Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-30

Sank Cheering and Singing.
Death rather than submission was
the fate which was voluntarily chosen
by the soldiers and others who were
on board the transport Kinshiumaru at
Gensan when the Russian warships
suddenly appeared on the scene. The
Kobe Chronicle reprints from a native
paper n most interesting account of
this stirring incident of the war, says
the London Telegraph. 1t appears that
the men had been ashore scouting and
had then re-embarked. The escorting
torpedo boat destroyer flotilla put 10
sea and the transport followed, but
soon the vessels We're separated in u
fog, and when this lifted the Kinshiu-
maru, thinking the squadron TO Je the
ships. Captain Yagi of the Ninshiu-
maru, thinking the squadron to be the
Japanese, altered her course and steer
cd toward the warships, when the sig
nal stop" floating from the mainmast
and the firing of Il blank shot across
the Kinshiumaru's bows brought the
ship to Il standstill. This turn of events
naturally caused surprise and astonish-
lltill vi DOdIu lllt lIdISlJpIl. bNlA lOlu-
ing could be done il the way of escap-
ing. Lieutenant Commander Mizogui-
chi, who had charge of the work of
the transport, proposed visiting the
warships and taking such measures as
required by circumstances. This was
agreed to be the best course, and, hay
ing said farewell TO the military officers
in command of the troops and accom-
panied by Captain YaGi, Paymaster
Ida and an interpreter, Mr.. kOndo,
the lieutenant commander rowed to
the nearest warship, whence, as is
known, the party never returned and
are now prisoners of war at Irkutsk.
On board the Kinshiumaru the mill
tary officers assembled in the saloon
and took counsel as to their course of
action. The officers were Captain
Shiina, Captain Sakurai, Lieutenant
Tcrada, Lieutenant Yokota and Ensign
uigaki. After the conference Captain
Shiina went into the between decks,
where the men had been ordered to as
semblc, and gave orders as to the
course to be taken by them. Meanwhile
both the transport and the warships
had been lowering boats, and three
officers boarded the Kinshiumaru and
ordered the troops to lay down their
arms and surrender, stating that Il
they did so they would be taken on
board the waTshipS. The soldiers were
given an hour in which to arrive at
decision, and having allowed the crew
of the steamer and the passengers TO
take TO the boats the naval officers re-
turned to the squadron.
1t was now past midnight, with
bright moon and clear sky. y great
silence prevailed on the transport,
which now had only troops on board
and a few blucJackets and coolies. Cap
tain Shiina once again inspected his
men. who were found in perfect order,
some mOtiOnless, but others fixing bay
onets or loading their rifles, preparing
for the end. Sergeant Major Washi
was collecting the maps, sketches, etc,
kept by the officers. Sergeant Okano
gathered in the note books of the men,
and maps and note books We're thrown
into the engine room fire. \ corporal
ordered the men to take off the num-
bers on their shoulder straps so that
everything should be destroyed which
would prove of any value 10 the enemy
afterward.
1t was past 1 o'clock on the morning
OF April 20 when the Russians dis
charged Il torpedo against the fore part
of the transport On this Captain
Shiina went into the tween decks and
freed the men from military discipline.
They were told to take what course
they thought fit, as nothing could be
done to avert disaster. The men. anX-
ious to know the fate of their officers, !
Swarmed up the cOmpaniOnwayS TO the
saloon. found the doors locked and no
sound issuing therefrom. Inside were
the officers. who had agreed to sink
with the steamer, imprisoned in the |
saloon so that they should not fall into |
the hands of the enemy. Particular |
and ScrupulOus to the last. the officers |
had persuaded Captain Sakurdi, who |
did not belong to their regiment, of the |
of his dying with them. |
Captain Sakurai, an old experienced |
officer, regarded by the general staff as /
one Of the smarteSt officers of the army /
In northern Korea, left his comrades, |
and the manner of his death is IN
known. According TO report, however,
IL SeeIllS IlltIe WAS not perfect undu-
unity in the manner the officers should
meet their death. 1t is stated that
Lieutenant Terada diSSentcd from the
command OF Captain Shiina that the
officers should die together and left
the ship vowing that he would sell his
life TO the enemy. but die fighting.
What became of Lieutenant Terada is
not known.
The end OF the men was equally
tragic. Some minutes after Captain
Shiina had given his last commands.
which left the soldiers 20 their own re
sources. Sergeant Kurisu and Corporal
Horisaka committed suicide by shoot
ng each other. and many followed this
example. Sergeant Okano went on
iecS. drew his sword and committed
larikari. IN example. we are told.
which was also followed by some Of
ais men. \ rather more soldierIike
way of spending the last moments or