Adventures of the Kniaz-Potemkin

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXV, Issue 23, 9 December 1905, Page 17

Adventures of the Kniaz-Potemkin

True Story of the Revolt

Graphic Narrative by One of the Revolutionaries.

Specially Translated for the “ New Zealand Graphic.

{Not long since the world was startled by the mutiny of the crew ot the Knlaz Potemkin at Odessa, and how this great Russian battleship delied the entire Black

&si fleet tor 19 days. l*ast week the cablegrams Informed us sho had been once more seized by the revolutionaries, and in the course ot a bombardment she was seriously damaged. The story ot that first revolt makes gruesome reading, but a perusal ot It enables one to get a wonderful insight into the awful events which are shaking the Russian Empire from St. Petersburg to the Crimea. The story, which has never before been published in English, cmne to light in this way. One of the quartermasters of the Potemkin —a man of some education—kept a diary of events through those awful nineteen days, and from Galatz lu Roumauia, where he went after the ship was given up, he sent bls Journal to “Je Sals Tout,” an enterprising periodical published In Paris. The story has been expressly translated for the “New Zealand Graphic,” mid we give it below in fill I .]

First Day. nr w - ORROR and Terror! It seems as I though I had just hail an aw--1 ful dream, in which I took I 1 part in a frightful drama! JL But I know very well that 1 have not been dreaming; that .!• have not been at the theatre; that what I have just seen really happened, and that the story of what I have seen will ke-morrow appear in. the journals of the entire world and will become history' That which I have seen is so frightful that future generations will speak of it with fright. Il is even more abominable than the assassinatioln of Alexandra, and Draga by their officers. The unlucky sovereigns of Servia might perhaps have been able to run away into the street, and with luck might have escaped from the assassins. The officers of our battleship who have just been assassinated had not a single loophole of escape. They only had the choice between the sea and death! Mow did it happen? I have beaten my brow to try and unravel the thread of events, but I feel that there are many things which are hard to explain, and tliat hr spite of everything there are things in this drama that 1 didn't understand, that I never will understand, and that nobody else will understand either.

It is, however, necessary that I should fix my ideas. If I don’t write down this very day the stoiy of what 1 have seen, perhaps to-morrow I won’t be able to tell about them—and I wish to lie able to do so. They might, perhaps, call me as a witness, and I would have to swear to tell the whole truth. So in order that I won’t make any mistakes later on, I am going to write the history of that bloody day that 1 have just lived through.

How the Great Revolt Started—The Rotten Meat,

This morning, as I was mending some of my clothes, I saw Kazlenco coming to me looking very troubled. “Do you know what’s the matter?” he asked me. “No; what is it?” “The meat in the soup is rotten. 1 saw it when they took it off the hooks in the butcher’s shop wl Odessa, and it was swarming with maggots. They r are trying to practise econmics on us again, or perhaps they are trying to push things as far as possible to see wlial we will let ourselves do. But it won’t go off as easily as they think.” I made no response, but reflected. Meat full of maggots! Wes it possible? They had already given us provisions that were not fresh and hard bread, but meat crawling with wonn;—that had never happened before! However, the dinner hour sounded, and I found myself among iny comrades with my soup basin, and felt a great agitation. Some of the sailors cried: “We won’t eat this rotten mess/* and threw the soup at their feet. Others imitated them, and then taking our basins in our hands we emptied thn contents out ou the deck and cried: “It’s a. shame! If our Father the Czar saw that soup lie would have the officers punished!”

After that there was a deep silence—the second commandant, Gelerowsky, and a sub-lieutenant had juat arrived ou the scene.

“What is the matter?” asked the commandant. “Why is that soup thrown down on the deck?”

“The meat they imide it with was rot ten,” said Kazlenco.

Gelerowsky did not reply. He betook himself to the galley and then went afb to the officers’ mess-room.

I was very curious to know what ho was going to say to the commandant, so I got as near as possible, and from my post I could see and hear perfectly. The second commandant sat down in his place, but ate nothing. Pensive he considered his brother officers, who were laughing and pouring out sparkling champagne into crystal glasses. “Gelerowsky,” said the commandant, “how is it you are not eating?”

