Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-09-01
THE BLACK SEA REVOLT.
Details of Kniaz Potemkine Mutiny
as Told by Sailors.

slowly being gathered from members
of the crews of the ships involved. says
correspondent of LIE Journal of Par
is, writing from Kustenji, in Roumania-
The Knaiz Potemkine left Sevasto-
pol on June "a for open sea maneu-
vers. The next day 1t reached the des-
ignated place, off Odessa, where 1t was
to experiment with the new guns. A
torpedo boat was dispatched to Odes-
sa for provisions. 1t returned at mid
night.
For breakfast on June 26 "borsch
(Russian BROTH, cooked with the meat
purchased at Odessa, was served to
the sailors. without a dissenting voice
they cried that they would not eat the
"borsch," the meat being unfit for
food. Nevertheless certain sailors did
eat the soup, and so their declaration
did not become known in the cabin.
The day following the soup was re-
made with the same meat. This time
all sailors refused 10 eat Command
ant Gelerowsky, second in command
and a second lieutenant came along
and demanded to know why nobody ate
the soup. Several sailors replied that
the meat was tainted. Thereupon the
officers returned to the wardroom
without saying a word.
Nothing might have happened II the
lieutenant had not seated himself at
the table and remained thoughtful
without touching the food.
why do you not eat?" inquired
Commandant Golikoff.
How can one eat," replied the off,
Ger, when we have on board 800 men
who refuse their food?"
An ominous silence followed. For
some time past the commander Of the
battleship had heard rumors Of con-
spiracy against the officers and Of the
threatened mutiny Of the crew. So
after a moments reflection, he called
Sergeant Major Pogownetz and order
ed him to have the crew beat to SER
vice quarters on the main deck. When
they were assembled the commander
said:
why do you not eat the soup?"
There was no response. Commander
Golikoff repeated his question. Still
no voice came from the crew. Then
the second commandant said:
"They do not eat because the meat
given them Is full of worms"
A murmur of approval came from
the ranks Of the crew.
"Dr. Smirnoff," cried the command
ant "is It true that this meat Is full OF
worms?"
The surgeon saluted and, approach
ing said:
"Commandant, this meat Is fresh; II
is healthful; 1t is good. / have never
seen better"
Lieutenant Gelerowski turned upon
him.
What? Good! have seen 1t my
self. 1t is alive with worms!"
The surgeon then said: Possibly
YOU saw It thus when 1t came from
Odessa. Since then have had 1t salt
ed 1t Is now good and fit to eat"
At these words the commander
raised his hands. Enough for the
present" he said. when the surgeon
says the meat Is good, 1t is good. Those
who are content to eat the soup Will
step to the right: those who do not, to
the left"
Slowly, one by one, the sailors pass
ed to the right. When there remained
only about thirty men who had not
yet gone over, although these were
preparing to move, the commander
stopped them.
Enough" he said. Marines. arrest
those men!"
Then the marines-even those who
had a short time before complained
went after their arms and surrounded
their thirty comrades. The command
er went aft to his cabin. One mo-
ment later Mastutchenko, a sergeant
major, with a wild look in his eyes,
sprang between decks and presently
returned with a rife. He drew him
self up before the officers. crying:
What would you do with those
men? You are going to shoot them
Has not enough blood already been
shed in this Russia? After the muir
ders of Liaoyang and Mukden- Of St
Petersburg and Warsaw-after these
the murders of the Potemkine? Enough!
we might as we'll, right here, put an
end to this reign Of barbarity. Long
live free Russia! Death to the OFF,
GERS! There are more Of us than you
We are the masters. Down with ty-
ranny!"
The second lieutenant, almost fran
tic, interposed: Hold thy tongue, my
poor fellow, or thoult be shot in
stantly!"
1T is thou who wilt be shot!" yell
ed Mastutchenko as he presented his
rifle.
The lieutenant drew his pistol and
fired. He missed Mastuchenko, but a
sailor named Vakulenchonk fell dead
There was a moment Of stupor, then
Mastutchenko cried Assassin! Thou
hast slain Vakulenchonk! What hath
he done to thee? He was Innocent"
With these words he fired on the
lieutenant and the officer fell with
blood dyeing his blond mustache. Then
followed a period Of great confusion
The sailors ran about asking each
other what should be done. Pogow-
metz threw overheard the drum with
which he had beaten the men to quar-
ters. Mastutchenko shot two officers
who rushed upon him to disarm him
The surgeon fed to his cabin and shot
himself through the stomach. Mas
tutchenko marked a fourth officer and
instantly killed him.
The sailors, wild with fury, ran be-
tween decks. Several officers threw
themselves into the water and were
followed by the petty officers. They
swan toward the shore. But Mastu-
tchenko would not have that, for they
would betray him. He called eight OF
ten men to him. They began to shoot
at the swimming officers and soon
killed them all In the meantime the
| torpedo boat No. 267, noticed that