New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-15
PETR0PAVI.0VSK'S LOSS.
Grand Dukes Escape-JakOulef
KHled-DetaiLS of Disaster.

St Petersburg. April 1.-THE Associated
Press obtained TO might what is practically the
official version OF the sinking Of the battleship
Petropavlovsk at Port Arthur and 1t clears up
to a great extent the mysterious features Of
that vessels destruction. This version is fol-
lows:
Retiring before the advance Of perior
japanese fleet. which not fighting its prog
ress, the Russian squadron approached the
trance 10 the harbor It was shortly after Z
o'clock in the morning. and most of the officers
and members OF the crew were at brea kfast on
the flagship. Vice-Admiral Makaron was at
table in his cabin. and the wardroom was crowd
ed with officers surrounding the tables. on the
bridge Grand Duke Cyril. his aid Lieutenant
Won Kobe: Captain Jakovleff. commanding the
vessel and two other officers or watch. ex
amining the narrow entrance preparatory 10 en-
tering.
About $40 o'clock there a terribl' ex-
plosion of the boilers. followed few seconds
later by detonations from the well stored maga-
zines. Huge gaps were torn in the hull OF the
ship. she rolled on her side and sank
All information tends 10 prove that a mine
was responsible FOR the destruction OF the bat
tleship.
The scene below will never be described. as,
so far as known not a single person between
decks succeeded in escaping The hot steam
which scalded the men on deck indicated what
must have been the character of the death met
by these in the engine room The men on deck
were thrown in all directions. those falling into
the water swimming and graspng the wreckage
vofnited up in the vortex.
The remande- Of the squadron Immediately
stopped and lowered small boats and the tor
pedo boats steamed quickly possible to the
rescue.
The escape Of Grand Duke Cyril and Lieuten-
ant Won Kobe nothing short of miraculous.
The force OF the explosion sent Grand Duke
Cyril flying across the bridge. and the base Of
his skull struck on an iron stanchior. FOrtu-
nately ne did not lose consciousness Believing
shat the ship was about to sink, he clambered
hastily down its side and boldly plunged into
the water. He succeeded In reaching piece Of
wceckage, to which he clung. The Grand Duke
was in the water about twenty minutes before
he was picked up by a torpedo boat Lieutenant
Won Kobe was also found swimming. and was
picked up.
Captain JakovIeff thrown against a
stanchion with such force that he killed.
The grand dukes injuries severe. Be
sides the blow on the neck his legs were burned
and he suffered "A serious shock. He taken
Immediately TO a hospital at Port Arthur. He
VIII remain there for three days, and VIII then
be brought to St. Petersburg.
Count CRUDE. aid to Grand Duke Vladimir,
accompanied by physician. started tonight for
the Far East. He will met Grand Duke Cyril
probably at Baikal
The exact number of Admiral MakarOff's staff
on board the Petropavlovsk when she sank is
unknown but is thought by the Admiralty TO
be fifteen or sixteen. The exact number of the
crew lost is also unknown. The PetrOpaVloVsk
had complement OF about six hundred and
fifty men, of whom 1fty-two were saved At last
arH INF