Polytechnic Museum history of creation. Secret object at Lubyanka

As you know, a sudden attack by Japanese ships on Port Arthur on January 26, 1904 blocked this base of the Russian fleet in China. Several of our military vessels received significant damage and were out of action. The next day, in the Korean port of Chemulpo, the cruiser “Varyag” and the gunboat “Koreets” took part in battle with the Japanese squadron. The “Varyag”’s feat spread all over the world, but it had to be sunk and the “Koreyets” had to be blown up, as a result of which there was not a single active Russian warship left in this combat area. The weak Vladivostok squadron could not compete with the entire Japanese fleet, which instantly gained dominance in the Pacific Ocean.

It was necessary to restore order in the squadron and bring the ships blocked in Port Arthur into battle against the Japanese. On February 1, 1904, the famous Admiral Makarov was appointed commander of the Pacific Fleet. He arrived in Port Arthur on February 24 and immediately got down to business. First of all, I decided to find out where the Japanese ships were based, blocking Port Arthur from the sea around the clock. It’s not from Japan itself that they come to the roadstead and fire at the fortress and harbor with their guns? They must have a base somewhere nearby.
To find out this, on the night of February 25-26, 1904, the admiral sent two of the best destroyers for reconnaissance - “Steregushchy”, under the command of Lieutenant Sergeev, and “Resolute”, commanded by captain of the second rank Bosse, who was appointed senior in this reconnaissance detachment .

Before going to sea, Makarov instructed both commanders personally. They had to carefully examine all the bays and places convenient for anchoring the Japanese fleet along the entire coast from Port Arthur to Eliot Island. Detected enemy ships should be sunk with torpedoes, and not enter into an artillery battle unnecessarily, since the armament of the Guardian and Resolute was weak.
These were small ships with a length of 57.9 meters, a width of 5.6 meters and a draft of 3.5 meters. Their maximum speed was 26.5 knots, and their main armament, in addition to two guns, were two surface torpedo tubes. The destroyer's crew (at that time torpedoes were called mines) consisted of 62 people, including three officers. The power of the steam engines of the destroyers was 6,000 horsepower. They had a cruising range of 600 miles, but that night they only had to travel 180 nautical miles round trip.

Admiral Makarov's order read: leave Port Arthur at about 18:00 on February 25, conduct reconnaissance along the coast and return to base at dawn on February 26 across the open sea. The destroyers were supposed to arrive in the Eliot Island area at about 2 a.m. The weather promised to be calm and lunar, which made it easier to carry out the reconnaissance operation.
After a slight delay in loading coal, the destroyers set out to sea. “Resolute” walked ahead, developing maximum speed. Behind him, not lagging behind, is “Guardian”. While conducting reconnaissance along the coast, at about 9 o'clock in the evening, the Resolute noticed the fire of a Japanese ship's battle lantern in the distance at the entrance to Talieva Bay. Captain Bosse decided to launch a torpedo attack and headed for the enemy, increasing speed. But, as soon as the destroyer reached full speed, flames began to burst out of its pipes. This led to unmasking, the surprise of the attack was lost.
Behind the first combat lantern of an enemy ship, the Russian sailors can see the lights of other ships. Captain Bosse decided to avoid the battle. Both destroyers turned away from the shore and into the open sea. It was already four o'clock in the morning, and the commanders of the destroyers, after consulting, decided to return to Port Arthur, considering their task completed.

They returned home not along the coast, but by the open sea. At about 6 o'clock in the morning on February 26, the Liaoteshan Mountains appeared on the horizon, at the foot of which Port Arthur was located.

There were only about 20 miles left to the base when our destroyers noticed 4 enemy ships at once. These were the Japanese destroyers Usugumo, Shinoname, Sazanami and Akebano. All night they scoured the entrance to the Port Arthur roadstead to no avail, hoping to torpedo some Russian ship. This detachment of Japanese ships was commanded by Captain Tsutsiya of the second rank. Now they were leaving to join the main forces of the Japanese fleet, which was approaching Port Arthur in the pre-dawn twilight.

Destroyer "Steregushchy"

The enemy immediately discovered two Russian destroyers and rushed at them, cutting off the road to Port Arthur. A fierce battle ensued. The forces were unequal: in addition to the fact that the Japanese had a numerical advantage - four against two, they also had more powerful weapons. Japanese destroyers also turned out to be faster. They quickly overtook the Resolute and Steregushchiy and opened artillery fire on them. Knowing full well that they could not withstand such a battle, Captain Bosse decided to make a breakthrough. His destroyer led the way, desperately firing back from the advancing enemy, and the Steregushchy covered the rear from behind. Having taken the lead, “Resolute” escaped from under fire, but “Guardian” was unlucky - in the very first minutes of the battle, most of its guns were damaged and its vehicle was disabled. The destroyer lost the bastard, and all four Japanese ships concentrated fire on it.

