Los Angeles herald., 1905-07-17
SING BANzA|s
As THEY SINK
JAPANESE WAIT CHEERFULLY
FOR DEATH
NOT ONE LEAVES THE SHIP
Crew Of Takasago, Shattered by Mine
Explosion, Meets Its Fate With
Heroic caImness, Chanting Ma
tionaI Anthem
Rx Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
TOXIC, July 16.-The story of the loss
of the Japanese cruiser Takasago in
December last, only published since the
destruction of Rojestvensky's fleet, is
a military classic. ia sN.
After the Takasago struck a. mine
and began to sink the crew assembled
in perfect order on the upper deck,
there to await the battle with stormy
sea and death. Capt. Ishibashi or
dered every man to use life belt and
directed that no one jump overheard
until the ship actually sank. The crew
then Joined in singing the national
anthem and cheering the emperor, and
lastly they sang Gallant Sailor" their
voices ringing out above the storm.
After that, as relaxation, the men
went calmly to their deaths. OF 500
men who went down with the Takasago
only 1873 were rescued.
An officer who was aboard gives the
following account of the disaster and
the remarkable GOODNESS and bravery
of the crew:
1T was an intensely cold night, with
a gale of snow. At two minutes past
midnight, when at a point twenty-five
nautical miles south of Port Arthur
and on the eastern side of Miaotao
islands, the ship struck mine on her
port side and a terrible explosion oc-
Cured, the sea leaping high above the
ship. The crew took up their regular
positions. The mine had made breach
about six feet in diameter in the mid
die of the water line on the left side.
The water rushed in with tremendous
force and the ship listed to the left.
Capt Ishibashi was on the bridge and
Commander Nakayama beside him.
"The crew worked hard to stop the
thrush of the water, but in vain In
order to right the vessel heavy articles
on the left side were thrown over
board, but the ship continued to list
more heavily.
Enveloped In Darkness
Fifteen minutes after striking the
mine all the electric lights on board
were suddenly extinguished and every
thing was enveloped in darkness, with
the exception of a light on the bridge
and the glare of the rockets telling OF
the disaster. Owing to the list, only
one of the boats on the starboard could
be launched. On the port side steam
launch was destroyed and only cutter
and one other boat was available.
"At 12:45 a. m. the vessel communi-
Gated the disaster to our squadron by
means of wireless telegraph and the
crew had nothing to do but to await
the sinking Of the vessel. Captain Ish-
ihashi on the forebridge addressed the
crew, five hundred in number, who had
assembled on the upper deck. saying
that everyone on board should equip
himself with life belt. He continued:
"'No one must leave the ship until
she sinks. We will together share the
fate Of the vessel
after this speech was solemn silence.
At a. m. the crew sang the national
anthem and, at the instance OF Captain
Ishibashi, rousins banzais were shouted
for the emperor. the empire ana the
navy. Then the crew sang a naval
song styled Gallant Sailor. on the
conclusion OF this song the crew were
permitted to smoke.
Owing to the list the captain and
others assembled on the bridge and