Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-16
Russian Destroyer Runs
Blockade With Dis
patches.
Then SENT TO BOTTOM
Officers Declare Port Arthur is
Prepared to Easily Hold
Out a Year.

chefoo, Nov. 6.-The Russians have
blown up the torpedo boat destroyer
Rsstoropny.
The Rsssropny was blown up by her
commander in the harbor Of chefoo az
ter having eIuded the blockade Of Port
Arthur and succeeded in fling dis
patches from Gen. StoesseI TO St Pc
fersburs- u is presumed she was de-
stroyed in order TO prevent the Japan
ese from cutting her out as they did
the RyeshiteIni.
DISPATCHES WE'RE IMPORTANT.
a dispatch from St. Petersburg says
the dispatches flied by the vessels
commander at chefoo have reached
there. but their character has not been
divuIsed. 10 10 surmIsed from the fact
that servieeabIe vessel was removed
from Port Arthur and exposed to q
large risk Of destruction or capture,
that dispatches she bore are Of great
importance
LAST NAN LIT FUSE
The Russians, with the exception Of
one man. left the destroyer during the
afternoon. This last man Iit fuses and
blew the vessel up There were three
dull explosions. Almost simultaneous
Iy the Rsstoropny sunk and settled on
the bottom
10 10 impossible at present to secure
an explanation Of the action Of the
Russians, but 10 10 believed they were
determined not 20 allow q repetition Of
the RyeshiteIni incident.
Chefoo. Nov. 1G.-The Associated
press learned authoritatively tonIgh:
that the Rastoropony carried sealed
orders providing that. unless there
came highly favorable opportunity to
escape. the vessel would be blown up.
Sufficient powder for this purpose
was secreted before the destroyer left
Port Arthur.
Vessel Was Wasted.
The Japanese consul says the Rus
SLAMS wasted their vessel. as the Rye
shitelni incident would not have been
repeated. Two Japanese torpedo boat
destroyers Were seen at the mouth of
the harbor tonight their presence un-
doubtediy FASTENED the action of the
Russians in blowing up the Rastoro-
pny.
The Japanese consul says nine OF
the Russian crew came ashore with
their rifles. against which action he
has protested to the authorities.
Notified Would DIssrm-
Chefoo. Nov 16.-The captain of the
toropny which put into the harbor ear
ly today has notified the Chinese au
thorities he will disarm. Il is believed
this decision was arrived at after com
municating with ST. Petersburg.
sto~.s~I Asks Instructions:
II Is rumored that Rastoropny
brought a dispatch from Gen Stoessel
asking St Petersburg for instructions
as to whether he should continue TO
hold out. awaiting relief. or make i'm
mediate arrangements with the Jap
anese for surrender upon the most adj
vantageous terms possible. The rumor
cannot be confirmed.
Saw Japanese ships-
The commander of the Rastoropny
in an interview said: Il left Port
Arthur at midnight IN a olinding sno"
storm. The boat nayigated through al
the dangers of floating mines without
a mishap. On reaching the open sea
we saw a Japanese cruiser and some
torpedo boats in the distance. but We
steamed rapidly through the storm
with lights extinguished and passed
them unnoticed. We reached Chefo'
without a mishap of any kind"
Cosndeace at Port Arthur.
The commander was optimistic will
reference to Port Arthur. He declared
all forts remained in Russian hands
and the garrison was confident an'
in high spirits.
Merely Carries Dispatches-
Commander Pelem added the de
stroyer's object was simply to carr
dispatchers. The other Russian ship
remained at Port Arthur.
The Rastoropny. being one of tn
fastest Russian vessels. soon out di:
tanced her pursuers and entered Che
foo with music box playing a sprigh
" air and the savory odor of breal
fast steak apparently testifying to tn
fact that Port Arthur still enjoy