06.05.2011
Text:
Photo: Monument to destroyer
Stereguschiy.
The monument to
Stereguschiy was opened on May 10, 1911 in Alexander's Park. It reminds about the Russo-Japanese War when Russian destroyer
Stereguschiy being on patrol entered a losing battle against 14 Japanese warships on March 10, 1904 near Port Arthur. Almost all crewmen died; the Japanese took the immobile ship in tow. Soon after that the destroyer sank of damages.
According to official legend, two survived sailors opened kingstons (flood valves) and heroically died along with the ship, having prevented capture at the expense of their lives. This story became a literature basis for the monument constituting a statuesque cross on the top of granite lump. High relief of two sailors against water gushing from kingstons is shown on the face side.
The work over the monument started in 1905 under the project of K. Izenberg. On Oct 28, 1908 the design was approved by Russian tzar Nikolai II. Architect A. fon Gogen performed architectural part of the work.
The monument opening ceremony took place on May 10, 1911. Among honor guards was Fireman 1 class Alexei Osinin, one of few sailors survived in that battle. The Russian Emperor Nikolai II, chairman of Ministers Council Pyotr Stolypin, and highest military officials took part in the ceremony.
The monument constituted a decorative waterfall. The water came via closed pipe system and flowed into granite basin at the pedestal. Early in 30's pipes were brought to the monument's rear side to supply kingstons with water. The monument looked more spectacular, but the water began to destruct its surface. That is why the water supply was cut in 1935. Then in 1947 pipes were reconstructed again, although the water was shut off and pipeline was completely disassembled in 1971. Memorial plaque with the destroyer's silhouette and the dead list was placed on the monument's back side in 1954. During restoration works carried out in 1993, lost details were reconstructed and the monument's construction was reinforced.
