Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-10
AT FOO-CkOW.
Details of the Fight in the Min River
Bravery of the Chinese.

Details OF the tight IN the Win hiNer-
Bravery OF the Chinese.
A correspondent in China, writing from
Foo Chow under date OF August 10Th, says:
Since writing you on the 18th instant the
long-awated event has occurred at this
port. Unable to come TO terms with China.
France has resOrted 10 force, and on
the 23d instant the battle OF the Min
was fought at Pagoda Anchorage, nine
miles below this great city. You will
have heard Of the complete deStruc-
ton Of the Chinese feet and complete
victory Of the French. but some particulars
may he acceptable at this time. A. already
reported. the women and children OF the
foreign community generally had left the
port. principally for Hong Kong and
Shanghai. Business has been at stand
still, except among Government officials,
for some time. Rumors OF the proposed
closing Of the channel by the Chinese had
somewhat checked the running OF steamers.
and the shipping oil Of tea has been seIi-
ously impcded.
GLOOMY REPORTS.
ON the 22d reports OF affairs in the North
were very gloomy. and peace seemed I'M
possible. On the morning Of the 23d tele-
grams were received TO the eject that the
French tricolor had been hauled down st
Pekin, and an attack at the FOo-Chow
arsenal and on Formosa was imminent.
soon after an official notification was issued
TO the various cOnsuls by Niscount de
Bezaure. representative for France, stating
that the French Government, falling 10 Sc
cure satisfaction from China in regard 10
the Langson affair, had decided to begin
sfaa u
that he hauled down the flag and HOSTILE
ties would begin that day. The banks
Immediately closed pending hostilities
the foreign telegraph lines also declined TO
receive communications until they could
be taken 10 the mouth OF the river. the
nearest station, and the air was full OF an-
nouncements. notifications, &c. Admiral
Davis, OF the United States Asiatic squad
ron, took up his position at the American
Consulate. with two officers Of his staff, 10
direct operations for defence OF the settle
ment IN case OF riots. The day before 100
men from the United States steam corvette
Enterprise, lying at Pagoda Anchorage, re.
inforced the United States steamer Mono.
cacy, living off the settlement here. and a
similar body OF men from the British yes
sells joined: her Britannia Majesty :
Merlin. living just below the Monocacy.
and are still quartered in cargo boats near
! by.
THE FIGHT.
At about five minutes to p. NJ. on the
23d the fight began, aud the cannonadng
continued three hours with little Interrupt
ton. The heavy work was done within
the first hour, however, and the entire Chi
nese fleet was ruined. out OF eleven Chi
nese war steamers two ran up few miles.
Tie Others were all sunk or burned. One
OF these two sank soon after, and the
other is aground at Limpoo. OF Kushan
I Point, three or four miles distant. Six Can
ton lorchas were also sunk and large mum.
Der Of war junks and smaller craft. The
French were almost uninjured. One OF
their two torpedo boats was disabled. The
Volta, on which Admiral Colirbet's flag
was raised, received some damage and SIX
men were killed, including Shanghai
pilot, who came down with their first ves-
sci forty days before. IL is impossible 20
estimate the loss OF life on the part OF the
Chinese. All agree that 1t must have been
In the hundreds il not thousands.
A number Of their wounded are being cared
for by the British and American surgeons
here.
TtiE GALLANT CHINESE.
on the Chinese fleet the Yang Woo and
one or two others fought well. On these
were a number OF the Chinese students
who studied SO long in America under the
direction OF Yung Wing, aud who were
stationed here on their return TO China
when recalled BY an imperial mandate.
This vessel had It's guns trained on the
French admiraPs vessel. aud at the signal
a broadside from the Yang Woo swept all
from the bridge except Admiral Courbet
himself. Tic pilot. who stood beside
him, was horribly manglea, AMI three