Connecticut western news., 1884-10-15
BLOWING SHIPS TO PIECES.
HOW THE CHINESE FLEET MELTED
 AWAY BEFORE THE FRENCH GUNS. -
The Battle in the River Mia us Seen from the Deck OI R United etates Nian-Of.Nu ur A War ship AnDihiIated by n Torpedo Boat.


 Boat.
 The following letter was written by special correspondent who is naval officer on the United States ship Enterprise:
 "Upon reaching the mouth of the Whampoa river we found the Chinese Qualifications full of men and everything in readiness for battle. There were also several Chinese men-ot-war at the mouth of the river. The French had three vessels stationed near the fort 'tioations, and every day we expected the nghtlng to commence. Our ship proceeded up the river as soon as the water on the bar permitted, and on our arrival at Shanghai we found every thing in readiness to protect the foreigners. The captain of the Italian man-ot-war Chrlsto- foro Colombo. being the senior othcer present, had command of the united forces, and land ing parties were formed on each man-of-war to land with small arms and Gattlng guns 10 keep back the mob in case of trouble.
 1.-The great trouble with the Chinese IS that they cannot or will not discriminate between reigners. In a Chinaman's eyes any one that is whi @ is foreign devil, and in 'ase of trouble between France and China the mob would try and revenge themselves on all foreigners. Shortly after our arrival at Shanghai the Trenton arrived, and in day or two Admiral Davis transferred his nag from the Trenton to this vessel, and we steamed down to our present anchorage whi, h is twelve miles from the city ot Foo Chow. It is impossible for vessels drawing more than eight or nine feet to get up to the city.
 hConsequently most of the shipping is done from Pagoda Anchorage. The United States ship Monocacy, being light draught vessel, was up at Foo-Chow, and also an English gun boat Merlin. Admiral DaVIs went up to the Monocacy at once, and the landing party fol- lowed soon after. Just before the battle in the morning an officer from the French flagship came on board with his AdmlraPs com [N, NfN hn effect that they would commence operations lu few hours, as the Chinese Government had refused to pay the SO,00O 900 francs demanded by France.
 "The vessels in both fleets prepared for action. Three English men-of-war, this vessel, and four or five merchantmen were anchored about half mile down the harbor, giving a clear space to the opposing forces. At 1:55 p. m. single shot was fired from one of the French vessels. and ill few seconds the battle commenced. It is supposed that in the first minute and half fully 100 shots were fired, most of them from modern breech-loading guns.
 "The French fleet consisted of the Volta, flagship; Aspie, Vipere, D'Estange, Lynx, Dougay, Trouin, Willard, and, later, the Fri umphant. The Chinese fleet consisted of nine sloops-of-war, two gunboats, and eleven wal iunks At l:56 o'clock the flagship Volta opened fire from her tops, when general en- z cement followed. At o'clock the Chinese flagship was blown up by a torpedo. At 2;OS a Chinese gunboat was blown up. At 2:45 a Chinese sloop-of-war on fire drifted down the hsrbor and sank abreast of us with colors fly ing, while another Chinese sloop-of-war on fire grounded on @ fiat island near us and blew up at 4;51. At 3:S0 another Chinese soop-of-waI on fire, with the French colors flying, drifted down the channel.
 "The French kept on bombarding the navy yards and forts on shore, which took an ac- tive part in the engagement. During and | subsequent to the engagement, fire rafts and junks came floating down the river. "The destruction of Yung Wo, the Chinese | flagship, will show what a torpedo can dc when properly handled. As soon as the fight began & torpedo boat darted toward the ill fated vessel. and In an instant there was noth- | ing left of the stately craft but some drifting timber and broken spars. The Yung Wo wal built at the navy yard at this place. She wal | full ship rigged, of about 2,000 tons displace ment, and was & beautiful vessel Her de- | stroyer, the torpedo boat, was about fifty feet | long, cigar shaped, very low in the water, and capable of steaming about twenty miles an | hour
 | After her terrible work she drifted dowI | the harbor and anchored near us. We could see that some of her crew were wounded, al | well as her commanding officer. Our vesse sent surgical aid to her as soon as internatlona | law permitted it.
 ''As far as could be seen, only one Chinese
 vessel made a determined fight. This was gnnboat commanded by young ChinamaI | who had been educated in America. His gun | boat was the target for great many Frencl guns, but he went down gallantly his flag fly ing, and just as bis vessel was sinking he firet | a parting shot.
 ''The rapidity of the French fire completeI, | demoralized the Chinese, and the French gun | ners' markmanship was excellent. Their ma \ chine guns did fnghtful execution. One o | the Chinese vessels that sunk shortly afte | the fight commenced was terrible sight. He \ decks were covered with blood and the man | gled remains of her crew. The Hotchkiss re | volving cannon on the French ships kept uo
 steady fire. One of these guns. properly man | aged, is enough to clear the deck Of any ship | "Only two of the Chinese vessels were atioa | after the engagement. They escaped by get ting up the river into shoal water. One o | these vessels sank shortly afterward on accoun | of injuries received in the 62ht, and the othe | one is now aground with her back broken | The French fire continued until night. The | shelled the batteries on shore, and drove tn
 Chinese from them. The navy yard and ar
 senal were sheled, and great deal Of damag | done to Government property.
 ''At night fire rafts and burning junks cam | down the liver, but the French gunners sue
 ceeded in sinking them. With but one or tw
 exceptions the French vessels are uninjured | The Volta had been hit once near the wate
 line. The D'Estange had two shot holes nea | her rail. The loss of life on the French sid | was only six. b sides the pilot of the Volts | wlo was an Englishman. The Chinese loss o
 life is report as beng nearly two thousand.