The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-08-16
Sailors I'm n Mix-Ur on the Ryeshi-
teIni.

Shestakovsky. of the Ryeshitelni, who
was wounded in the leg by a bullet,
and 20 of his men were saved by
boatS from the Chinese cruiser Sal
yung.
Interviews with Admiral Sab and
captain Ching. who is in m of
h Saiyung, show hat when the first
Japanese torpedo o destroyer, tow
ing the Ryeshitelni, departed to the
northward, the SECOND japanese de-
stroyer steered a course past n flag
ship and the cruiser Haichiu. The
latter cleared for action and signalled
to the destroyer to stop. This was
done. Admiral sab informed the
commander Of the japanese destroyer
tina the Ryeshitelni must be return
ed. as neutrality had been f~iagrantly
violated. To this the commander OF
the second destroyer replied that he
would overtake h first destroyer,
and return to Che Foo. Admiral Sab
accepted the word of honor of the
japanese commander and allowed
him to depart. The Chinese admiral
is deeply chagrined at this occur
renee, and is Ill as a result. He has
turned the command of his squadron
over to Captain Ching.
Captain Ching says that when the
Japanese d~eStroyers entered the har-
Dor of Che Foo he sent an officer on
board and assured Commander Fu-
jumoto that the Ryeshitelni was dis
abled and that his officers and crew
had signed a parole. A party from
one of the Japanese destroyers
boarded the Ryeshitelni at half-past
three o'clock in the morning, the crew
which brought him, with bayoneiS
affixed 10 their rifles in their hands,
followed their officer. Captain Shes
takovsky protested against this, say
ing: Il am unable to resist, but this
is a breach of neutrality and courte-
sy."
Captain Shestakovsky then secret
ly commanded one of his lieutenants
to p the gun powder with which
to blow up the Russian destroyer. To
gain the time necessary to make
ready for this step, Captain Shesta-
kovsky argued International law with
the Japanese officer.
In The meanwhile, the command
was issued quietly to the Russian SOL
diers to resist the Japanese with their
fists in the which would be
shown them by their captain.
Continuing his ccoun of the oc-
currence, Captain SheStakovsky said:
The japanese officer told me to sur
render, and that as a prisoner my life
would be spared. This insult SO Stung
me that L struck the japanese before
l intended to. / was afraid that the
explosive we prepared would not blow
UP our vessel. My blow knocked the
lieutenant overheard. In going he
dragged me with him. He fell int
his small boat alongside, while I fell
into the water. 1 chung to his throat
and pummeled him, until my hold
as broken"
The crew of the Ryeshitelni mean
while had begun fighting with the
Japanese sailors, who used their RI
files and ~bayonetS. The fighting men
scuftled over the deck n fell over
board in struggling pairs, after the
example accidentally set by their
captain. Captain Shestakovsky, see
ing his men fighting on the deck of
the destroyer. attempted to climb
back on board and command them.
He was shot at four times, and while
in the water he received a deep wound
in the right leg.
There were 81 Russian officers and
men on board the Ryeshitelni, and up
to this hour (noon) thirty-five have
been accounted for. A number of
The japanese attackers also are be-
lieved to nave persisted.
Being unable to regain h deck Of
his ship, Captain Shestakovsky swan
toward a nearby junk, from which he
was driven away by blows with a boat
HUN. nc IShldliCu LII liS "oeSi
fifty minutes, swimming in spite Of
his wound, and was finally picked UP
by one of three boats sent out by the
Haichou. Captain Ching cared for
the Russian captain and two of his
lieutenants in his own cabin.
Before leaving Che Foo, the com
mander of the Ujimoto sent an out
line report of the occurrences of the
night to the Japanese consul here.
This report says that the commander
was acting under his admirars orders
to fight and capture the Ryeshitelni.
Captain Shestakovsky is unable to ex-
plain why his vessel was not sunk
by the explosive made for that pur-
pose. He declared that he is disgrace
ed, although the Russian refugees
here insist that he is a hero His
sailors say that he told the japanese
officers TO kill him, that he would
never surrender.
The nature of Captain Shestakov-
sky's mission to Che Foo is not
known, although it is doubtless i'm
portant. During the interview with
the Russian captain regarding the
capture of his vessel, it was inferred
that plans and important papers were
burned on board the Ryeshitelni be-
fore the Japanese boarding party ar
rived.
Russia Protests Against Attack on the
D-arIinl