Blowing Up the Izumrud
The fate of the cruiser Izumrud is a chapter of itself in the story of the battle. Baron Ferzen, her captain, with survivors of the ship's crew, reached Vladivostok on June 1 and sent a report, which, in addition to confirming the disaster to the entire fleet, told the fate of his own ship. The Baron reported that before dark, on May 27, the Osliabya, Alexander III and Borodino had been sunk, and the Kniaz Souvaroff, the Kamtchatka and the Urel had been seriously damaged and were lost to sight. The command then devolved on Rear Admiral Nebogatoff.
In the evening the Nikolai I, the Orel, the General Admiral Apraxine, the Admiral Seniavin, the Admiral Oughakoff, the Sissoi Veliky, the Nevarin, the Admiral Nakhimoff, and the Izumrud sailed northeastward, the latter being charged to transmit orders to the battleships. Two other cruisers were cut off from the fleet and were not again seen.
The battleships, steaming at fourteen knots, were repeatedly attacked by the Japanese torpedo boats, especially at the extremities of the line.
At dawn it was ascertained that the battleship division consisted of the Nikolai I, the Orel, the General Admiral Apraxine and the Admiral Seniavin.
At sunrise, May 28, smoke from the Japanese ships reappeared on the horizon, whereupon the admiral gave orders for increased speed. The Admiral Seniavin and the General Admiral Apraxine dropped behind.
Toward 10 o'clock, the Japanese fleet appeared first to port and then to starboard, while the cruiser division manœuvred behind the Russians to starboard. Baron Ferzen's account continues:
Flight Ends in Disaster
"I was cut off from the squadron and finding it impossible to rejoin it resolved to make for Vladivostok. I put on full speed and the enemy's cruisers came on in pursuit. Owing to the insufficiency of my coal supply and the certainty of meeting the enemy's cruisers, I subsequently altered my course for Vladimir Bay, where I arrived on the night of May 29. At 1.30 o'clock next morning, in pitch darkness, the Izumrud ran full on a reef at the entrance of the bay. Having only ten tons of coal and seeing that it would be impossible to again float my vessel, I ordered the crew ashore and blew up the Izumrud to prevent her falling into the hands of the enemy. Ten of my sailors were wounded in the battle, but the officers and the rest of the crew are all safe."
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