The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-09-22
ESCAPES
FROM PORT ARTHUR
Tells of Awful Scenes in the
Beleagured City
HOSPITALS DO GOOD WORK
Inhabitants Suffer From Fly Pest, the
Sting of Which Invariably Re-
suits In Death-concerts
Every Day.
HOSPITALS DO GOOD WORK

Che Foo, September 21.-7:30 p. m.
Mrs. Anna KraYetchenko, the Engllsh
wife of a Russian army officer, who
arrived here the night of September
II, with Lieutenant Prince Radzlvil,
from Port Arthur, Is the first woman
to run the blockade from the Russian
STRONGHOLD since the Japanese In
creased their vigilance TO prevent
egress from Port Arthur
Her trip was rendered exceedingly
perilous because she came out with
the prince and ais companion, Lieuten-
ant Chrlstoforoff, who carried mes
sages from Lieutenant General Stoes-
sci. the commander of Port Arthur,
to General Kuropatkin. Both these
officers were disguised, and had they
been captured by the Japanese they
certainly would have been executed.
Mrs. Krayetchenlxo was so worn out
and exhausted by her adventure that
she was unable to see the correspond
ent of the Associated Press until to-
day. In an interview, she spoke to
him as follows:
I'VE left Port Arthur at 8 o'clock
lhe night of September Is. There was
a good wind and the moon was bright
We were successful in avoiding the
danger of Inc first Japanese blockad-
ing line. we came up to the second
line when the moon was under a
cloud Searcnlights were flashed on
all sides, but our junk was not dis
covered.
I'VE suddenly discovered ourselves
close to another junk, with Japan
csc crew on board. They presumably
took us for pirates, but we outsailed
them and drew away.
Hid Herself Under Blankets.
cat o'clock the next morning we
saw a steamer coming our direction.
She had the appearance OF cruiser,
and l was terribly frightened. When
we saw the cruiser, Prince Radzivil
and Lieutenant Christoforoff went be-
low | stretched myself out on deck
and covered myself with dirty blank
cts. Chinese were lying at my feet
and sides, and for nearly an hour, all
the time nearly smothered, | kept my
position | never uttered a more thank
full prayer than when | was informed
that the steamer we had seen was
Red Cross vessel, and that her cap
tain had no intention of overhauling
us.
Hospitals Do Good Work.
Wonderful things are being done
by the stats Of the different hospitals
at Port Arthur, who are assisted by
ladies.
There are thirty nurses for each
thousand patients. The ladies devote
most of their time to the making of
clothes for the soldiers. The laundry
work is done by the poor women and
the wives of enlisted men. The sick
and wounded are thus kept supplied
with clean clothes. The laundry work
Is done in dreadful heat. There are
no contagious diseases at Port Arthur,
but many deaths are resulting from
the bite of a large red-headed fly
which feeds on the decomposing
corpses scattered over the battlefelds.
A doctor who was bitten on the thumb
by one of these flies instantly ampu-
tated that member. He then had his
arm severed, but not before the poison
had reached his heart. The result of
the bite was fatal.
livery udy III Tie WEEK Tue DduQ
plays at one of the hospitals.
Men Recover Quickly.
1.-THE wounded men recover quickly
from the wounds inflicted by Maxim
projectiles and by the bullet of the
Osaka rifle, but the wounds resulting
from explosive bullets are awful and
recovery is impossible.
1.-THE old town of Port Arthur is al
most entirely wrecked. The streets
are filed with holes made by explod-
ing shells. The loss of life in Port
Arthur from commandments has been
remarkably small.
"Once l counted 81 Japanese shells
fired at Russian battery, not one of
which reached it's mark.
"The Russian garrison is cheerful
1t would be impossible to imagine a
Drawer or finer set of men. They re-
turn from three days duty in the
trenches with songs on their lips.
ALTHOUGH many places in the ranks
f-e vacant, all the men have unlimited
confidence in their power to hold the
fortress against the enemy.
Il assure YOU" Mrs. Kravetchenko
said, In conclusion, to the correspond
ent, that | believe Port Arthur will
stand against the Japanese. | don't
think the .trongholo will fall"