Enemy shells destroyed the deck superstructures and made holes in the sides, but the Guardian continued the battle. Seeing his comrade's disastrous position, the Resolute turned back to cover him, but was unable to break through the Japanese barrage. Realizing that it was no longer possible to save the Steregushchy, and that it was possible to lose even his destroyer, Captain Bosse decided to go to Port Arthur to call for reinforcements. Having developed the maximum possible speed and firing back from the enemy, “Resolute” soon entered the range of coastal batteries. Here the Japanese were careful not to pursue him.
The Guardian was left alone. Blazing from bow to stern, sinking deep into the water, he continued the fight. One by one, all the officers who took command were killed on it - Sergeev, Goloviznin and Anastasov, and the majority of the crew also died.

At this time, the “Resolute” reached the harbor and the seriously wounded captain Bosse managed to report to Admiral Makarov: “I lost the destroyer, I don’t hear anything” and fell unconscious. The fleet commander himself hurried to the aid of the sinking ship, leading the cruisers Novik and Bayan. Approaching the scene of the tragedy, he saw that Japanese ships were circling near the mangled, half-sunken Steregushchy, picking up the wounded and starting a tow rope, and a Japanese armored squadron was approaching Port Arthur from the sea. Suddenly, the “Guardian” shuddered like a wounded animal and went under the lead. Makarov had nothing more to do at sea - the Steregushchy sank, and the light cruisers Novik and Bayan were useless in fighting the battleships. Therefore, he gave the order to return to Port Arthur.

By order of Makarov, the entire crew of the Resolute was awarded the Cross of St. George. Many reproached Captain Bosse for abandoning the damaged Steregushchiy to the mercy of fate, but Makarov stood up for him, explaining that it was better to lose one ship, not two. For the battle on February 26, 1904, Captain Bosse was awarded the order St. George IV degree.
Such is the general outline the story of the heroic death of the destroyer Steregushchy. Until this moment, there are no secrets or mysteries - everything is extremely clear. But then the inconsistencies begin.

On February 27, 1904, a telegram was sent from Mukden to St. Petersburg addressed to Nicholas II from the governor in the Far East, Adjutant General Alekseev, in which, according to Admiral Makarov, he described sea ​​battle in the early morning of February 26th. It said quite unequivocally: “When the position of the Steregushchy became clear, I transferred my flag to the Novik and went with the Novik and Bayan to the rescue, but the destroyer had 5 enemy cruisers, and an armored squadron was approaching. It was not possible to save, the destroyer sank; the surviving part of the crew was captured."
It follows from this: Admiral Makarov believed that the Guardian sank itself, and this happened before his eyes. What was happening on the ship in last moment, no one knew, since out of the entire crew only four people survived, and they were captured wounded.

After some time, the English newspaper The Times, citing Japanese sources, published sensational news: it turns out that the Guardian did not drown itself, but was deliberately sunk by Russian sailors. “Thirty-five dead and seriously wounded lay on the deck of the Russian destroyer when it was taken into tow by the Japanese, who picked up only 4 lightly wounded Russians who rushed into the sea. But there were still two sailors left on the Steregushchy; they locked themselves in the hold and did not give up, despite all the exhortations. Not only did they not surrender to the enemy, but they snatched from him the booty that he already considered his: opening the kingstons, they filled their native destroyer with water and buried themselves with it in the depths of the sea...”

It should be said that during that war there were many neutral observers and newspaper correspondents in both the Japanese navy and army. Obviously, one of them had a conversation with the Japanese sailors who landed on the Steregushchiy.
This message caused a real sensation in Russia. Against the backdrop of the unsuccessfully started war with Japan, the feat of the destroyer Steregushchy and its two unknown sailors was a shining example the steadfastness and courage of our soldiers, which instilled faith in victory. Russian newspapers This news was instantly picked up, and it became known to the general public, causing an explosion of patriotism. Already in May 1904, a colorful postcard was published in St. Petersburg with the image of the “Guardian” and its commander, Lieutenant Sergeev. The text gave the tactical and technical parameters of the ship, as well as a description of the feat. This memorial sheet was crowned with a poem by an unknown poet, which contained the following words:

Two sons of "Guardian"
in the depths of the sea they sleep,
Their names are unknown
hidden by evil fate.
Nameless heroes, no need
your names:
You are the pride of our homeland,
the beauty of her banners.

