The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-11-22
DESTROYER BLOWN UP
The Russian Torpedo Boat Rastor-
opuy Sunk BY Her Crew.
ENEMY'S WARSHIPS WERE NEAR

The war Vessel Having Put In At ChefoO
From Port Arthur was ordered TO Dis
arm After Twensy-four Hours, But
Her Oficers obeying Supposed Sealed
orders Destroyed Her.
Chefoo The Russians blew up the
torpedo boat destroyer Rastoropny,
which had arrived from Port Arthur at
$50 a. m.
Captain Ching Of the Chinese cruiser
Hai-Yung, had notified Commander PEE
lem, of the Rastoropny- that twenty
four hours was the limit he could re-
main armed at Chefoo, after which the
Rastoropny would be compelled to dis
arm Commander Pelem told the Chi
nese authorities he would disarm mis-
vessel
Prior to the destruction Of the de-
stroyer the Taotai had officially noti-
fed the Japanese Consul that her dis
armament had been completed, the
breech blocks and ammunition having
been removed and her machinery dis
abIed.
It is learned authoritativsly that the
Rastor0pny carried sealed orders pro-
viding that, unless there came high
" favorable opportunity to escape, the
vessel should be blown up. Sufficient
powder for this purpose was secreted
before the destroyer left Port Arthur.
Small charges Of ordinary powder,
placed in each of the five water-tight
compartments, were exploded The
4 Russians, with the exception Of one
man, left the destroyer during the af-
ternoon, This last man lit fuses and
blew up the vessel.
There were three dull explosions.
which were scarcely audible 100 yards
away. Almost Immediately the Ras-
toropny sank and settled on the bot
tom. A single spar marks her grave.
The explosion was so subdued and
the crew remained SO silent that it was
some time before the report Of the af-
fair became current Even the officials
most intimately concerned heard the
news from the correspondents.
Customs Officer Koenig was on board
the destroyer in the afternoon, and the
Russians experienced considerable diff
Guilty in getting him out Of the way
without arousing his suspicious. The
destroyer's cutter. manned by two men,
was lying near, and the official was
persuaded to take ride around the
Rastoropny in order that he might see
the injuries she was alleged to have re-
ceived No sooner had he stepped into
the cutter than petty officer drew his
watch and urged the rowers to make
all speed away. When the destroyer
had gone down the official was taken
ashore.
1t is rumored that the Rastoropny
brought dispatch from General Stoes-
sci asking the ST. Petersburg authori-
ties for instructions as to whether he
should continue to hold ont, awaiting
relief or make immediate arrange
ments with the Japanese for surrender
upon the most advantageous terms
possible.
Commander Pelem. OF the Rastor-
opny in an interview, admitted that
the destroyer's voyage was in order to
carry dispatches The other Russian
ships, he said, remained at Port Ar
thur, The Rastoropny, being one of
the fastest Of the Russian vessels. soon
outdistanced her pursuers.
The other Russian officers an deny
the report that the Bayan has been
sunk, though they admit that shell
damaged her engines, which are being
repaired. Russian cruisers come out
Of Port Arthur daily, the battleships
remaining in the harbor.
When the correspondents were al
lowed on board the Rastoropny a quar-
ter Of beef was carefully placed where
it was impossible to miss seeing it.
This, 1t was thought, was in order to
convey the impression that Port Ar
thur was we'll supplied