The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-06-28
CARPENTER OF BRITISH STEAM
Err RELATES INTERESTING
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
Frank Welding Reeounts How Russians
Took Vessel, Sailing From Taco.
ma Last Year, Prisoner.

Not to many have the experiences OF
Frank Welding, carpenter on the Brit
| ism steamer Uing Chow, which arriv-
ed in Tacoma from the Orient Tuesday,
been vouchsafed. Incidentally, ne
| would be decidedly averse to under
going them again.
Welding was one of the crew of the
| ll-fated steamer Calchas seized by the
| Russians last July as a contraband
vessel and held at Vladivostok until
December 7. Under command Of Cap
| tain Hanna, the Calchas sailed from
! Tacoma and then from Victoria on
July 10, bound for Hongkong. Japa-
nese ports and Liverpool. Fifteen days
later, when within four hours Of Yo-
kohama, she was intercepted by three
Russian men-of-war, part of her crew
removed and the vessel put in charge
| If Russian officers After fourteen
days Of sailing the seas as a prisoner
| If the Russians, the Calchas was TAX
en- to the Russian port and held there
for almost five months.
1t was during this time that the war
| spirit was intense and when many of
the important naval engagements of
| the war took place. While the CAL
| chas' crew was detained at Vladivos-
| tok it was in state Of partial siege.
1t was also the port made for by the
disabled vessels of the Slav fleet, con-
nections were maintained with the ar
my and in many ways it was the CEN
ter of much of the activity.
Interesting Story Of Capture.
Mr.. Welding gives a vivid account of
the capture of the Calchas to the Ia
coma Ledger, and his accounts OF
what took place during the time the
crew was at Vladivostok have the ad-
vantage of being first hand. He gave
the following to the Ledger when seen
aboard the Ming Chow:
1T was about o'clock on the morn
|
three Russian men-of-war which took
us prisoners We had heard shooting
earlier in the morning, but believed
ourselves out Of the course of any OF
the vessels. Captain Hannah was anx-
ious to make the so miles to Yokona-
ma before noon, and we were steam
ing ahead at full speed. A few min
utes later a shot crossed our bow and
no time was lost in obeying the order
and bringing the steamer to stop. AS
| they came closer we recognized In the
formidable craft the Gromoboi. Rurik,
and Rossi of the Russian fleet. Our
captain told him our destination was
| Hongkong, but he did not succeed in
| allaying the suspicious Of the Russian
| commander, and men were sent aboard
to assume charge of the vessel.
| About half the crew were taken from
the Calchas and placed on the Gromo-
| boi. Our engineers wer guarded by
armed officers as were the other men
left to help navigate the vessel A
burly Scotchman was put in charge
and he it was with his second officer
who made our lives miserable. The
third in command was moderate in his
discipline, however, and gave us fair
| treatment The commander did not
draw a sober breath while aboard the
Calchas. He was drunk all the time,
and we were afraid that at any time
we would meet the Japanese and with
| the other vessels be wiped off the sea.
Our men were fully prepared in such
a case to jump overheard and trust to
providence to reach the Japanese war
ships. Fortunately, we did not en-
counter any, but hope to never spend
another two weeks like that. We were
not in a much better fix when we
reached Vladivostok, but it was great
! relief just tn same.
Russians Soon Defeated.
1T was short time after this that
the engagement occurred between the
three vessels and the Japanese fleet
of eight warships, during which the
Rurik was sunk. It took place not far
|