The Hawaiian gazette., 1905-07-14
THE LAST or TIE FINE
JAP CRUISER TAKAsAG0


the Takasago, one of the fastest cruis-
ers Japan ever possessed and which
was sunk by mine off Port Arthur
on December 13 last year, is described
by one of the survivors as follows:
The Takasago, fresh from the Kure
| dockyard, where she had been under
going repair, steamed straight to the
mouth of the Pechili Gulf at the begin
| ming of December, and on December Al
she was ordered to wait for a collier al
| point off Port Arthur. The collier
however, did not put in an appearance
| due to the rough weather. On the
| 10Th, the sea was still high and there
were no signs of the collier. During
the day the cruiser drifted with the
waves, and at night cruised slowly al
the entrance of the Pechili Gulf. She
was not accompanied by any other yes
sci. At 8 p. m. half of the crew were
allowed to take recess and the meI
lay down upon the decks in their uni
forms. 1t was an intensely cold night
with a gale and snow. At two minute!
past midnight, when at point 25 nau
tical miles south of Port Arthur ant
on the eastern side of the Miaotao Is
|
board and terrible explosion occurred
the sea leaping high above the ship
The crew took up their emergency posi-
tions. The mine had made breacl
about six feet in diameter, in the mid
die of the waterline on the left side
The water rushed in with tremendou
force. and the ship listed to the left
Captain Ishibashi was on the bridg
and Commander Nakayama beside him
The crew worked hard to stop the in
rush of the water, but in vain. Il
order to right the vessel, Goals, an
other heavy articles on the left sid
were thrown overheard, but the shi
continued to list more heavily. Their
was no vessel in sight, so that the fat
of the ship as well as that of the GREY
seemed sealed. Fifteen minutes afte
striking the mine, all the electric light
on board were suddenly extinguishe
and everything was enveloped in darl
ness, with the exception of light o
the bridge and the glare of the rocket
telling the disaster. Owing to the lis
the boats on the starboard could nc
be launched, with the exception of on
boat. OF those on the larboard,
steam launch was destroyed, and onl
I cutter and a boat were available. A
1912 a. m. the vessel communicated tn
disaster to our squadron by means
wireless telegraph, and the crew ha
nothing to do but to await the sinkin
of the vessel. Captain Ishibashi o
the fore bridge, addressed the crew
500 in number, who had assembled O
the upper deck, saying that every or
on board should equip himself with
life belt. He continued: emo or
. must leave the ship until she sink
We will together share the fate of tt
vessel.'' AFTER speech there W,
solemn silence. AT l a. m. the ere
sang the National Anthem. Then I
the instance of Captain Ishibashi, rou
ing banzais were shouted for the Ell
peror, the Empire and the Navy. The
the crew sang naval song style
"Gallant sailors. On the conclusic
to smoke. Owing to the list the Ca
tain and others assembled on ii
bridges and in the masts and nettin
and waited for the hour of sinkin
The waves rose higher and the sno
: fell thicker. At lilo a. m, the vess
d suddenly increased her list, and aft
s once dipping her masts into the wave
. raised herself with a convulsive shu
der and then plunged to the bottol
: Captain Ishibashi and the crew we
e thrown into the sea. The three boa
d which had been lowered from the sh
. were fortunately afoat, with the
. regulation crews on board. They d
their utmost to rescue the officers al
t men, but the fate of the boats thel
o selves seemed at times precarious.
few minutes later, however, a scare
II light was observed in south easter
i direction. The light approached, al
: disclosed to view the warship Otow
Y which had come to the rescue. It
= latter stopped at distance of 8
e metres from the scene of the disast'
g. illumined the scene with all her scare
!. lights, and dispatched three boats
s. the rescue. At sight of the Otowa, t
a men, who had resigned themselves
a. death, raised cries for help, thus
% creasing the sadness of the scene. I
'e spite the efforts of the boats, only l
# persons, including Captain Ishibas
l. were saved, more than $50 being 10
IS including Commander Nakayama.
n number of men also died from exI
= sure after being picked pu. ~
I, |