Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-17
JAPANESE FORTITUDE
HOW CREW ON CRUISER CALMLY
AWAITED DEATH.
Graohtc Description Of the Loss OF
Warship Off Port Arthus
Last December.


s,sc,a, Correspondence Of the Associated Press
TOKYO, June 80. 1908.
The story of the loss of the Japanese
cruiser Takasago in December last oniy
unfinished since the destruction OF RoJest-
vensky's fleet, is a military classic. Alter
the Takasago struck a mine and began W
sink the crew assembled In perfect ofoer
on the upper deck. there to await the oa'-
tie with stormy sea ana oeath-
Capt. Ishibashi ordered every man TO USE
a uftbeit and directed that no one jump
overheard until the ship actually sank Inc
crew then Joined In singing the national an
them. cheering the emperor. and lastly theS
..ns .Gallant Sailors" their 800 voices
ringing out above the storm. After lha'' aS
a relaxation. the men We're allowed 70
smoke and thus they went calmiy 10 .hei '
deaths OF 800 men who went GOWN Will
tho Takasaeo. only 1913 were rescued.
An officer who was aboard gives the 1oi-
,o1,,,no account of the disaster and the re-
markable GOODNESS and bravery VI Inv
A Remarkable Experience.
..rbe Takasago. fresh from the kure dock
yard, where she had been undergoing nc
na,rs steamed straight TO the mouth OF
the Pechili gulf at the beginning OF De-
cember. and on December IL she was or
port Arthur. The collier. however did not
NUT In an appearance owing to the rougii
weather On the 18th the sea was sum
high and there were no signs or the coliler.
During the day the cruiser driiteu WIN w
waves. and at night cruised slowly at the
entrance of the Pechili gulf. She was hot
accompanied by any other vessel Az
o. M half Of the crew were allowed 10 'she
a recess and the men lay down upon inc
decks In their uniforms.
Deadly Work of Mine.
"It was an intensely cold night with
gale and snow At two minutes past mld-
night, when, at point twenty-five hauu-
ral miles south of Port Arthur. and on the
eastern side of the Miatao Islands. she
struck mine on her larboard. ana
terrible explosion occurred. the sea ieaping
high above the ship. The crew look up
their emergency positions.
..,rba mine had made breach about SIX
feet in diameter In the middle or the water
line on the left side. The water rusheu III
with tremendous force, and the snip iist-
cd to the left Capt Ishibashi was on the
bridge. and Commander I>aAHs -
him. a.. 1nr,sb
of water but In vain. In order TO right tiie
vessel Goals and other heavy articles on the
lar. eide were thrown overheard. but the
shin continued to list more heavily lhete
was no vessel in sight. so that the rate OF
the ship as well as of the crew, seehneu
sealed. ,, ~. t,o
oil the electric lights on board were sud
denly extinguished and everything was en-
veIoned in darkness. with the exception
of a light on the bridge and the glare OF
tho rockets telling of the disaster. Owing
to the list the boats on the starooard coulu
not be launched. with the exception OF one.
OF those on the larboard Il steam launch
was destroyed. and only a cutter ana one
other boat were available
..At l2:42 a. m. the vessel communicated
the disaster to our squadron by means Oh
wireless telegraph and the crew had MOTH
ing to do but to await the sinking OF the
vessel.
"Captain Ishibashi on the fore bridge,
addressed the crew, 500 men in number, who
had assembled the upper deck, saying
that every one on board should equip him
self with a life belt. He continued: No
one must leave the ship until she sinks.
We will together share the fate of the YES
sell After this speech there was solemn
silence At / a IN. the crew sang the ma
tional anthem, and at the instance of Cap
tain Ishibashi rousing banzais were shouted
for the emperor, the empire and the navy.
Then the crew sang naval song styled
Gallant Sailors On the conclusion of this
the crew were permitted to smoke.
Owing to the list the captain and others
assembled on the bridge 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. m the vessel
suddenly Increased her list. and after once
dipping her masts into the waves raised
herself with convulsive shudder and then
plunged to the bottom. Captain Ishibashi
and the crew were thrown into the sea.
Only Three Boats Afioat.
THE three boats which had been lowered
from the ship were fortunately ahoat. with