Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1904 — His Torpedo Boats Account for Three of the Muscovite's Ships. [ARTICLE]

His Torpedo Boats Account for Three of the Muscovite's Ships.

London, Feb. 10.—The following dispatch is from Cbefoo, dated, Feb. 9: “The steamer Columbia bas arrived from Port Arthur. A member of ber crew tells this story of tbe naval battle there. ‘The Columbia was lying in tbe roadstead, surrounded by fpurteen Russian battleships and cruisers. At 11:30 o’clock Monday night a severe shock was felt on board the Columbia. Tbe Russians immediately commenced to operate searchlights, and opened fire towards tbe sea. Tbe fiiriDg lasted only a short time. At 1 o'clock more shocks were felt, and the Russians again commenced firing.

“ •The Japanese did not return the fire. At 2 o’clock two Russian battleships went in and ware beached across

tbe entrance of tbe harbor. They wars* soon followed by a Russian cruiser, tybiiih also was beached. None off tbavessels was damaged above the water' line. More shocks from torpedoes were felt during tbe early morning and thenc all was quiet. This morning tbe KO»sian forts opened fire on tbe Japaaesefleet,'which was about three miles distant. The Japanese vessels returnee® the fire, hitting several of the Rusaiao ribips, but doing little damage.’ “Tbe Russian fire fell short. The two battleships disabled, qre die Foh tava, ahd.' Czarevitch. The disabled) -fcrmored cruiser Boyiatn and the* grounded battleships block the entrance to the harbor, preventing gmnboats from going out and battleship* and cruisers from going in and getting coal. Besides this Japan baethe Russian gunboats Variag andl Koretz, caught at Chemulpo. “The Japanese fleet was under th®* command of vice Admiral Togo. The* Columbia steamed away while the battle was in progress, but later saw theJapanese fleet leave. It consisted off sixteen or seventeen vessels.”