The fact of the heroic death of two unknown sailors from the Steregushchy, who sank their ship so that it would not fall to the enemy, became generally known in Russia. In 1905, the Maritime Department published the official report “Port Arthur: The Japanese Siege and Russian Defense of It from Sea and Land.” It also contained lines about the Guardian: “Two sailors locked themselves in the hold, resolutely refused to surrender and opened the seams, because the destroyer soon sank... Unknown heroes brought new unfading laurel to the exploits of the Russian fleet.”
Until now, the fact of the self-sinking of the Steregushchy was based only on newspaper reports, since there were no eyewitnesses to this event. But, as we remember, four sailors from the Steregushchy were captured - quartermaster Fyodor Yuryev, fireman Ivan Khirinsky, fireman Alexander Osinin and bilge engineer Vasily Novikov. If the first three could not really tell anything, since they were wounded long before the end of the battle, then Vasily Novikov clarified the situation. While in captivity, he met in Japan Captain 1st Rank Seletsky, commander of the Voluntary Fleet steamship Ekaterinoslav. His ship was still on February 24, 1904, on its way to Far East was captured by the Japanese battleship Sayen and taken to the port of Fuzan. In the prisoner of war camp, Novikov told Seletsky about how “Guardian” died. In 1910, Seletsky published memoirs about his time in captivity, which included Novikov’s story, told in the third person: “The shooting from the Guardian stops; its engine and boilers were damaged, its crew was killed, and the destroyer could no longer resist. Slightly wounded fireman Alexei Osinin crawls out of the fire compartment onto the deck, as his boiler is damaged and the fireboxes are flooded with water. The Japanese also stop firing and lower the surviving boats into the water so that they can be sent to the Steregushchiy to pick up the wounded and take possession of the destroyer itself. At this time, driver Vasily Novikov miraculously remained not only alive, but also uninjured, appears from the car. Seeing that the Japanese are rushing to the destroyer, he, on the advice of the mortally wounded signalman Vasily Kruzhkov, begins to throw signal books overboard, having first wrapped them together with the shells in flags, and then all the ship’s flags, having previously wrapped them around the shells so that they would not fall to the Japanese like trophies. Seeing that a boat with armed Japanese was approaching the Guardian, he rushes into the car and closes the hatch behind him, screwing it from the inside; and then begins to open the kingstons and clinkets. Having finished his work and seeing that the water in the engine room is beginning to rise above his knees, he opens the hatch and goes upstairs. He is instantly captured by several Japanese, but he does not offer resistance to them. Looking around, he sees next picture: a Japanese military flag flutters on a vertically raised hook; in the boat standing alongside are his wounded comrades: Fedorov, Khirinsky and Osinin, and the Steregushchy itself is being towed by a Japanese destroyer.” After this, the Steregushchy began to sink, and the Japanese urgently needed to cut the towing rope so that the dying Russian ship would not drag its winner along with it to the bottom.

As we see, Novikov’s story is extremely accurate; he only made a mistake in the name of the wounded quartermaster - his name was not Fedorov, but Fedor Yuryev. However, Novikov took credit for the sinking of Steregushchy. There were no two unknown sailors - the destroyer was sunk by one candy man, the driver V. Novikov, and besides, he did not drown with the ship, but managed to get out onto the deck.

This story significantly shook the already established official version the death of "Guardian". Therefore, before installing the monument, it was decided to create a special commission in the Maritime Department that would investigate all the circumstances of the death of the Guardian. There was also a practical question - what should be written on the monument: the feat of two unknown sailors or the feat of sailor Novikov? It was difficult for the commission to work, because no documents from the Steregushchy were preserved; the surviving sailors, except Novikov, could not really say anything. The crew of the destroyer "Resolute" also could not help the case, since they witnessed only the beginning of the battle, and then went to Port Arthur.