"How can one eat and drink when there are on board this battleship eight hundred men who are not eating?”

All the officers turned towards Gelerowsky, who was pale and trembling, and one of them, a young man, striking the table with his champagne glass, cried: “If they don’t eat let them drink —there’s enough water in the Black Sea!”

At these words the glass was broken. Gelerowsky then quietly said: “If this continue, it is perhaps us who will drink it—the water of the Black Sea.”

The eommgndant, Golkoff, then got up from the table, and, calling Pogoisnetz, the sergeant-major, said to him, “Take your drum and sound the assembly' on the bridge.” Pogoisnetz did as he was told, and a moment lai er all the men were on deck, in rows before the officers. 1 was next to Vakulenchouk, who said in my ear: “You wilt see. Things are going to get warm. They must not say too much, however.” The commandant raised his voice: “Why do you not eat the soup?” 'there was no reply. “Come, come; answer me. I wish to know why' you don't eat it?” he reiterated. Then Gelerowsky said: “They don’t eat the soup because they fear the rotten meat.” There were signs of approbation in our ranks. Then the commandant questioned Major Smirnoff: “Major,” asked lie. “is it true that the meat was rotten!” The doctor, saluting, replied: “This meat is fresh and wholesome—in fact, I have never seen better.”

Gelerowsky interrupted him: “I am extremely sorry to contradict .you, but I myself saw' this meat when they carried it to the galley, and it was crawling.”

“Perhaps you saw it like that when it came, from Odessa.” said Smirnoff; "but since then 1 have had it salted and washed with sea water. It is now good and can bo. eaten.”

The commandant raised his hand. “That is enough now,” said he. “When the major has said the meat is good, it is good. Let. those who wish to eat the soup stop to the right and those who do not wish to eat it step to the left.

Slowly one by one we went to the commandant’s right. Many marched on that side, regretfully, as though ashamed of submitting after what the major had dared to say; but the chief had commanded.

And what would happen to those who did not go to the right?

There were not more than about thirty men who had not moved. “It is enough,” said the chief, raising his arm. “Guard, surround those men.

The author of these notes makes us witnesses of horrible butchery.

Some of the sailors went to gel their rifles and then surrounded our comrades.

The commandant had some large white sheets spread on the deck and ■called out, “These sailors are going to bo shot, but their blood must not dirty’ the deck.”

The thirty men were lined up and an armed picket arrived. The commandant gave the word to lire but the sailors, grounding their arms, said, “We cannot kill our comrades.”

Turning to Gelerowsky, the commandant said, “You see what your words have led to. You have backed up these men. and they’ won’t obey me any more. You arc the cause of this lack of discipline.”

At these words Gelerowsky in his turn gave the order to fire. At this instant a sergeant-major named Matioutschenco, Ills face livid, his eyes starting out of his head, and a gun in his hand, threw himself at Gelerowsky. “Ha, ha,” said he; “you are going to shoot these men! There arc not, then, enough corpses on the battlefields of Liao-yang and Mukden? '(’here are not, then, enough dead nt St. Petersburg and at Warsaw? Yon still wish to massacre innocent people? Ah, well! it is enough! We want to finish with the rule of atrocious 'barbarity. Long live free Russia! Sailors! instead of shooting at your brothers, you should shoot at your officers. You are in the majority; you will be the masters. Down with Tyranny!” Gelerowsky was bewildered when he heard Matioutschenco. and breathlessly said to him, “Silence, you unfortunate; silence, or they will shoot you at once!”

“It is you who is going to be shot,” •cried Matioutschenco, who loaded his rille.

Gelerowsky' then drew his revolver and shot at Matioutschenco. but missed him. A cry of pain resounded. It was Vakulenchouk who fell, wounded. Mad with pain, the wounded man threw himself at Gelerowsky, struck him on the forehead with the butt end of bis rifle, and then threw himself into the sea.

