Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 April 1904 — BATTLESHIP WITH CREW GOES DOWN [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BATTLESHIP WITH CREW GOES DOWN

According to the report of the state statistician, Indiana will have the poorest wheat crop in years, due to the hard winter. The appellees filed their brief in the test cases from Boone, Ripley and Dearborn counties last Friday to determine the validity of the legislative apportionment act of 1903. The Supreme court, on petition, advanced the cases and set them for oral argument on April 19 at at 9 a. m. The county clerk of Jasper resigns, and he is a republican. There used to be a rule of ethics that few of them died, and none of them resigned. We await the further explanation of the phenomenon in Jasper county. —Lafayette Democrat. It’s all right, Bro. Armstrong, and the rule still holds geod. This particular clerk is a democrat.

Delphi is trying the experiment this year of nominating a nonpartisan city ticket, composed of both democrats and republicans. The object is to eliminate politics from city affairs. This plan, or seeing to it that a part of the minority ticket is elected, could be followed with profit to the taxpayers in all local government, and it is to be hoped that the republicans of Jasper county who are j just now howling so much about j their high taxes will in time learn this fact. Messrs. Honan, Baughman and Bates, chairman, secretary and treasurer, respectively, of the old Democratic County Central Committee, have made efficient officers and given much valuable time gTatis to the farthering the interests of democracy in the county and district, against overwhelming odds. In behalf of the democracy of the county, The Democrat desires to thank them for their services to the cause, and to the new officers we extend greeting.

Russian Ship Strikes a Mine in the Port Arthur Roadstead. ADM. MAKAROFF AMONG DEAD Seven Hundred Said to Have Perished —Squadron Went Out to Meet the Jap Attack—Four Odicer* Saved. Chefoo, April 14.—A private dispatch received here from Port ltrtbur says the Japanese attacked that place at daylight Wednesday and that the full Russian fleet went out, under Vice Admiral Makaroff, and, assisted by the fir* of the forts, drove the enemy off. St Petersburg, April 14.—A semiofficial telegram announces that the Russian battleship Petropavlovsk has

been sunk off Port Arthur and that only four of the officers were saved, among them being the Grand Duke Cyril, w'bo was wounded. Blown Up by a Mine. Another report is to the effect that the telegram which Grand l Duke Vladimir received was from Grand Duke Boris, brother of Grand Duke Cyril, announcing that the Potropavlosk, of which Cyril was first officer, had been blown up by striking a Russian mine, only four officers escaping. The Grand Duke Cyril’s wound wa® said to be slight. The telegram, according to this report, did not mention the losses sustained by the crew. Only Four Officers Saved. While going out to meet the Japanese fleet off Port Arthur the Petropavlovsk struck a mine In the outer roadstead, heeled over, turned turtle and sank. Practically the whole of her crew were lost Only four officers were saved, among them being the Grand Duke Cyril, The Petropavlofck w T as flying the flag of Vice Admiral Makaroff. The result of the naval battle which, according to the most reliable authority, was in progress nocortliiig to the last reports has not been received. Admiral Makaroff Drowned. Another account says twenty men escaped from the disaster to the Petropavlovsk. Grand Duke Cyril was only saved from death by a miracle. His brother, Grand Duke Boris, witnessed the catastrophe through a marine glass. It is officially announced that Vice Admiral Makaroff was drowned at the time of the sinking of the battleship Petropavlovsk. It is estimated that from 000 to 700 men perished when the Petropavlovsk sank. Battleship Turn* Turtle and Sinks. The Japanese fleet, including tor-pedo-boats and torpedo-boat destroyers, totaling forty, made an attack early in the morning. Vice Admiral Makaroff ordered his whole squadron out of the harbor to meet the attack. While preparing to draw up hi® line of battle in the outer roadstead the Petropavlovsk struck a mine, on her starboard side amidships and immediately began to heel. Before the crew could flood the port compartments of the vessel in order to keep her on even keel, she turned turtle and sank in a few minted, carrying down almost the entire crew.

