New-York tribune., 1905-07-17
LOSS OF THE TAKASAGG.
Orer 800 Men Dr0wned III fter Calm
ly 4zcaiting Death.
Correspondence OF The Associated Press)


Toxic. June 30.-Tbe story OF the loss OF the Jap
anese cruiser Takasago in December last, pub
lished after the destruction Of Rojestvenskys fleet
is a tale of heroism. After the Takasago struck
a mine and began to sink the crew assembled in
perfect order on the upper deck. Captain Ishihashi
ordered every man 4 life belt. and directed
that jump overheard until the ship went
down. The then joined in singing the ma
tional anthem cheering the Emperor, and last they
sang Gallant Sailors" their five hundred voices
ringing out above the storm. After that the men
allowed to smoke and went calmly 10 their
deaths or five hundred men who went Gown with
the Takasago. only 1SS were rescued. An officer
who aboard gives the following account of
the disaster and the remarkable GOODNESS and
bravery % the
The Takasago, fresh from the Kure dockyard,
where she had been undergoing repair steamed
straight to the mouth OF the PeChlia tuiI al IN me
ordered to wait for a collier at point of Port
owing to the rough weather On the 18th the sea
oe fs s Dh h snd e aS hsr e d9er sRf FcG Or w
the waves % and m at Rght eTused slowly at, at the the
companied by any other vessel. At p. m. half of
the men were allowed to take recess, and they
II was an intensely cold night. with a gale and
snow. At two minutes past midnight twenty.fye
SIDE OF the Mia0-Tao Islands the cruiser struck a
Cured the sea ieaping high above the ship The
crew took up their emergency positions. The mine
the middle OF the waterline on the left side. The
ship listed to the left Captain Ishibashi was on
the bridge and Commander Nakayama beside him.
water, but in vain In order to right the Vessel
Goals ana other heavy articles on the left side
list more heavily. There was no vessel in sight SO
that the fat; of the ship, as well as that Of the
Fifteen minutes after striking the mine all the
everything was in darkness. with the exception Of
light on the bridge and the glare Of the rockets
telling OF the disaster. Owing the list the boats
on the starboard could not be launched. with one
was DESTROYED, and only cutter and boat were
At 1912 a. m. the vessel communicated the dis
gTaph. and the crew had nothing TO do except to
await the sinking of the vessel.
Captain Ishibashi, the fore bridge, addressed
on board should equip himself with Ifebeit. He
She sinks We will together share the fate of the
vessel After his speech there was solemn %ience.
Then at the instance Of Captain IsR6ash roIs us
enna sted 8h1 me 5a9 sailors on the eonclusion
of this song the crew We're permitted to smoke
Owing 10 the list. the captain and others @ as as
ting and waited for the hour of sinking The
waves rose higher and the snow fell thicker. At
1:10 a. m. the vessel suddenly increased her list,
and after once dipping her masts into the waves.
lifted herself with a shudder and then plunged 10 20
the bottom. Captain Ishibashi and the crew were
The three boats which had been lowered from
the ship were fortunately ahoats WITH tneT reg
uation crews on board. They did their utmost 10
boats themselves seemed at times precarious. A
few minutes later. however. searChlight was OBJ
served IN a southeasterly direction The light
approached and disclosed to view the warship
Ottawa, which had come to the rescue The latter
stopped a distance of three hundred metres from
the scene of the disaster. illumned the scene
with all her searchlights and dispatched three
boats to the rescue. At sight, of the Ottawa, the
men. who had resigned themselves TO death. raised
cries for help, thus increasing the sadness OF the
scene
Despite the efforts Of the boats, only lSS persons.
including Captain IShIbashi. saved. moro than
three hundred and sixty being lost. including Com,
mander Nakayama. A number OF men also died
from exposure after being picked up