Several of his comrades jumped over board and saved him.

Whilst this was going on Matiouscheuco had cried out to Gelerowsky, “Assassin! Assassin! Vakulenchouk was innocent. You shot at him because he was a partisan of the Revolution, and me also 1 am for the Revolution!”

Shouldering his gun, Matioutschenco took aim at Gelerowsky. The shot sped, another person felt to the deck, the blood bursting from his mouth! It was done! The signal of the Revolution was given!

Pogoisnetz threw his drum into the waler, crying, “Long live the Revolution!”

Matioutschenco killed the captain of marines Nioupakoiof. and Lieutenant Livintsof. Another sailor knocked down with a blow from a rifle an electrician officer named Thone.

At length Matioutschenco went to see the Commandant Golikolf, who had been made a prisoner in his cabin along with a lieutenant called Alexeief. The commandant, an old man with a white head, fell on his knees and trembling implored Matioutschenco, “What are you going to do? Are you going to kill an old man like me? You don’t know what you arc doing. You are mad!”

“Commend your soul to God,” replied

Matioutschenco. “In a second you will be dead.” . . .

The commandant got up and had not finishing making the sign of the Cross when he was shot dead.

Matioutschenco went up on deck again and called out, “The commandant is dead. We are now the masters ! ”

The bewildered sailors ran about asking one another questions, and some of them threw themselves overboard. Some of the officers, terrified, also went over the rails. When Matioutseheiico saw them he cried, “They will go to Odessa and tell everything; let us kill them!”

Sailors from the ship began to fire on them, and the sea round about became red with blood.

Torpedo boat No. 267 made signals asking what was happening, ami then got under weigh. Pogoisnetz. tiled two blank canon shots over her and made signals to her to advance. When she came close to us they made her officers come on board and arrested them, also the officers of our own ship, who had not been killed. Au officer protested.

“If you wish to speak to inc.” said Matioutschenco, “take off your stripes and let us be equal.” Then suddenly' that phrase gave him an idea, mid he proceeded to solemnly degrade all the officers. Among them there were three who tore their stripes off themselves and said to us: “We are heartily with you.” These three stayed on board, and we kept also Alexeief an officer whom wo liked, and against his will we mimed him commandant of the ship. The other officers were put on a launch and sent to Odessa. After that Matioutschenco had us all mustered again on the deck and said to us, “Now we are going to declare war against all Russians who arc not for Liberty. The revolutionaries will follow us.” “Alas!” said Pogoisnetz," have yon forgotten that the men of the Black Sea fleet have to revolt in the month of August. The order has not yet been given to all, mid you have begun too early. They’ won’t follow us.” “What is done, is done; we can’t go backwards," said Matioutschenco, who started the refrain of the “International” : “C’est lu lutte finale. Levons-nous, et demalii I.’lnteruattouale Sera le genre hunialn!” Some sailors accompanied the singer under their voices, which produced a most mournful effect. Kazlenco arrived in the middle of the song, and simply’ said: “Vakulenchouk is dead.” Matioutschenco replied: “Let him rest in peace—he is already avenged.” And that was the funeral oration of poor Vakulenchouk. The Massacres Are Continued—A Ship Manned With Lunatics. Fourth Day. I have not been able to sleep. They make an infernal noise on the ship. But in spite of that*would I have been able to take repose? Yes, I perhaps would have been able to sleep if those frightful things had not happened! The officers! the officers who were, killed were taken by' the fleet and thrown into the sea without a prayer! And the men have killed otliers still. First of all they killed Smirnoff, the major. This unfortunate man. perhaps the only guilty ono in this affair, was thrown into a state of terror by the revolt, and went below to his cabin. With a gusli of a dissecting knife he cut open his stomach. He was in his death rattle, and they heard him and twenty sailors went into his cabin. When they saw who it was they called out. “It’s the man who caused all the trouble. Let us kilt him!” They kicked him about (ill he was dead, and then threw him overboard, .lust as he struck I he water I saw one of his arms detach itself from the rest of his body. The chaplain was also killed. lie was hiding in a cupboard when he was discovered by Matioutschenco, who shall cred his face with a revolver shot. The blood spurted, and in an instant the chaplain's robe was all red. It Is abominable!

