The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-07-14
TIE LAST OF TOE FINE
JAP CRUISER TAKASAc0

The Japan Times says: The last Of
the Takasago, one of the fastest cruis-
ers Japan ever possessed and which
was sunk by mine off Port Arthur
on December IS last year, is described
bv one of the survivors as follows:
The Takasago. fresh from the Kure
dockyard, where she had been under
going repair, steamed straight to the
mouth of the Pechili Gulf at the begin
ming of December, and on December IL
she was ordered to wait for collier at
a point off Port Arthur. The collier,
however, did not put in an appearance,
due to the rough weather. On the
10Th, the sea was still high and there
were no signs of the collier. During
the dav the cruiser drifted with the
waves, and at night cruised slowly at
the entrance of the Pechili Gulf. She
was not accompanied by any other YES
sci. At pm. half of the crew were
allowed to take recess and the men
lay down upon the decks in their uni
forms. It was an intensely cold night,
with gale and snow. At two minutes
past midnight, when at a point 25 nau-
teal miles south of Port Arthur and
on the eastern side of the Miaotao Is
lands, she struck a mine on her lar
board and terrible explosion occurred,
the sea leaping high above the ship.
The crew took up their emergency posi-
lions. The mine had made breach
about six feet in diameter, in the mid
die of the waterline on the left side.
The water rushed in with tremendous
force and the ship listed to the left.
Captain Ishibashi was on the bridge
and Commander .Nakayama beside him.
The crew worked hard to stop the in
rush of the water, but in vain. In
order to right the vessel, Goals, and
other heavy articles on the left side
were thrown overheard, but the ship
continued to list more heavily. There
was no vessel in sight, so that the fate
of the ship as well as that of the crew
seemed sealed. Fifteen minutes after
striking the mine, all the electric lights
on board were suddenly extinguished
and everything was enveloped in dark
ness, with the exception of light on
the bridge and the glare of the rockets
telling the disaster. Owing to the list,
the boats on the starboard could not
be launched, with the exception of one
boat Of those on the larboard,
steam launch was destroyed, and only
cutter and a boat were available. At
1912 a. m. the vessel communicated the
disaster to our squadron by means of
wireless telegraph, and the crew had
nothing to do but to await the sinking
of the vessel. Captain Ishibashi on
the fore bridge, addressed the crew,
500 in number, who had assembled on
the upper deck, saying that every one
on board should equip himself with a
life belt. He continued: emo one
must leave the. ship until she sinks.
We will together share the fate of the
vessel.' After speech there was
solemn silence. At / a. m. the crew
sang the National Anthem. Then at
the instance of Captain Ishibashi, reus-
ing banzais We're shouted for the EN-
peror, the Empire and the Navy. Then
the crew sang a naval song styled
"Gallant sailors' On the conclusion
of this song, the crew We're permitted
to smoke. Owing to the list the Cap
tain and others assembled on the
bridges and in the masts and netting,
and waited for the hour of sinking.
The waves rose higher and the snow
fell thicker. At lilo a. H., the vessel
suddenly increased her list, and after
once dipping her masts into the waves,
raised herself with convulsive shud--
der and then plunged to the bottom.
Captain Ishibashi and the crew were
thrown into the sea. The three boats
which had been lowered from the ship
We're fortunately afoat, with their
regulation crews on board. They did
their utmost to rescue the officers and
men, but the fate of the boats them
selves seemed at times precarious. A
few minutes later, however, a search
light was observed in southeastern
direction. The light approached, and
disclosed to view the warship Otowa.
which had come to the rescue. The
latter stopped at distance of 800
metres from the scene of the disaster,
illumined the scene with all her search
lights, and dispatched three boats to
| the rescue. At sight of the Otowa. the
men, who had resigned themselves to
death, raised cries for help, thus 1u-
creasing the sadness of the scene. De-
spite the efforts of the boats, only 1873
persons, including Captain Ishibashi,
| We're saved. more than $50 being lost,
| including Commander Nakayama. A
| number of men also died from expo
sure after being picked pu.