Then they decided to turn to the Japanese. To the great surprise of everyone, they did not confirm the fact of the self-sinking of the destroyer Steregushchy by Russian sailors! But the initial information about this came from them?! Unfortunately, the British were unable to find the person who told about the feat of the two Russian sailors. Moreover, the Naval General Staff of Japan published a major 4-volume work “Description of military operations at sea in the 37-38 Meiji years (1904-1905)”, in which it was officially stated that the “Guardian” sank by itself at 10 o’clock in the morning seven miles away from Liaoteshan Lighthouse. In addition, our military attache in Tokyo, Senior Lieutenant Voskresensky, was given other materials in which it was recorded that at the time of towing, the Russian destroyer sank on its own due to the arrival of large quantity water through numerous holes. In particular, the Russian side received a report from Midshipman Yamazaki. He was the leader of the prize team that landed on Steregushchiy. This is what he saw on the Russian destroyer: “Three shells hit the forecastle, the deck was broken. One shell hit the right anchor. On both sides there are traces of hits from dozens of large and small shells, including holes near the waterline, through which water penetrated into the destroyer when rolling. On the barrel of the running gun there is a trace of a hit shell, near the gun there is a corpse of a gunner with a torn off right foot and blood oozing from the wound. The foremast fell to starboard. The bridge is broken into pieces. The entire front half of the ship is completely destroyed with fragments of objects scattered. In the space up to the front pipe there were about 20 mutilated corpses lying, some of the torso without limbs, some with severed legs and arms - a terrible picture. One of them was apparently an officer; he had binoculars around his neck. The beds installed for protection were burned in places. In the middle part of the destroyer, on the starboard side, one 47mm gun was thrown from the machine and the deck was mangled. The number of shells that hit the casing and pipes was very large, and apparently there were also hits on the briquette stacked between the pipes. The stern mine apparatus was turned across, apparently ready to fire. There were few killed in the stern - only one corpse lay at the very stern. The living deck was completely in the water, and it was impossible to enter there. In general, the position of the destroyer was so terrible that it defies description.”

Generally Japanese version the death of "Guardian" looked like this. As soon as he stopped resisting, a boat with a prize crew, led by midshipman Yamazaki, was lowered from the destroyer Sazanami, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Kondo Tsunematsu. They picked up Russian sailors Fyodor Yuryev and Ivan Khirinsky from the water. Having landed on deck, the Japanese captured Alexander Osinin and Vasily Novikov. For 40 minutes, Japanese sailors inspected their trophy and put out fires, intending to tow the Guardian to Japan. They raised their flag over it and began to wind the tow rope. However, due to the continuous flow of water into the hold, the Steregushchy sank more and more, despite the towing started by the Japanese, which lasted about 20 minutes. Finally, the tow rope, unable to withstand the weight of the Guardian being flooded with water, burst. Then the Japanese decided to start a new towing cable, but at that moment the Russian cruisers Novik and Bayan appeared from the shore. Assessing the Guardian's position as hopeless, the Japanese took down their flag and left it in a hurry. At the moment the Japanese destroyers departed from the Steregushchy and the Russian cruisers rushing to the rescue approached it, it sank.
These were the facts provided by the Japanese side. An authoritative commission created to investigate the circumstances of the death of the destroyer Steregushchy came to the conclusion that there was no heroism of the two unknown sailors. The destroyer could not have been sunk in the way Novikov described, because there were no kingstons or clinkets in the engine room. So they reported to Nicholas II. Without further ado, he wrote in his own hand on the report of the Maritime Department: “It is to be considered that the monument was built in memory of the heroic death in battle of the destroyer Steregushchy,” that is, the entire crew, and not specific individuals.

Monument to the "Guardian"

But what about the monument? After all, it depicts two sailors tearing off the kingstons! Since the opinion had already taken root in society that the feat of two brave sailors did take place, they decided not to redo the monument and left everything as it was.
The grand opening of the monument to the “Guardian” took place on May 10, 1911. Troops with banners were lined up on Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt, and warships entered the Neva. Near the monument stood the guests of honor - the widow of Admiral Makarov, relatives of the dead sailors, Prime Minister Stolypin, Chairman of the State Duma Rodzianko, commander of the destroyer "Resolute" Captain Bosse, as well as senior officials army and navy.

When everything was ready for the opening of the monument, Emperor Nicholas II arrived at the celebration with his daughters Olga and Tatiana. They were accompanied by the Grand Dukes and the Minister of the Navy, Admiral Grigorovich. From Verkov Peter and Paul Fortress Fireworks burst out, and at that moment the white veil was torn off the monument. An unusual-looking monument opened up to the admiring gaze of those present, which became a monument to the heroism, dedication and courage of Russian sailors. Speeches corresponding to this occasion were made, and then Nicholas II, as the Petersburg Gazette wrote, “approaching the sentry standing at the monument, the survivor of the crew of the destroyer Steregushchy, former fireman of the first article Alexander Osinin, personally pinned the Order of St. George on his chest III degree, and also made the family of the deceased Lieutenant Sergeev happy with his attention.” After this, wreaths were laid at the foot of the monument, and the troops marched in a ceremonial manner. At this point the celebration was completed.