Tn the officers’ quarters, on an improvised catafalque, they placed the body of Vakulenchouk, and elose to him some sailors kneel in prayer. After this the engines were started, and we went to Odessa. Arrived there Matioutscheneo sent a boat ashore to ask for bread, tobacco and coal, and at the same time it was given out that Vakulenchouk had been killed by the officers. The workmen of the port gave us what we asked, and promised to give a fitting burial to our poor Vakulenchouk.

Towards evening Matioutsehenco had the red flag hoisted on the battleship, and it was saluted to the strains of the “Marseillaise.”

Might fell. Matioutsehenco walked all about the deck crying out that the reign of the Czar was going to end, and that the throne of the Romanoffs would sink in blood. At times he spoke in a tongue which 1 do not know. Is it Tartar or Japanese?

Japanese! Is it possible that this madman should be a Japanese? He has never told us where he was born, or who his parents are, and he resembles Kuroki. What if lie is a Japanese? Tool- Russia! It would be maddening. After Tuschima. the Black Sea—and a single Japanese would have taken the Potemkin. But is it possible? I have not been able to sleep.

-There was Nikishkine, who shouted ceaselessly, “There's Christ coming towards us! On your knees!” and he prostrated himself. There was Pogoisnetz, with the smallpox pitted face, who wept, saying, “We will be sunk by the fleet! Me are going to die.”

And there were, moreover, those liesotted sailors who understood nothing ■whatever of what had happened, and who, alarmed, clasped their rifles io their breast, and said, “The Japanese are coming! We must defend the Em-

peror. I have not. been able to sleep. On the deck close to the very place where I was sitting there were clots of blood, and I couldn't tear myself away from gazing at them! The Mad Ideas of tire Escaped Luna tics at Sea. Fifth Day. I have embarked on board a ship which is commanded by lunatics. Give yourself an idea of what that is. A vessel guided by mad people! When a locomotive is driven by a mad engineer one runs the risk of a derailment, of a collision, and there are some deaths, but there may be some saved. tin board a ship commanded by a lunatic all the sailors are threatened with death, lie could blow the ship up. A lighted match, ami up we go! True, they haven't yet lit the match, but they have done many other things.

Rome students have come on board with workmen and women, and they have excited Matioutscheneo and his comrades—not that they wanted any exciting.

They brought the piano on deck, and n student play' d a moreeau of Tscliaikowsky, “Moments Tragique.” What an ironical choice, or did he play that piece on purpose? After that there was singing and dancing. During this time the body of Vakulenchouk was exposed to view in tidesen.

At half-past two it was '•allied to the grave, accompanied by an immense cortege.

When they returned from the cemetery the Russian students came on hoard again, ami said to Matioutsehenco •‘Now yon must bombard Odessa.” Blank shots were fired over the town, but the students were not content, and demanded that shells should be used. Mui ioustschem o. witli a bottle in his hand, blessed the cannon.

Two practice shells were fired at the f'erele Militaire, nnd two houses, were Uemolished.

The night was again passed in agony. No one slept, except perhaps a sailor named Ossip Kisselof, who is quite persuaded that all that has happened on the Potemkin has been ordered by the Czar, and who never ceases to say, “Your father the Czar will be pleased!” I can tel] you I am with mad people. I Sixth Day. Tat st night Matioutsehenco must-red tts and said to us, "The Black Sea Fleet

will probably eome to m.?et us, but have no fear. The sailors, our brothers, will not obey their officers if they give the order to fire on us. As for us it will lx: accessary to »end at least one shell in their direction. They must in fact revolt as we did, but they await a signal, which is a canon shot. When 1 order you to fire don’t hesitate. In tiring yon will give the signal of the deliverance of Russia.”

