Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-07-08
STORY
OF THE
MUTINY
How the Russian BattIeShip
POtemkin Became a
Pirate

| - oNAy os-Ino btOTy
of the troubles at Odessa has already
been covered in the statements made
by government officials since the com
mencement Of the outbreak. After de
failing the activity Of the Socialists
revolutionary committee in stirring uu
the strikers ashore and the arrival of
the mutinous crew of the battleship
Kniaz Potemkino ~ odessa June 27, a
new official account as published pro-
ceeds:
"The mutiny Of the warships provid.
ed the revolutionary committee with a
good opportunity to influence the
massea The committee visited the
battleShip and assured the mutineers
that the garrison of Odessa had laid
down its arms and that the whole
Black Sea squadron had joined hands
with the crew of the Kniaz Potemkine.
According to eye-witnesses, officers took
an active part in the councils of the
battleship, especially two young cadets.
The results Of the anarchist intriRues
among the workmen and mutinous sail
ors became Immediately evident.
Story Of Drunken orge.
1.-THE troops were unable 10 use their
arms against the crowds Of workmen
in the vicinity OF the harbor for fear
of possibility Of an enflading FIRE from
the battleship. The harbor was there
fore at the mercy of the mob, which
pillaged warehouses;, broached casks
Of vino and spirits and started
drunken orgie. With nightfall the
fires started by the rioters soon at
tanned terrible dimensions. Nearly
everything in the harbor was de-
stroyed, the mob refusing to allow the
fremen to fight the flames. The rail.
way freight sheds were pillaged and
many rioters and looters were burned
alive while intoxicated.
"several times during the night Of
June 2S the mob attacked the troops
and police with revolvers, but each
time they were scattered by a volley
from the soldiers. The number Of
rioters killed or wounded is not yet
known, but must exceed several hun.
dred. The damage can be only esti.
mated in the millions Of rubles. A
number Of foreigners suffered.
"on juno 20 a state of war was
proclaimed and the city was cordoned
by troops. The disorders then ceased
"The story confirms the report that
tho Knaiz POtemkine on the evening
Of June 20 fred three blank shots as
prescribed by the Russian naval code
for the funeral of a sailor and follow
cd this up with two live shots, destroy
ing part Of a house. Otherwise the
battleship did no damage"
The government report then proceeds
to relate the arrival OF Admiral Kru-
gers squadron during the morning Of
June 80 as follows;
Potemkine Ready 10 Fight.
GAS the squadron approached the
Odessa pier the Knaiz Potemkin
cleared for action, advanced to meet it
and cut through it's line. AS the Kniaz
Potemkine passed the mutineers re-
eeived an ovation from the crew Of
tho Georgi Pobiedonosetz. Rear Ad-
miral Kruger thereupon signaled the
squadron to swing around and return
to Sebastopol, but the crew Of tho
Georgi Pobiedonosetz prevented the
vessel from following and put ashore
all their officers, disarmed, with the
exception Of Lieutenant GrigerOff, who
blew out his brains.
"On the advice Of the revolutionists
a committee OF 20 was elected to take
charge Of the vessel, under the diree-
tion Of bOatswain's mate, and ap-
parently against tn y latter's win. Dis
sensiOn prevailed among the crew, only
part Of which was influenced by the
revolutionists and wanted to follow the
KniaE Potemkine. The latter threat
ened TO fire on the GeOrgi PObiedOnO-
setz If she tried to rejOin the squadron
At sebastopOl. The anti'revOlutiOnary
section, however, ultimately gained
the upper hand, and when on the aft
ernoon of July l the two battleships
weighed anchor the Georgi PobiedOno-
setz put on full speed, entered the
harbOr and sent the bOatswain's mate
and some sailors ashore to signify her
"