Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-04
DNAN TELLS Of Battle
Elmer Cable, of Hubbard, Eye
Witness of Naval Engage
ment Off Chemulpo
FIRE WAS DEADLY


Relates Incident of Russian Sailor
Saving Picture of the Cxar-Details
of the Battle.
Eldora, APRIL 4-Elmer Cable, of
Hubbard, Iowa, is an Iowa boy who
is stationed as special missionary from
the Methodist church in Korea, and
was an eye witness of the naval battle
off Chemulpo, which was the first ma
val engagement of the Russo japanese
war, and he has just written to his
parents an interesting account OF his
experiences and of this engagement.
In part he tells of his experiences as
the shells from the Japanese boats had
taken effect, | chartered small SAM
pan and went out to the vessels. Up
on coming up alongside of the korietz
we hailed the captain, whose head
wore bandage, and asked him how
he Jared. Throwing UP his hands he
go up Not knowing exactly what
he meant, we FASTENED on to the other
boat. the Variag, which was anchored
some distance away.
ION the Koreitz we saw no evidence
that she had been struck, but as we
RULED up alongside of the Nariag q
quite different spectacle met our gaze.
She listed badly TO the port side ana
was taking great deal of water rap
idly. She had received number OF
mortal wounds on the side beneath the
water line, ard the large rents just
above the water line showed that
large six inch shell had gone into her
vitals and exploded. Astern on the
port side she was pierced in number
of places. Her fore and after bridges
were sad sight, the former being al
,aost entirely shot away. The third
funnel to the rear was literally per-
forated with holes. Many of the guns
shields were badly damaged, and on
the whole she showed that perfect
rain Of shells must have swept her
decks. She was just sinking when we
arrived. and many boats from the
English, French and Italian men-of-
war were summoned by the crew.
Living, wounded and dead We're re-
moved to these respective vessels.
"As we came around to the star
board side Russian sailor descended
the gang plank and tenderly bore in
his hands q picture of the car Not
caring to delay long we set back for
little island 500 yards from where the
Korietz was anchored. anxious to see
what was to take place at 4 o'clock. AS
we passed the korietz the last of the
crew Mere being put into the boats
and rowed to the French man of-war.
I'VE had not more than reached tie
top OF the island before two terrific
explosions took place on the koreitz,
one fore and one aft. which sent the
smoke and particles Of the ship writh-
ing and twisting as If in terrible agony.
far into the sky. II was an awful
scene. After the smoke lifted from the
surface OF the water only the funre.
of the once beautiful Koreitz was Wis
lble above the surface of the waves
which were restlessly moving to AMI
fro as II In search OF more prey The
Variag was still afloat and after all
OF the crew was removed she was scut-
tied and set on fire. AS the last hues
were fading out of the western SKY
with one lunge she fell to her port
side and with mighty roar, disap-
peared beneath the dark waves. The
Sungari, Russian passenger boat ~
ing near the koreitZ. was scuttled and
slowly sinking. A party of Russian
soldiers came off the French man-of-
war and set her on fire. She burned
all night long and in the morning she
lay CHASTITY heap. partly beneath the
waves of the Yellow Sea, thus lending
in disaster for the Russians the first
naval engagement.
''The vessels comprising the Japanese
squadron in this engagement were the
Asama, Sushima, Narvio. Cheyoda, Nj
taxa, and eight torpedo boats. So far
as we are able to learn none OF these
vessels was injured.
From some of the men who we're on
the Variag learned that so effective
were the Japanese shots that it was al
most impossible for anyone to live upon
the deck. During the enga cement the
captain with count and two other
men We're upon the bridge directing the
movements Of the ship wnen shell
struck the bridge. killing outright both
of the men who We're on either side af
the captain and wounding The latter in
the face. A flag lieutenant was also
on the bridge directing the movements
of the gunboat Koreitz when shell
struck him and carried him overheard,
only his hand still clasping the flag fell
to the deck below.
1.-THE Variag carried twelve six inch
guns and in less than thirty minutes
ten of the twelve gun captains We're
shot away with their crews. One of
the two remaining captains reports
that while he was standing with one
arm akilnbo directing the movements
of his gun crew a shell passed under
his shoulder tearing away part OF
his jersey, and the top of his thumb
and when he looked around not one of
his crew was standing. All had been