Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-04-18

/
since the war began occurred in the
open raodstead just outside the harbor
of Port Arthur yesterday, when the
first class battleship Petropavlovsk, fly
ing the flag of vice Admiral Makaroff.
the active commander of the naval
| forces i'll the far East, ran onto float
ing mine and was blown up.
Her whole complement of officers
and men, numbering over 700, We're
torn to pieces by the force of the ex-
plosion or drowned in the waters of the
bay when the shio turned turtle and
sank, except only four officers. includ-
ing Grand Duke Cyril, cousin of the
ear, who was acting as aide-de camp
on Makarotf's staff and accompanied
! him on cruise from which the war
| ship was returning when she came in
contact with mine. Cyril and the
! three surviving officers were severely.
though not dangerously wounded. and
their escape is considered miracle
First News of Disaster.
! The first inkling of disaster came
in the form of a rumor. originating in
Paris, to the effect that the japanese
had captured Makarof while he was
out making one of his usual sorties in
small boat.
This rumor was received with indif-
ference in St. Petersburg and given
scarcely any credence.
In a few minutes. however. rumors
came of an overwhelming disaster to
the Russian fleet, together with a re-
port of the death of Admiral Makaroff .
the hero of the hour at Port Arthur,
the only man who, it is believed. could
keep the japanese from storming the
city.
1t was stated that the japanese fleet
had attacked the city and that Maka.
rolf had steamed out of the inner har-
Dor with his full fleet and engaged in
battle during the course of which his
flagship had fallen into the hands of
the enemy.
Still the officials were incredulous,
but when semi-official dispatch was
received that the Petropavlovsk. the
pride of the Port Arthur fleet had been
sunk with all on board. the consterna
ton can hardly be conceived.
Official Report Stuns Russians.
Then came the official dispatches 10
the government confirming the reports
of the disaster. and then it began to
dawn on the officials that the greatest
reverse of the war had been suffered.
The still meager reports of the catas.
trophe state that Makaroff. acco1lpa-
MED by the Grand Duke Cyril. started
out of the harbor for a cruise out at
sea in hte hope of sighting the Japan
csc fleet. which had passed Port Ar
thur in the direction of New Chwang
The cruise proved fruitless. and the
Petropavlovsk was heading back for
the inner harbor when. without an
inkling of the awful danger. she ran
into one of the large mines which Were
sunk in the channel Immediately after
the first japanese assault on the city
The Petropavlovsk seemed TO rise
nearly out Of the water. with gaping
holes in her port side She listed heav-
lily. then completely turned turtle and
sank beneath the waves.
The first reports stated that two 9TH
er warships had been seriously dam
aged. but these reports cannot be con-
firmed
When the carr heard of the catastro-
phe it is stated that he nearly col
lapsed, but at once dispatched cour-
Ter TO Nine Makarotf to convey his con
dolences TO her. He then went into
conference with the general staff.
pride nf port A chm. EIaa,