Bisbee daily review., 1904-04-21

 another signal Immediately the heavier ships began to spread out.
 Seeing the fight of the Japanese cruisers. Unable to get within ef- fire with her big guns, but the enc my was out of range, and soon dis appeared.
 "Onrr squadron continued the chase, finally fading from view. l watched anxiously for its reappearance, and in about an hour it came in sight. Far beyond it. the number of points from which smoke arose announced the pressure of the enemy. Nearer and nearer came the vessels, and at last made out behind our squadron fleet of fourteen, of which six were battleships and the remainder armor- ed and the remainder unarmored cruisers. Unable ia get within ef- lfective range of Vice-Admiral Maka- roff's ships, the enemy stopped eigh- teen versts from shore.
 Our squadron with the Petropay- lovsk leading arrived at the entrance to the harbor and drew up in line Of battle. Another signal was fioated from the flagship, and the torpedo boats at once proceeded through the entrance into the inner harbor. Vice Admiral Makaroff was evidently un- willing to risk his vulnerable craft to the heavy projectiles of the enc my's armored ships.
 T watched the Petropavlosk close fly as she steamed toward Electric .vt.a far whose guns were ever turning toward the enemy was prepared to send huge messengers against him.
 All was quiet It was the hush before a battle-the hush when every nerve is strained to get into impend- ling danger. looked for the Japanese ships, but they were without move ment save that caused by the heavy sea My glance returned 10 our squad ron. The Petropavlosk was almost without headway, when suddenly l saw her tremble She seemed to rise out of the water, a tremendous explo- sion rent the air, then a second and then a third. Fragments flew in all directions, and wreckage and men were mixed up in terrible mass. l was hardly able to realize the hor- TOT of it, when the ship began to list, In a moment, the sea seemed to open and the water rushed upon her. The Petropavlosk had disappeared.
 The floating woodwork and the few men struggling in the water were all that was left to recall the splen- did fighting machine which a few hours before had sailed out of the harbor.
 The same shock experienced by the observers on Golden Hill para lyzed for a moment the men on the ships, but when it passed, torpedo beats and small boats hastened to the rescue of the survivors.
 Eager to ascertain what had hap pened on board the sunken ship, l hastened to a landing where a small remnant of the gallant crew were be- ing put ashore and conveyed to a hos pital Signalman Botchkoff, who was slightly wounded, was able to give me a remarkably clear statement of the disaster. He said:
 We were returning to the harbor, the Petropavlosk leading. Some of our cruisers which had remained in the harbor came out and steamed to- ward the enemy, firing sixteen shots at him with their bow guns They then retired The enemy numbered fourteen heavy ships, nearly all ar mored, while ours were nine. Against their armored cruisers we had only the Bayan. l stood in the wheelhouse on board the batueship, looking at the signal book The AdmiraPs last sig nal had been for the torpedo boats to enter the harbor.
 "'The Petropaylovsk slowed speed and almost stood still. Suddenly she shook violently. I heard a fearful explosion, immediately followed by another, and then another. They seemed to me to be directly under the bridge. I rushed to the door of the wheelhouse where l met an officer, probably a helmsman- could not pass him, and l sprang to the window and jumped out. The ship was list ing, and l feared that every moment she would turn over.
 ron the bridge l saw an officer, weltering in blood-it was our Ad-
 
 ward. 1 sprang to him, grasped him by the shoulder and attempted to raise him. The ship seemed 10 be falling somewhere. From all sides flew frag- ments. I heard the deafening screech and the frightful din The smoke rose in dense clouds. and the flames seemed to leap toward the bridge where l was standing beside the Ad-- miral. I jumped on the rail and was washed oil. but succeeded in grab ping something. I was sucked down. l remember the falling masts, and then nothing more.
 "'On our ship was an old man with beautiful white beard, who had been god to our men. He had a book in his hand and seemed to be writing, perhaps sketching. He was yeres- chagin, the painter