The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-18
Loss OF THE 'STRASHNI
AND THE DESTRUCTION
OF THE PETROPAVlOVSK
Graphic Word-Painting by an Eye
Witness of the Doomed Torpe-
do Boats Gallant Fight.
BRAVERY OF THE BAYAN
Horrible Scene at the Blowing Up
of the Petropavlovsk-Sailo
Effort to Save Makaroff.

LIAO-YANG. April 1.-THE Associated
Press correspondent, believing that the ia
panese would repeat their attempt to DOCK
the entrance TO Port Arthur with fireshps
on Easter eve, went from Liao-Hans 10
Port Arthur week ago yesterday. For
four nights l watched with the sentries on
Golden hill Three nights passed quietly
on Tuesday night, April u, Vice Admiral
Makaroff went to sea with his entire squad
ron, including fourteen torpedo boats The
next night, April l3 in the teeth of a gale,
eight torpedo boats were sent out To re-
connoiter. From Golden hill, on which
was standing, the searchlights OF the tort-
fications flashed through the blackness over
the inky waters of the roadstead and Tar
out to the hazy horizon.
At IL O'Clock / heard firing at sea and
counted seven shots, but could see moth
ing. At daybreak 1 made out through the
light haze to the southwark. about nVe
miles from shore. six torpedo boats strung
out in line, all firing. In the lead and out
stripping the Others was a boat heading
at full speed directly for the entrance TO
the harbor The last in line was beclouded
i'm steam and was tagging. She evidently
had been hit 1t was difficult to distinguish
our boats, but finally. through glasses. L
saw that the leader and the laggard were
Russian and that the other four were ia
paneSe. The flash OF the guns ana the
splash of the prOjectileS as they struck the
water showed the intensity of the conflict
The torpedo boat, from which steam was
escaping, was firing viciously. The Tour
center craft drew together, concentrating
their fire on her, but the crippled destroyer
poured out her broadsideS and was sue
cessfully keeping off her assailantS- Inc
signal station flashed the news TO the men
of the batteries that the vessel was the
Bezstrashni.
DOOM OF THE 'STRASHNI.
The unequal combat was observed with
breathless interest, but the net drew cl" Sc
around the doomed boat. The four Jap
anese vessels formed a semi-circle and
poured in a deadly fire. The steam from the
'Strashni grew denser, covering her like
white pail. Still she fought like desper-
ately wounded animal brought TO bay. Run
ming straight for the adversary barring her
way to safety, she passed the japanese
astern and fired at them
AT this stage Vice Admiral Makaroff who
had been observing the progress of the con-
flct through a telescope, signaled TO the
cruiser Bayan, lying in the inner harbor,
to weigh anchor and go out to the rescue.
The Japanese destroyers chung to their
become separated, but again resumed their
formation. Small jets of flame and smoke
were squirting from the eight rapid-firers,
varied by denser clouds as torpedoes were
discharged against the Strashni.
1t was the end. The stricken boat loosed
final round but il was as if volley had
been fired over her own grave, for she
disappeared beneath the waves. only
little cloud of steam marking the place
where she went down.
Satisfied with what they had accom-
ana made off al full speed. followed by
the Bayan To their support came six of
the enemy's cruisers: Still the Bayan
went on, seemingly inviting certain de-
struction. She soon ported her helm to
bring broadside to bear the foe. which
was advancing in line of battle. She
and stood on into the hail of the enemys
broadsides. The japanese steamed at a
slight angle. enabling all their guns to
bear. and projeetiles rained around the
burst but none struck home.
THE GALLANT BAYAN.
To the eastward suddenly appeared five
more of our torpedo boats, returning TO
the harbor under forced draught. Two of
the japanese cruisers were Immediately de-
tached to cut them off, but the Bayan, no.
ticing the movement, checkmated it by
turning hot fire them. The movement
was effective. The Japanese cruisers slowed
down and the torpedo boats slipped through
into the harbor.
Meantime. in accordance with Vice Ad-
miral MakaroffS order, the battleships and
cruisers in the inner harbor slipped anchor
Majestically the Petropavlovsk flying the
admirals flag, steamed through the en-
trance. On her appearance the more for
midable enemy of Japanese cruisers turned
and fled. The admiral signaled the Bayan
TO return The stream of varri-colored sig
nal flags huttered out brave Bayan."
entire Russian
was in the outer harbor. Besides the
Petropavlovsk, ] saw the battleships Peres-
Wet, Poltava, Pobiada and Sevastopol the
cruisers Novik, Diana. and Askold, and the
torpedo boats. The flags announcing the
admiral's appreciation of the Bayan were
nal. Immediately the torpedo boats dashed
ahead and the heavier ships began to
spread out
Seeing the fight of the Japanese cruisers.
the Petropavlovsk opened fire with her
great guns. but the enemy out of range
and soon disappeared. Our squadron con-
tinued chase, finally fading from view
l waited anxiousy for its reappearance
and in about hour it came in sight Far
beyond, the number of points from which
smoke arose announced the presence of the
enemy. Nearer and nearer came the. yes
sells, and at last | made out, behind our
squadron, a feet of fourteen, of which six
were battleships and the remainder ar
get within effective range of Vice Admiral
Makaroff's ships, the enemy stopped eigh-
teen versts from shore.
Our squadron with the Petropavlovsk
leading. arrived at the entrance to the har-
Dor and drew up in line OF battle. Another
signal was foated from the fagship and
the torpedo boats at once proceeded
through the entrance into the inner har-
Dor. Vice Admiral Makaroff evidently was
unwilling to risk his vulnerable craft TO
the heavy projectiles of the enemys ar
mored ships.
PETROPAVLOVSK SUNK
1 watched the Petropavlovsk closely as
she steamed toward Electric cliff. The
frowning marine monster. whose guns were
ever turning toward the enemy, was pre-
pared to send huge messengers of death
against him. All was quiet. 1t was the
hush before battle-the hush when every
nerve is strained to get into impending
danger
1 looked for the japanese ships, but they
were without movement save that caused
by the heaving sea.
My glance returned to our squadron The
Petropavlovsk was almost without head
way, when suddenly | saw her tremhla
She seemed to rise out of the water =
tremendous explosion rent the air thor
q second and then a third Fragmants
flew in all directions and wreckaea go
men were mixed up in a terrible mass
/ was hardly able to realize the borror -
In xy1a he