The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-08-28
lMBARDMENT OF FOO CHOW.
TIE ATTACK RENEWED.

SHANGHAI, August 25.-Of the
Chinese men of war which escaped
the French bombardment at Fec
Chow, one was stranded and had her
back broken, the other met with nc
mishap. The French recommended
firing to-day, directing their shots
against the pagodas 1t is surmised
the object of the renewed attack is
entirely to obliterate the place. The
French transports are Smelling the
villages on the heights around the
arsenal.
DESTROYING A CHINESE FLEET.
LONDON, August 25-The Times
Foo Chow dispatch dated Sunday,
p. M, says the French Shelled the bar
racks and camps, near Quanhoo. No
resistance was made to the attack.
The consulate buildings were plumb
cred by Chinese soldiers, who were in
uniform and armed. The French
chief Of staff reports the French loss
at six men, The Times correspondent
believes this estimate untrue. An
English pilot was killed during the
scare Saturday night, when the
French opened their fire, and it is
believed, sunk one of their own boats.
The bombardment is described as of a
most sickening character. The Chi
nese fleet, lately at anchor in the river,
with the exception of two ships, has
been blotted out. No survivors were
allowed from disabled and sinking
ships. Their guns were Silenced, and
they were shelled for hours.
THE FRENCH SQUADRON.
A
Courbet opened fire at p. NJ, and the
Chinese replied almost simultaneously
The dock yards and arSenals were
fired Immediately, but with only par
tial success Eleven vessels, forming
the Chinese fleet, were mostly light
river and coast transports, and were
really toys. The French had eight
heavily armed ships, namely: The
Volka, Duzay, Trouin, Delaverne,
Astic, Vipere, LouX and Vilars. Several
Chinese gunboatS maintained bravely
deSultory fire for about quarter of
an hour, when the survivors Of their
crews leaped overheard. The combat
practically finished in seven minutes.
The superior French artillery made
the contest, after disabling the Chinese
vessels, no fight, but rather massacre.
This is the opinion Of every spectator.
Two eighteen-ton gunboats of the
Chinese fleet fought well, one sinking
near the English man. of-war Cham
pion while the other, stationed above
the junks, made good stand. The
French kept up the fire on the arsenal
and neighboring buildings, forts, bar
racks and villages, until 5 p. NJ, al
though resistance from the shore bat
teries ceased about 3 o'clock. Some
French and Chinese ships were engag-
ed in close proximity to the English
men-of-war Vigilant and Champion.
At 6 p. m. Sunday three burning
gunboats foated down stream, carry
ing French colors. Numerous fire
junks, blazing in dangerous manner,
1mperrilled the English men-of-war,
but were Tended off. One English
bark was saved by the English men,
of-war. French torpedo boats ex-
ploded the sterns of the transport and
the two sinking gunboats.
The scenes on the river whilst the
dead and wounded fioated by were
terrible. The English saved many of
the wounded. The forts lower down
have not yet been attacked.
The Times correspondent was the
only newspaper representative pres
ent. lie was on board the Champion.