Soon, the Maritime Department, with whose funds the monument was built, officially transferred it to the jurisdiction of the city government of St. Petersburg. The monument to the “Guardian” quickly became a landmark of the city, attracting unusual appearance- through the open porthole, water flowed down to the feet of the sailor figures into a specially constructed pool, creating the illusion of the destruction of the destroyer. It remained in this original form until 1970, when the water was turned off, as it caused corrosion of the metal of the monument.
So was it a feat of two unknown sailors in the battle on February 26, 1904, or did the destroyer sank itself? This mystery has not yet been solved, and the mystery of the death of the Guardian has not been revealed.

The "Guardian" really behaved like a hero in that battle - its crew fought to the last, without lowering the glorious St. Andrew's banner. Most of the crew members died, and the destroyer itself turned into a twisted piece of metal, with broken pipes and masts. In addition, it had many surface and underwater holes in its sides. During his last fight The gunners of the Steregushchy fired 8 shells into the Japanese destroyer Sazanami and 27 shells into the destroyer Akebano, on which there were many killed and wounded.

The feat of the destroyer "Steregushchy" entered the annals of the history of the Russian navy, becoming an example of courage and valor shown in the defense of the Fatherland for many generations of our sailors.

In my hometown In St. Petersburg in Alexander Park near Kamennoostrovsky Prospekt there is a monument to the destroyer "Guardian".

105 years ago, on February 26, 1904 (March 10, new style) (all dates before 1917 are given in the old style), the destroyer of the Russian fleet "Steregushchy" heroically died in a fierce battle with four Japanese ships. The courage of his crew so shocked the enemy that in Japan a monument was erected to his team - a stele made of black granite, on which there is a laconic inscription: “TO THOSE WHO HONORED THE HOMELAND FOR MORE THAN THEIR LIFE.”
To this day, in various publications - newspapers and magazines, books and encyclopedias, and on the Internet, of course - there is a legend about two unknown sailors who allegedly discovered the Kingstons and sank the Guardian, thereby preventing its capture by the Japanese. A refutation of this “fact” was found before 1910 and this was reported to the sovereign at the same time, but the monument to the heroes of “The Guardian” was erected at the same time.

Returning at dawn on February 26, 1904 from night reconnaissance to Port Arthur, the destroyers of the Russian fleet "Resolute" and "Steregushchiy" discovered four enemy ships coming to intercept them. These were the Japanese destroyer destroyers Akebono, Sazanami, Sinonome and Usugumo, which had been prowling in search of prey in the Port Arthur roadstead since the night.
The commander of the Resolute, Captain 2nd Rank F. Bosse, and the commander of the Guardian, Lieutenant A. Sergeev, remembering the order of the fleet commander, Vice Admiral S. Makarov, not to engage in battle with enemy destroyers “unnecessarily”, tried to bypass the Japanese, but the enemy began to approach, opening fire. And then our destroyers made a breakthrough. And at that time two more Japanese cruisers were already hurrying to the scene of the battle: Tokiwa and Chitose. "Resolute", despite the damage received, managed to escape from the fire and go under the protection of its coastal batteries, and then slip through to Port Arthur.
Having missed the "Resolute", the Japanese, in a rage, concentrated all their fire on the "Guardian". It was real hell: enemy shells tore, shredded, twisted the metal of the ship, demolished the mast and pipes, fragments mowed down people. The mortally wounded commander of the destroyer, Lieutenant A. Sergeev, gave the last order: “...Fight so that everyone fulfills his duty to the Motherland to the end, without thinking about the shameful surrender of his native ship to the enemy.” But the Russian sailors were not going to give up; they fought to the death, strengthening the ship’s modest armament, which consisted of a 75-mm gun and three 47-mm cannons, with their own desperate bravery and courage.
From the Illustrated Chronicle of Russian - Japanese war"(issue No. 2 1904, p. 78) "...our destroyer Steregushchy found itself in a critical situation. Its commander, Lieutenant Sergeev, fell at the very beginning of the battle, Lieutenant Goloviznin 2nd, mechanical engineer Anastasov were killed, command passed to the midshipman, who himself took over the duties of the helmsman, since the latter was also killed... Soon the midshipman also died... The car hit, the destroyer began to sink...”

Portrait of the commander of the Guard, Lieutenant A. S. Sergeev, and drawings of that memorable battle.