Pogoisnetz also spoke. He said: “Evidently we should not have revolted before the day mentioned. We should have waited till all the fleet was wi.h us, but, however, what is done is done, and we must not go back on what is passed. 1-et us go forward, but let us work with oxr brains and not like mad jveople. Let us work for the lib ration of our country.” The student Kisila, who had stayed on board along with another student named Wanoff, also said a lew words. He spoke of liberty, equality, and fraternity, and assured us that the racialists of Geneva would soon send us relief in money and provisions, and that we must not give in to the officers of the licet if called upon to surrender. After that Mutiouschenco anl his comrades sang the “Internationale.” All at onv a look-out signalled some Russian vessels, which had exchanged message by means of wireless telegraphy. We had intercepted these telegrams and thus had learned of the approach of the fleet.

Matioutsehenco quickly had the men to quarters and posted look-outs. Next day four men-of-war and six torpedo boats were seen. They made signals and the admiral said: “What are you doing? You are mad; you are children. Remain quiet or you will be sunk.”

Matioutsehenco signalled back: “Very well, admiral; you have advice to give us, come on board.”

Upon this, the licet disappeared over the horizon. They were enemies, those Russian ships; those full of our own brothers — they were enemies just as much as the Japanese vessels in the East. And still their departure had given be the feeling that we had been left in a state of painful and hopeless abandonment, from which we would never more emerge. My God! my God! What is the fate that you have reserved for your poor children ? The Sailors of the Pobiedonostelf Join Those o£ the Potemkin. p Seventh Day. The day has been terrible. There was almost nothing to eat. Some blaek bread and dried meat—that was all. There was no water. Some of ths sailors went to Matioutsehenco and asked for leave to go ashore and surrender themselves to the authorities at Odessa. Alatioutschenco refused, and there was a battle between his partisans ami bis enemies. There were several wounded and two killed.

The night passed in a tragic sileu-e. Nobody slept; each watched his neighbour, fearing to he assassinated in hit

sleep. In the morning the Russian fleet appeared once more, and numbered five battleships, four torpedo boat destroyers and seven torpedo boats.

The Potemkin’s fires were re lit. anl the signal was made that if the ships of the fleet advanc’d we would fire on them.

The fleet advanced all the same, amt Matiouti-chenco gave the signal for bombardment. The crew did not obey, and said: ‘‘Wait till they fire first. If we are taken we will blow the ship up.”

And there stood Matioutsehenco leaning against a mast, glowering and thoughtful, and nt. the same time furious and resigned. With a flashing eye he regarded Ihe immense i row and the huge ship which had submitted to him, but. yet obeyed him not. Then there were evolutions. The fleet, surrounded us. We broke the circle as/ were surrounded onee more, when the Pobiedonostsef approached us, and her sailors cried: “Hurrah, Hurrah! We are with you!” Just then the rest of the fleet sailed away, and the Pobiedonostsef stayed near ns.

Matioutsehenco believed it was a- ruse. He signalled: “Send us your officers, ami join us.” Iler sailors obeyed us. They degraded their officers; put some of them

