COPY.
Enclosure 2.
Statement made by J. Ison.
C
25020
TRECK
REG 17
7th. June, 1905.
AM
601
I was the Mate of the British S.S. "Oldhamia". The
Ship was captured by the Russians on the 18th, May about 150 miles South of the Bashi Channel, under the following circums-
-tances.
At 11.20 P.M. on that date, we sighted the Russian Baltic Fleet, consisting of 48 vessels, one of which, the "Oleg" was detached from the main body of the fleet. She signalled us to stop, by means of a gun. The cruiser then closed and sent a boat on board us. Our papers were then examined, signals were exchanged with the fleet, and we were ordered to company them.
At daylight on the 19th. the fleet stopped, and men
were sent to examine our cargo. Enquiries were made as to the coal we had on board, (we had about 250 tons of bunker coal left
at 8.30 a.m. on the 19th.). At 11 a.m., a collier came alongside
and commenced putting coal into our bunkers, the Captain pro-
-testing. The whole of the crew with the exception of the Cap- -tain, Chief Engineer, Cook, and Steward, were then ordered to leave the ship with their effects, and were taken on board the Cruiser "Dnieper", (late "St. Petersburg", Volunteer Fleet), there were 29 of us so transshipped. During the afternoon the
fleet proceeded.
No information was given us as to what was to be our
fate. The "Oldhamia" was in the meanwhile kept in company with
the fleet.
On the 20th. we were informed that it was the intention
to put the crew on board the first vessel sighted, and on the following day we were told that the four left on board the "Oldhamia"