Having received another hit, the heavily damaged "Guardian" began to lose momentum, turning into a stationary target. Soon his shattered guns fell silent. Almost no one from the crew was left alive. Note that the Japanese also suffered in this battle, all four destroyers, and especially the Akebono, which was “marked” by 27 shells from the Guardian.
Seeing that the Russian destroyer had stopped firing back and showing signs of life, the Japanese ceased fire, deciding to take it in tow and capture it as prey. A boat was lowered with the Sazans. This is the picture revealed to the Japanese sailors who boarded the Steregushchy, described in the report by midshipman Hitara Yamazaki: “... Three shells hit the forecastle, the deck was pierced, one shell hit the starboard anchor. On both sides outside there are traces of hits from dozens of large and small shells, incl. holes near the waterline through which water penetrated into the destroyer when rolling. On the barrel of the bow gun there is a trace of a hit shell, near the gun there is the corpse of a gunner with his right leg torn off and blood oozing from the wound. The foremast fell to starboard. The entire front half of the ship is completely destroyed, littered with pieces of iron. In the space up to the front pipe there were about twenty corpses lying, disfigured, part of the body without limbs, part of the torn off arms and legs - a terrible picture... In general, the situation of the destroyer was so terrible that it defies description.”
Having taken the "Guardian" in tow, the "Sazanami" set off. But the tug burst, and the mortally wounded destroyer, after remaining on the water for another 20 minutes, sank. At this time, the cruisers Novik and Bayan under the command of Admiral S. Makarov, coming to the aid of the Steregushchy, appeared from the direction of Port Arthur. But it was too late: the Japanese ships, not accepting the battle, retreated, picking up the surviving four crew members of the Guardian from the water.

But what about the feat of the two sailors who opened the seams and sank the destroyer so that it would not fall to the enemy, which we have been told about for many decades, and what they still write and talk about today? THERE IS NO DOUBT: THE FEAT OF THE SAILORS OF THE “GUARD” WAS. It is inscribed in the combat chronicle of the Russian Navy with the blood of the ship's crew members. But no one opened the Kingston ports on Steregushchy. And there were no Kingstons at all on this ship in the engine room. And this was stated clearly and clearly in the materials of the special commission investigating the death of the destroyer Steregushchy. Those who wish today can familiarize themselves with these documents stored in the Central state archive Navy.
The version about the heroic act of two sailors who allegedly discovered the kingstons and died along with the “Guardian”, framed as “ historical fact", went for a walk with light hand correspondent for the English (!) newspaper The Times. Referring to the data of the “Japanese report”, he was the first to inform the whole world about this.
Here is the text of the Times article, quoted in the “Illustrated Chronicle of the Russian-Japanese War” (issue No. 2 1904 pp. 79-80): “Thirty-five killed and seriously wounded lay on the deck of the Russian destroyer when the Japanese took it in tow, picking up only four slightly wounded Russians who rushed into the sea. But there were still two sailors left on the Steregushchy; they locked themselves in the hold and did not give up, despite all the exhortations. Not only did they not surrender to the enemy, but they also snatched from him the booty that he already considered his: opening the kingstons, they filled their native destroyer with water and buried themselves with it in the depths of the sea...”

After some time, the sculptor K. Izenberg created a model of the monument to “Two Unknown Sailors” of the destroyer “Steregushchy”, which was approved by Emperor Nicholas II. A monument in the shape of a cross depicting two sailors opening their seams.

It was then that, while preparing the rationale for making the monument and the inscriptions on it, representatives of the Historical Section of the Naval General Staff, having examined many different pieces of evidence, established that in no documents, incl. provided by the Japanese side, there is not a single line “about two unknown sailors who discovered the kingstons.”
But the feat of the “Guardian” crew, of course, does not fade in the least from this, as the acting officer said back in 1910. Head of the Historical Section of the Naval General Staff E. Kvashin-Samarin: “Anyone who read and compared all the materials and documents collected on the “Guardian” case would be completely clear how great the feat of “Guardian” was, even without the unsaid myth. .. Let the legend live and inspire future heroes to new unprecedented feats, but know that on February 26, 1904, in the fight against the strongest enemy, the destroyer "Guarding", having lost its commander, all officers, 45 out of 49 sailors, after a sentry, before the last shell of the battle sank, AMAZING THE ENEMY WITH THE VALOR OF HIS CREW!”
Considering that the death of two unknown sailors who discovered the kingstons “is a fiction” and “as a fiction it cannot be immortalized in a monument,” Morskoy General base On April 2, 1910, he submitted a report to the “Highest Name”, where he asked, “whether the monument supposed to be opened should be considered built in memory of the heroic self-sacrifice of the two remaining unknown lower ranks of the crew of the destroyer “Guardian,” or should this monument be opened in memory of the heroic death in battle of the destroyer "Steregushchy"?
“To consider that the monument was built in memory of the heroic death in battle of the destroyer Steregushchiy,” was the resolution of Nicholas II. Already without the previously supposed inscription mentioning the feat of two unknown lower ranks, the monument was unveiled on April 26, 1911 in St. Petersburg in the presence of the Sovereign Emperor himself. They did not remake it, and the myth perpetuating the moment of “the discovery of the Kingston by two sailors” remained cast in bronze.

