The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-07-13

On the afternoon of the 2lst three Officers went In
one of the boats TO sound up near the narrow pas
sage and found that about a. mile above the river
branched OF in two directions, and sand banks and
shallow places were discovered. AS the boat was
tary station two shots were fired from the station
at the boat ofthe shots passing the officers.
did did, not. The arms used were the gingas Of the
Chinese. The firing was not returned by the boat.
Indeed, 1t would have been useless for them to fire
from the boat, as the party on shore were on q
high elevation, and Immediately hid after firing.
Commander Febiger having come to rescue the
lives Of men supposed to be living wisely deemed
1t inudicious to return the firing or open any hos
tlhties.
That evening the guns were cast loose and every.
for fear OF an attack In the night.
There were party OF Coreans on board when the
boat returned to the ship awaiting answer to .
communication they had brought. Commander
Febiger detained them until Communication was
local magistrate Of the San KOos district, stating
that he should send letter demanding an apology
At midnight was feared the Coreans were making
an advance for lights were seen stretching across
which seemed be- the vessel
finally came to standstlll and gradually dsap-
peared They were probably expecting an attack by
the Shenandoah. The C0reans did not appear ON
board again for five days. although before this oey
had been on board every day with communications
The next day boat was sent with a despatch to
the local magistrate TO be forwarded to the Empe-
rOr. This was a statement OF the firing upon the
boat and demand for an apology, ana that il an
amicable arrangement was not soon made the Amer
lean squadron would likely visit the place hereafter
This was the first time there had been communica-
ton with the shore since the firing affair." ana they
sent back communication and the following day
another was brought on board. In two DAYS the
vessel steamed down the river and commenced sur
veying again While awaiting an answer from the
Emperor which would consume ten DAYS in trans
mission. large number OF communications from
different officials were received inquirng the bust
ness OF the vessels coming TO Corea and all OF them
quite uniform so far as contents wereconcerned.
On the first arrival Of the vessel communication
was sent to the Emperor through the local ma2is-
trate Of the Chang Leen province, demanding an ex
PLANTATION OF the loss OF the General Sherman and
ready alluded to demanding apology Tor firing into
the boat was also sent, and at the same time copy
Of the first communication.
These last sent through another official, the
local magistrate OF the Sun Hoa province. perceivng
him to be higher Ofcer and trusting that through
delivered. Quite an amount Of correspondence was
held through this latter official, who seemed to be
more polite, better educated and more straghtfor'
May IL a communication was received from the
Chang Leen magistrate, stating that he did not dare
to present the letter sent him to the Emperor, as 1t
was not from the United States government, but
from an inferior Officer but he had taken the re-
sponsibility OF answering the letter himself IL was
nevertheless believed that he had sent the letter to
the Emperor, and that his own reply was dictated
by the Emperor The vessel then awaited the answer
from the other Official he. having written that he had
sent the letter TO the Emperor, and would require
agement in the tone OF his communication. CThe
other magistrate had never written whether he had
or would send the letter to the Emperor.) On the
18th OF May the vessel returned again into
the mouth Of the river, and a note was
sent saying it must be time for an answer
soon as the provisions OF the man-ol-war were
ming low. The note was lett on ''statiOn island"
saa e Witch an as the
was delivered to the Emperor and that moreover,
the magistrate Of Chung Leen had already given the
reply, and had forwarded also the undelivered de-
spatch OF the inspector and intendant Of the Hang
Haze district, prepared In 1866 (Conmander Shufedt
in the Wacnuselt, went away without seeing t), In
which the burning Of the vessel In the Pin Yang
river fully stated from from first to last and
hence all knowledge Of the matter given, ana Com
mander Febiger must consider himself fully en-
lightened.
despatch had also been received by the Coreans
from the Chinese government, In which the cOntem-
plated visit OF Commander Febger ami the Shenan.
doah was stated and assistance ordered to be given
government he had clearly showed that such men
had never been held in confinement and this reliable
reply would be placed in the hands OF the American
Minister at Pekn. 1t quite unnecessary therefore,
for the American vessel to remain waiting. The In
dividual who, without foundation, told the lies or
raised suspicious concerning the remaining In
confinement OF the Americans has been arrested by
the lntendant OF the Hwang-Hai district, been eX-
amned, the affair has been brought to light and the
man beheaded.
Concerning the firing into the boat the vessel that
had come into the river was man-of-war. The gar
rls0n at that place had standing orders to allow no
one to pass, and they could not disobey them This
was the answer which came through the Chang
There is believed to be no doubt but the answer
was dictated by the Emperor. The firing is con.
sidered bravad0 OF a half civilized peope.s 1t is
evident surely, that the Coreans belong to the pO.
litico.diplomatic family, Of which the Chinese are
branch.
In the last Corean communication ausion Is made
to the beheadng OF man. This man Is supposed
Wantn (the pilot OF the wachusett and also Of the
General Sherman) OF the loss OF theGenera Sherman
and reported that four OF the crew were still living.
This pilot informed our United States Consul Sanford,
at ChefOo, Of the circumstances and he (Consul)
Sanford) informed Actpg Minister DR.. Williams,
who very unwisely, III his correspondence with the
Chinese in regard to the matter, gave the name of
the poor fellow who Is now murdered The Coreans,
having received information OF this mans actions
the Chang Leen magistrate wrote In one OF his earlier
communications that they had arrested the man who
was the cause OF the coming OF the Shenandoah. and
would bring him on board ship, and then II might be
shown by conversiny with him that the Americans
had been greatly deceived.
The next day word was sent that the Americans
must 60 ashore to see him, and Consul Sanford and
MT. Matter went but they do not believe tie ndi.
vidua shown TO them as the person who informed Of
the loss OF the General Sherman and neither do they
believe that that person has been beheaded.
The CoreanS dress snRularly and all In white. and
wear peculiar hat, both men and women. The only
way OF distinguishing woman Is by the arrange.
hangs down. not unsike the women among The North
The SHENANDOAH will be back at shanghac on the
2Stl.
Mail Communication with the United States
The Doctors on the Qui vive-(aambIing
House License Law-The Tien.tstn Treaty
and Foreign Interests-B Irish Opinion of the
BurIinsame Mission-An Ocean "Cast.
away.0
HoSa KONG, May 20. 1868.
The people OF Hong Kong were rather pleasantly
disappointed at the arrival Of the Pacific Mail only
four days behind time, seeing that lately we have
been accustomed to about ten days. delay But since.
we have read the report Of Mr. McLne, the president
of thQ lima VIII Inv fha INV hoat