about nine o'clock in the
morning
`` I was too busily engaged in helping to save Number 65 to see much of what further happened in connection with the attempt to ` bottle up ' the Russian fleet ; but I have since learned that the _ Sagami Maru _ , which followed the _ Otaru Maru _ , was peculiarly unfortunate , in that she struck a mechanical mine , just outside the harbour , and went down with all hands . The last ship , the _ Asagao Maru _ , was scarcely less unfortunate ; for a shell struck her rudder as she neared the harbour , and rendered her unmanageable , so that she went ashore close under Golden Hill , and her crew , refusing to surrender , were killed , to a man . `` Just after this last happening , a fog came driving in from seaward and swallowed us all up , so that the Russians lost sight of us ; and then the firing ceased . Shortly afterwards , our fast cruisers came looming up through the fog , to cover our retreat ; and about nine o'clock in the morning Togo himself joined us with the battle squadron . He was most anxious to know the result of the night 's operations ; but , unfortunately , none of us could afford him more than mere disconnected snatches of information . I think I possessed more information than anybody else ; but of course mine was by no means complete , and the Admiral was most anxious to know exactly how matters stood , for great things hinged upon the measure of our success ; I therefore offered to take in a picket boat and attempt to obtain all the information required , and my offer was accepted . I steamed in under cover of the fog , which was so thick that it was impossible for us to see more than a few yards in any direction ; so thick , indeed , that we actually found ourselves among the masts of the sunken craft before we really knew where we were .