The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-01-13
GARRISON WAS WORN OUT.
Port Arthur Quit Because Men Could
No Longer Stand to FIGHT.

Port Arthur falls of eXhaustion--eX-
haustion not only of ammunition. but
of men.
The remnant OF the garrison left
had been doing the work of heroes for
five days and five nights. but ycster-
day they reached the limit of human
endurance.
In the classmates of the forts one
SAW everywhere faces black With star
walton, exhaustion and nerve strain.
You spoke TO them, but they did not
give answer and We're only staring
Cumbly.
The lack Of ammunition alone
would not have suggested the seeking
of terms. Scant ammunition had long
been common IN the fortress, and dur
ing the past month many of the forts
had nothing with which to return the
/ fire of the enemy.
The Russians at the classmates We're
firing not more than once to the 200
shots sent by the Japanese. When the
assault came they repulsed the enemy
with baNonetS. But the men them
selves. having existed for three months
on reduced intionS, were SO worn that
it is marvellous that they stood the
/ final strain so long.
| Stoessel Was Obdurate.
Yesterday General Stoessel would
still fight His wound which was re-
ceived early in the siege, had been
botherins him, l.ut his determination to
| fight while one man stood had not
been diminished
But we cannot fight said his gen
I erals Our men cannot move. They
sleep standing. Tncy cannot see the
bayonets ut their breasts. We can or
der but they cannot obey
Then you generals fight said
Stoessel, clenching his fists. He seemed
! fanatical on the subject, but finally he
was brought to see reason by the insist
ence of the suDordnates. Admiras
Lochinsky and Wren, Generals Smyrn-
/ off and Foyk and many others, some
times with broken voices, urged the
step which all dreaded so long.
Il am sure Port Arthur would have
sought terms month ago had il not
/ been for General Stoessel. who with
bulldog tenacity steadily refused to per-
| nit such action to be taken. He had
! told his emperor that he would never
surrender and he meant to keep his
! word
The greatest loss suffered by Port
Arthur occurred fortnight since,
when Major General Kondratenko was
killed. Officers and men alike regarded
him as the brightest star in Port Ar
I thurs armament. When his death be-
came known the fan in the spirits of
the soldiers was plainly visible
Death of kondratenko
/ General kondratenko was seated i'll
the casemate OF II certain fort discuss
ing with several other officers the best
way of countermlnlns against the Japa-
ncse, when an eleNen-inch shell burst,
killing everybody III lhe caSenlate
General Nog has taken Port Arthur
with his artillery and his tunnels. His
rifle bullets were seldom found to be OF
any use.
We constantly endured lombard
ment hercer than amy in history The
japanese periodically assaulted, and
then, if repulsed, they calmly assumed
their COMPARTMENTS.
We who came here today DO not
know the terms OF me surrender suS-
gestcd by General Stoessel to General
Nogi. nor the answer to them, having
left Port Arthur before the messenger
mad been dispatched. The general i'm
preston, however, IS mat Genera!
StoeSsel has proposed mat the army
shall go free. and that ne alone be MADE
Il prisoner. Even that concession
seemed to wrench out the sturdy old
mans heart
Whether or not the negotiations ter
inmate IN an agreement on Terms OF
SURRENDER II Is certain ma. lo,e az
thur IS doomed, as you say me ASSOC
ated Press pleulcteu Two illoiltiiS' ago