Work on the creation of the monument began in 1905 according to the design of the sculptor K.V. Izenberg, October 28, 1908 general project approved by Nicholas II. The architectural part of the work was carried out by A. I. von Gauguin.
Standing on the honor guard at the opening of the monument was fireman of the 1st article Alexei Osinin, one of the surviving sailors from the Steregushchy. In addition to the Emperor, the ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Council of Ministers P. A. Stolypin, the highest ranks of the army and navy.
The monument was a decorative waterfall. Water entered through a hidden system of pipes and flowed into a granite pool at the foot. In the early 1930s, to back side of the monument, pipes for supplying water were brought to the open kingston at the top of the monument. General composition began to look more spectacular, but the water began to destroy the surface of the monument. Therefore, in 1935, the water supply was stopped. In 1947, the pipes were restored again; the water supply was finally stopped in 1971, at which time the supply system was dismantled.

WITH reverse side The monument contains a description of the death of the Guardian and a memorial plaque is installed with a list of officers and sailors who died on it. And at the beginning of the list is the name of the destroyer commander, Lieutenant A. S. Sergeev

The name of the heroic destroyer "Steregushchy" in the 20th century was assigned to different time three ships of the Navy: in 1906, a mine cruiser of the Black Sea Fleet; in 1939 joined Baltic Fleet a destroyer entered under this name; in the 60-80s. In the Pacific Fleet, the large anti-submarine ship Steregushchy was on ocean watch.

Here they are - HEROES - the crew of the "Guardian":

Commander - Lieutenant Alexander Semenovich Sergeev 2nd (born 09/18/1863)

Mine officer - Lieutenant Nikolai Semenovich Goloviznin 2nd (1877).
Chief of the watch - midshipman Konstantin Vladimirovich Kudrevich (1882).
Ship mechanic - junior mechanical engineer Vladimir Spiridonovich Anastasov (1879).

Lists of lower ranks killed in battle are announced:
On the destroyer "Steregushchy"

Commander Philip Vasilievich Vasiliev(Smolensk province, Belsky district),
Commander Kuzma Artemyevich Mayorov(Ufa province, Menzelinsky district),
Commander Kuzma Ivanovich Astakhov(Ryazan province, Sapozhkovsky district),
Commander Selivester Lkuzin,
Senior miner Timofey Livytsky,
Miner Konstantin Evstafievich Stepanov(Podolsk province, Kam. - Podolsk district),
Miner Fedor Stepanovich Cheremukhin(Tambov province, Shatsky district),
Miner Innokenty Alekseevich Denezhkin(Vologda province, Nikolsky district),
Helmsman Mikhail Shimarov,
Signalman Vasily Yakovlevich Kruzhko
Signalman Leonty Ivanov,
Sailor 1st class. Luka Antipovic Petukhov(Novgorod province, Starorussky district),
Sailor 1st class. Ivan Artemyevich Gavrilov(Kyiv province, Skvirsky district),
Sailor 1st class. Afonasy Ivanovich Karpukhin(Tula province, Efremov district),
Sailor 1st class. Nikolai Osipovich Cooper(Podolsk province, Proskurovsky district),
Sailor 1st class. Tikhon Porfirievich Maksimenko(Tula province, Novosilsky district),
Sailor 1st class. Mikhail Vasilievich Povalikhin(Penza province, Gorodishche district),
Sailor 1st class. Konstantin Mikhailovich Krasnikov(Orzorovskaya province, Kromsky district),
Sailor 2nd class. Platon Nikolaevich Nikolaev(Novgorod province, Starorussky district),
Sailor 2nd class. Mark Grigorievich Lemeshko(Poltava province and district),
Machine keeper 2nd Art. Ivan Semenovich Alekseev(Irkutsk province, Irkutsk district),
Engine Quartermaster 1st Art. Mikhail Fedorovich Babkin(Vyatka province, Sarapul district),
Engine Quartermaster 1st Art. Ivan Mikhailovich Bukharev(Kazan province, Chistopol district),
Engine Quartermaster 2nd Art. Boris Loginovich Aksenenko(written by Aksionenko) (Yenisei province, Achinsk district),
Engine Quartermaster 2nd Art. Alexander Denisovich Artamonov(Tomsk province and district),
Engine Quartermaster 2nd Art. Ivan Vasilievich Kharlamov
Engine Quartermaster 2nd Art. Sergey Ivanovich Zimin(Ryazan province, Zaraisky district),
Machinist 2nd class. Vasily Nikolaevich Novikov(Tomsk province and district),
Owner of the bilge compartment of the 2nd st. Alexey Ivanovich Buldakov(Tomsk province, Kainsky district),
Fireman Quartermaster 2nd Art. Pavel Vasilievich Ragulin(Saratov province, Kamyshin district),
Fireman 1st class. Alexander Vasilievich Ponomarev(Kazan province, Kozmodemyansk district),
Fireman 1st class. Andrey Ippolitovich Male(Minsk province, Slutsk district),
Fireman 1st class. Petr Mikhailovich Khasanov(Pskov province, Kholm district),
Fireman 1st class. Fedor Antonovich Aprishko
Fireman 2nd st. Kuzma Zakharovich Ignatov(Ufa province and district),
Fireman 2nd st. Timofey Ivanovich Zatsepilin(Penza province, Kerensky district),
Fireman 2nd st. Pavel Petrovich Botmanov(Ufa province, Belibeevsky district),
Fireman 2nd st. Valentin Filippovich Komarov(Ryazan province, Zaraisky district),
Fireman 2nd st. Kirill Pavlovich Korostin(Poltava province, Gadyach district),
Fireman 2nd st. Ignatius Ignatov,
Mine operator Fedor Ivanovich Thin(Arkhangelsk province, Minezh district),
Mine operator Timofey Grigorievich Sapozhnikov(Vyatka province, Malmyzh district).