ashore on the beaeh, and imprisoned others in their cabins. The fleet in the distance telegraphed: ‘•What are your intentions?” We replied: "Come here if you want to know.” A torpedo Ixiat left the fleet and steered towards us. It apeared that the chaplain was on deck. Before we could even start parleying she turned round and went away. This time the fleet disappeared altogether. Eighth Day. We nearly came to a light with the Pobiendonostsef. Mett of her sailors were, in fact, against the revolution, and they took her into port at Odessa, where they surrendered to the authorities. Matioutsehenco wanted to fire npo.i her, but the crew refused to obey the order. Furious. Matioutsehenco said: “After all, sir.ee they are not with us. let them go. One can’t force men who want to be slaves, to be free men.” The revolutionaries assembled in the officers’ quarters and decided to take the ship to Constantza, in Roumnnie. Ami we steam towards Constantza. This morning we demanded coal from a merchantman, and frightened by a, blank canon shot she gave us part of her cargo. Before leaving Odessa Matioutscheneo - left in that town a revolutionary proclamation, of which we had no knowledge. The Potemkin Does Not Surrender, and Leaves Constantza Without Firing; a Shot. Ninth Day. The Roumanian authorities offered ua hospitality if we wished to surrender, and refused provisions and coal if we would not surrender. Matioutsehenco asked the Roumanian officers if the sailors would be given up to Russia in the event of surrendering. The officers gave their word that extradition would not be granted. But Matioutsehenco smelled a trap, and would not sign the required capitulation. After having left a new proclamation, of which we knew no more than we did of the first, the Potemkin put out to sea again. We sail over the wide, wide sea towards what awful fate? How many days, how niany hours, will this stolen liteity last after so many crimes? What must people be saying of us? What must they be thinking of this phantom ship which sails about the Black Sea. without officers, without object, not knowing where the lunatics at the helm will take her? And t orpedo boat No. 267 follows us always. It might well precede us like a dog leads a blind man. Tenth Day. One doesn’t sleep: one doesn’t eat: one watches; one expects each instant that there will be a fight between the partisans of Matioutsehenco and the enemies of that man, who is surely posThis morning as I walked about the deck, oh. horror! 1 found in a corner a bloody linger encircled by a band of gold—a wedding ring! Where is the young woman who possesses the sisftr of that ring? l>et her weep all (he tears of her body—her husband has been murdered! Eleventh Day. Whilst 1 was busy writing in one of the cabins Matioutsehenco came to me and said: “You arc writing your memories. Don’t deny it. 1 know it. And write that you have seen Matioutscheneo Weep because he feels that it is more difficult to persuade a man that Liberty is necessary than it is to bore >i tunnel through a mountain.” I turned rcund and saw that lie really wept. Twelfth Day. We arrived last night at Theodorie. Hi the morning a small launch came off to us with the prefect, a doctor, and a journalist on board. The doctor looked after some of the sick sailors and then the prefect asked us what we wanted. “Potatoes, meat, four live bullocks, and some coal,” replied Matioutsehenco. “We will sec what we will be able to do,” replied the prefect. An hour later Matioutsehenco sent a boat ashore to find out the prefect’s answer. —

When the launch came in view the Cossacks fired on her, killing Nikishkine, Ivant and Ivanowiteh, besides wounding seven of our comrades. Matioutsehenco wanted to be revenged by firing on the town, but the sailors didn’t want to obey, and at 11 o’clock ■we left for Constantza. where they, are going to negotiate for the surrender of the battleship. At least that is what pogoisnetz told me.

But from here to Constantza the way is long when one has not too much coal and when one feeds the boilers with salt water.

What if we find on onr route a Russia licet which bombards ns! Slay God have us in His holy keeping! Thirteenth Day. To-night the sailors fought again. Matioutscheneo could not help weeping. 1 heard him mutter: “What can you do with men like that?” Fourteenth Day. It is over! Here we arc in Roumania! We have abandoned the Potemkin. Is that what Matioutsehenco wanted? Wo arrived at Constanza dining the night; the commandant of the port came on board nnd the negotiations were begun at onee. A Bulgarian doctor named Itakowsky has come among us, and has advised ns to surrender. He advised ns that we would not be given up to Russia. At length Matioutscheneo said: “Very well, we surrender.” At these words we got the order to pack up our kits and go ashore. An hour, after we went ashore Pogoisnfctz gave each of us ight francs. An Armenian gave me an old costume, very much second-hand, in exchange for my uniform. A fruit, merchant has engaged me as assistant, ami gives me three francs a day with lodging. Sixteenth Day. .1 have just now seen the Potemkin depart, and it seems to me that my country has gone away far from me for ever, and 1 have shed scalding tears. , Nineteenth Day. Matioutsehenco has left for Geneva. He will probably go to France. What shall 1 do to get towards those lands of liberty?. 1 have no money, and if my parents sent me some it would be stopped on the frontier. 1 am thus destined to vegetate on this foreign soil. Oh, my poor Potemkin! How good was your bad soup!