The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-10-15
The War In China.

The vessels in both fleets prepared for
action. Three English men Of war, this
vessel, and four ar FIVE merchantmen
we're anchored abuu, half a mile down
the harhCr. ing a Gear space 10 the
opposing fJrce- A. l,jJ p u. a -laEie
shot Wa fred from one O.! the French
vessels, aud iua few ,-;5ud- the rattle
commenced Il i, supposed that IL the
FIRST minute aud 4 hat "a : lVp shots
were fired. most of them from modern
breech -loa4lug gus.
The French feet consisted u the st
flagship Aspie, Nipere, - tstanke,
Lynx, Dougay. Trouin, and, later,
the Triumphant. The Chinese fleet con.
listed Of nine sloop--ot war. TWO guns
boats, and eleven war junks. At iU.a6
O'Clock the flagship Volta opened fire
from her tops. when d general engage
men followed At > 9%'c.ucr he Chinese
flagship was blown UP b. a tor. ed. II
POS q Chinese gunboat was own up.
At 2.i5 Chinese sloop Of var on FIRE
drittei icwn the harbor and sank abreast
OF Us with colors flying, while another
Chinese slOop OF war on ire grounded on
. fat island Eear US and bew W at 4 81.
At 3. another Chinese -!CUp OF wa on
FIRE, with the French colOrs flying, Drift
"a down the channel.
The French kept on bombarding the
navy yards and forts on shore, which
took an active part 10 the engagement.
During and subsequent to the engage
ment fire RATS and junk came floating
down the river.
The destruction Of Yung We, the
Chinese flagship, viii show what a tor
pedo c.L do when properly handled. As
soon as the fight began a torpedo boat
darted toward the iIIfated vessel, and 10
an instant there was nothing left Of the
stately craft but some drifting timber
and broken spars. The Yung Wo was
built al the navy yard at this place She
was full ship rigge1, of about 1000 tons
displacement, aud vas a beautiful vessel.
Her destroyer, the torpedo boat Va
atoat fifty feet long, cigar shaped, very
low 10 the water. and capable Of stcauIng
about twenty miles an hour.
After her terrible work she dritteG
down the harhor and anchored near Us.
We could see that some Of her crew were
wounded, a. well as her commanding Of
ticer. Our vessel sent surgical aid to
her sc cor u International law permit
ed II.
As far as could be seen, only one
Chinese vessel made a determined fight
This vas a gunboat commanded by a
young Chinaman why had been educated
In America. His guub1at was the TARGET
or a great many French guns, but he
went down calamity. MS flag flying. and
just a. his vessel was siuking tie CRED a
parting shot.
The rapidity Of the French fire com
pleteiy demora,Izod the Chinese, and the
French guupers workmanship wa ex-
Their ma,hine runs did fright
execution. One Of the Chinese YES
sells that sank shortly after the fight cons
menceI was a terrible sight. Her decks
were covered with blood and the man
cled remains OF her creE. The Hutch
revolving cannon on the French
kept up a steady fire One Of these
guns, properly managed, is enough to
clear the deck of any ship.
Only two of the Chinese vessel were
atioat after the engagement. TIE, es
by getting up the river into shoal
One OF these vessels sank shorty
atterward on account of injuries received
IN the fight, and the ether one is now
aground with her Lack broken. The
French fire continued until night. They
'helled the batteries OH shore, aud drove
the Chinese from them She navy yard
and arsenal were shelled, and a great
zeal OF damage done to Government
property
At night fire RATS and and burning
.unAs came down the river, but the
ren'h gunners succeeded in sinking
hem.