Captured by the Japanese during the sinking of the destroyer Steregushchy:
Mine Quartermaster Iliodor Yuryev,
Engine quartermaster Vasily Nikolaevich Novikov,
Stokers: Alexey Alexandrovich Osinin
and Ivan Pankratievich Shirinsky.

Japanese midshipman Yamazaki, who inspected the Guardian before towing, reported: “Three shells hit the forecastle, the deck was broken, one shell hit the starboard anchor. On both sides outside there are traces of hits from dozens of large and small shells, including holes near the waterline, through which while rolling, water penetrated into the destroyer. On the barrel of the bow gun there is a trace of a hit shell, near the gun there is a corpse of a gunner with his right leg torn off and blood oozing from the wound. The foremast fell on the starboard side. The bridge is broken into pieces. The entire front half of the ship is completely destroyed with scattered fragments of objects. In the space up to the front funnel there were about twenty corpses lying, disfigured, part of the torso without limbs, part of the torn off legs and arms - a terrible picture. The bunks installed for protection were burned in places. In the middle part of the destroyer on the starboard side there was one 47-mm gun thrown from the machine and the deck was distorted.The number of shells that hit the casing and pipes was very large, and, apparently, there were also hits on the briquette folded between the pipes. The stern mine apparatus was turned across, apparently ready to fire. There were few killed in the stern - only one corpse lay at the very stern. The living deck was completely in the water, and it was impossible to enter there.” In conclusion, Yamazaki concluded: “In general, the position of the destroyer was so terrible that it defies description.”

Everyone was killed. Only four crew members were found alive. The Japanese tried to tow the destroyer, but the fire from coastal batteries and Russian ships approaching from Port Arthur forced them to abandon their plans and sink the Guardian.

The courage of the crew of the Russian destroyer so shocked the enemy that in Japan a monument was erected to his team - a stele made of black granite with the words: “To those who more life honored the Motherland."

Soon after these events, the newspaper "Novoe Vremya" published a version of events, which very soon turned into a legend. Its essence boiled down to the fact that, not wanting to fall into the hands of the enemy and give him the Russian ship, the surviving sailors Vasily Novikov and Ivan Bukharev decided to sink the ship and opened the flooding ports. Together with the bodies of the dead and wounded, the destroyer Steregushchy, with the St. Andrew's flag waving, went under water before the eyes of the Japanese. The legend so vividly reflected the spirit of Russian sailors that almost everyone believed in it. But it turned out that there were no Kingstons at all on the Steregushchy, and Vasily Novikov was precisely one of the four sailors who escaped and were captured. For this battle he was awarded two St. George's crosses. After the war, Novikov returned to native village Elovka. And in 1919 he was shot by his fellow villagers for helping the Kolchakites. Such is fate.

How did the monument to the "Guardian" appear? There is a version that upon completion Russo-Japanese War sculptor Konstantin Izenberg presented Emperor Nicholas II with a souvenir - an inkwell, the design of which reproduced the heroic and tragic moment of the death of the “Guardian”. The king liked it and ordered a monument to the “Guardian” to be erected according to this model. The Naval General Staff presented the Tsar with a report in which they refuted the myth spread through the press. But Nicholas II replied: “Consider that the monument was built in memory of the heroic death in battle of the destroyer Steregushchiy.” The architectural part of the work was carried out by A. I. von Gauguin.