The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-07-22
Brave Jap Tars on TakaSagO
Went Down With Ship.
SINGING AND CHEERING
They Awaited Death-No One Allowed
to Jump 0yerboard-Of 500 Men
Who Went Down Only 1873
Were Rescued

Toxic, June 8, 19o5.-The story OF
the loss OF the Japanese cruiser Takas-
ago in December last, only published
since the destruction OF Roidestvensky's
feet, Is a. military classic. After the
Takasago struck mine and began to
sink, the crew assembled in perfect or
der on the upper deck, there to await
the battle with a stormy sea and death.
Capt. Ishibashi ordered every man to
don life-belt, and directed that no one
Jump overheard until the ship actually
sank. The crew then Joined ia singing
the national anthem, cheering the En-
peror, and, lastly, they sang Gallant
Sailors, their 500 voices ringing out
above the Storm After that, as re-
taxation, the men were allowed TO
smoke, and thus they went calmly to
their deaths OF 500 men who went
down with the Takasago, only l33 were
rescued.
An officer who was aboard gives the
following account;
The Takasago, fresh from the kuTe
dockyard, where she had been under
going repairs, steamed straight to the
mouth Of tile Peehiil gulf at the begin
ming Of December, and on Dec II she
was ordered to wait for a collier at a
point oil Port Arthur The collier, how
ever, did not appear, owing to the
rough weather On the 18th the cruiser
drifted with the waves, and at night
cruised slowly at the entrance Of the
Peehili gulf. AT 9 p. m. half Of the
crew were allowed to take a recess, and
the men lay down upon the decks in
their uniforms.
"'It was an intensely cold night, with
gale and snow. At two minutes past
midnight, when rs nautical miles south
of Port Arthur and east of the MIaotao
islands, she struck a mine on her port
side, and a terrible explosion occurred
The crew took up their emergency po-
sitions. The mine had made a breach
about six feet in diameter, in the water
line on the port side. The water rushed
/ in with tremendous force, and the ship
listed to port Capt. Ishibashi was on
the bridge and Commander Nakayama
beside him.
1.-THE crew worked hard to stop the in
lrnsh Of the water, but in vain. Goals
and other heavy articles were thrown
Ioveboard, but the ship continued K
list more heavily. There was no yesse
III sight.
Fifteen minutes after striking the
mine all electric lights were suddenly
extinguished and everything was en-.
veIoped in darkness except a light on
the bridge and the glare of the rockets
telling Of the disaster Owing to tbs
list the starboard boats could NOT 81
/ launched, except one boat On the port
side a steam launch was destroyed, and
only a cutter and boat were available
at 1912 a. M the vessel communi-
Gated the disaster to our squadron by
wireless telegraph
z Capt. Ishibashi, on the fore-bridge
addressed the crew, 500 ii number, whe
mad assembled on the upper deck, say
ling that every one on board should
equip himself with d life belt, adding
NO one must leave the ship until shs
sinks. We will together share the fatt
lof the vessel
| Owing to the list the captain anl
Others assembled on the bridge, and il
the masts and netting, and waited TO
the hour of sinking. The waves rosi
higher and the snow fell thicker. a
lilo a. m. the vessel suddenly inereases
her list, and after once dipping hel
imasts into the waves, raised hersel
with q conyuisive shudder and thei
plunged to the bottom. Capt. Ishibash
and the crew were thrown into the sea
''The three boats which had beer
lowered from the ship were fortunately
afloat, with their regulation crews o.
board. The did their utmost to rescu,
] the officers and men, but the fate Q
, 1.-THE boats themselves seemed at time
precarious. A few minutes later, how
, ever, q searchlight was observed IN |
southeasterly direction, The light ap
iproached and disclosed to view the war
! ship Otowa, which has come to the res
cue. The latter stopped at 500 metre
/ distant. illumined the scene with all he
searchliehts and dispatched three boat
| to the rescue. At sight Of the 0towi
the men, who had resigned themselve
+ to death, raised cries for help.
Despite the efforts of the boats onl
J lf33 persons, including Capt. lshibasLi
were saved, more than $50 being lost
including Commander Nakayanla.
number of men also died from exposur
after being picked up"