How the Officer* Escaped. Captain Nj JakovlofT, the Grand Duke Cyril and two other officers were saved because they were standing on the upper bridge. The frightful loss of life among the officers and men was due to the fact that they all were at their stations, ready for action. The Petropavlovsk turned turtle in a manner similar to the British battleship Victoria, which was rammed by the CamperdoWn in 1893, and to the incident In the Chlno-Japanese war, when a Chinese warship turned turtle, many of the crew remaining alive for several days hammering desperately on the upturned hull. Deadly Mtatak* of Haitian*. London, April 13.—The Times’ New Chwang correspondent, cabling under date of April 11, says: “Last night a pilot’s flare was mistaken for the lights of a Japanese fleet, and the Russians fired and sank the junk with thirtyI five hands, besides killing three per- | sons und wounding seven in another

4» Junk. The native population 1* panic stricken and leaving the town.”

BELLIGERENT AMENITIES Russians Bury « Brave Japanese Officer with Military Honors. Tokio, April 11.—The body of a Japanese officer found and buried at Port Arthur recently Is unquestionably that of Commander Takaso 111 rose, who lost bis life in the engagement of March 27, when Vice Admiral Togo made Bis second attempt to bottle up the port The description of the uniform tallies with that worn by officers of Hirose’s rank. The fact that the body had been missing is further confirmatory of this. The government deeply appreclaes the action of the Russians in giving the remains a military funeral, and officers of the naval staff have requested the Associated Press- to express their appreciation of the Russian courtesy. The fragment of Hirose’s body which has been brought here will be given a public funreal April 13 according to the Shinto ceremonial. Commander Hlrose Is the greatset Japanese hero of the war. ABI'SED NO RED CROBS PRIVILEGES Japanese Deny Russian Charges as to the Fight at Chengju. Tokyo, April 13.—The charge emanating from Russian sources to the effect that the Japanese troops engaged in the fight at Chengju March 29 abused the privilege of the Red Cross flag by taking refuge In a building occupied as a hospital is indignantly denied here and pronounced a fabrication designed to injure the Japanese In the eyes of the world. An official Investigation shows that the Japanese force engaged at Chengju had established a bandage station in the rear of their firing line and it was used exclusively for the purpose of earing for the wounded. The Japanese Red Cross is nn old and extensive organization, which did good service in the war with China. Roth the society and the army have been found anxious in this war to conduct the work according to the ideals of civilization. RUSSIANS LOSE IN LAND FIGHT Leave Twenty on the Field While Trying to Cross Yalu. Tokio, April 14. —An official telegram from Wiju says that a company of Russian troops attempted to cross the first stream of the Yalu river west of Wiju Wednesday morning and that a company of Japanese attacked and drove the Russians back. The bodies of twenty dead Russians, the telegram adds, were found after the fight Their uniforms showed that they belonged to the Twelfth regiment of sharpshooters. Finally, the dispatch says that small parties of Russians without uniforms have attempted to cross the Yalu river at different points between 'Wiju and Yongampo and that they were all driven bock. JAPS LAID THE MINES Trap Which They Set for Russian Ships Was Successful. Chefoo, April 14.—1 t has been learned from Japanese sources here that the attack on the Russian Port Arthur fleet of Wednesday morning was planned and put into effect in the following manner: At daylight tiie Japanese torpedo-boats made a demonstration before the port and at the same time laid mines across the outer entrance to the harbor. They then retired and Joined the main squadron. The squadron then advanced, and as it drew near the Russian ships were seen coming out. The battleship Petropavlovsk struck one of the mines laid by the Japanese torpedo-boats and was destroyed. Japan’s First Army Landed. Paris, April 12.—Official advices received Monday by the French government confirm the press dispatches announcing that Japan’s first army, consisting of four army corps, is now completely landed in Korea and that the second army, consisting of a similar number of corps, Is about to start. The points of debarkation of the second army are not known. Maybe They Won’t Be Driven. Paris, April 12.—The Echo de Parks this morning publishes a dispatch from Its St Petersburg correspondent which says: “General Kuropatkin intends to have the Caucasian mountaineers operate in Korea, which they will enter when it is considered that the decisive moment has arrived to drive out the Japanese.” Deutschland Not Sold to Russia. London, April 14.—The report from Plymouth Wednesday night that the Hamburg-American line steamer Deutschland, which arrived at Cherbourg Wednesday from New York, had made her last Atlantic voyage and that she would be purchased by Russia, is untrue. Jap Transports Reported Captured. St Petersburg. April 12.—Persistent rumors are current that the Port Arthur squadron has captured several Japanese transports en route to Chemulpo laden with troops and ammunition.

ADMIRAL MAKAROFF.