryers under
their heads.
When the lieutenant from one of the
Japanese destrOyers boarded the Rye.
shitelni at $3.50 o'clock in the morning
the crew which brought him, with bay
onets affixed to their rifles in thei
hands, followed their officers. Captain
Shestakovsky protested against this,
saving 81 am unable to resist bu
this is breach oil neutrality and cour
tesy."
Captain Shestakovsky then secret!
commanded one of his ieutenants to pre-
pare gunpowder with which to blow ul
the Russian destroyer. To gain the tim
necessary to make resdy for this ste
Captain Shestakovsky argued information
al law with the japanese officer. who's
reply to all the contentious of the Rus
sian officer was: Come to the open Sc
: and fight or prepare to be towed out
! In the meanwhile the command wa
e Issued quietly to the Russian soldiers
: resist the japanese with their fists in tn
/. NJ inner which would be shown them b
$ their captain.
Il Captain SATISFACTORILY said; "The Jap
Oincer toid me to surrender, and that