Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-09-04
THE OLD WORLD.
The Fight at FeO-Chow MUCH more
ola Massacre Than Battle

PARIS. Aug. 24-The bonn bardment
of Foo CAow began at 2 o'clock yes
terday afternoon and ceased at 8 p. m.
ONLY one Chinese battery replied. The
The report that two French vessels
were sunk during the engagement
IS l1nconfrmed The French fleet has
sustained no damage.
A Shanghai dispatch says: THE
Foo-Chow arsenal was DESTROYED yes
terday, after three hours bonn bard
ment, by Admiral Courbet'a squadron.
Seven Chinese gunb0ats were sunk
two escaped. The European settle
H. ut is undisturbed E"
1t is hoped that the Chinese trouble
may yet be arranged under the aus
pieces of Bismarck. 1t is regarded as
noteworthy fact that Baron de Cour-
eel, the French ambassador to Ger
many, was summoned To Paris Friday
and returned to Berlin on the same
train with Ii Fong Pao, Chinese min,
lister Baron de Courccl was over
heard to remark to member OF the
Chinese legation at the depot, Let as
hope the journey will be favorable TO
each of us "
OF the Chinese men-of-war ~&ich
escaped the French bOmbardment at
FOO-ChOw, Que was Stranaed and her
back was broken The other met
with no mishap. The French recon-
menced firing to-day, directing their
shots against the pagOdas. 1t is sur
raised that the object OF the renewed
attack is to entirely obiterate the
place. French transports are she'll
40 10 +pg, l. Y
the arsenal
A DESCRIPTION OF THE BATTLE.
LONDON, Aug. 25.-A0miral Cour-
bet again opened fire at 2 p. H., and
the Chinese replied almost simultan-
eously The dock yard arsenal was
fired Immediately, but with only par
ti2l success. The eleven vessels
forming the Chinese fleet were most
ly light river and coast transports and
were really toys The French had
eight heavily armed, viz: The Volta,
Dugay, Trouin, Dele ming, Aspic,
Vissera, LOux and Villars. Several
of the Chinese gunboats maintained
bravely q DIES lltory fire for about a
quarter of an hour when the survivors
of their crews leaped overheard. The
combat was practically finished in
seven minutes. The superior French
artillery made the contest after the
disabling of tie Chinese vessels, an
unequal one. There was no fight; it
was a 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 Champion, while the
other, stationed above the junko,
made a good stand.
The French kept up the fire on the
arsenal, neighbOring building, forts,
barracks ard villages until five in the
afternoon although resistance from
the shore batteries ceased about three
Some of the French and Chinese ships
were engaged in close proximity TO
the ENGLISH men-of-war Vigilant and
Champion.
At 6 o'clock Sunday evening three
burning gun boats foatod down
the stream, one carrying the French
colors. Numerous fire juncks, blazing
In dangerous manner, imperilled the
EnglIsh men-of-war, but were Tended
off One English bark was saved ty
the English men Of-wa The French
torpedo boat exploded the stern of a
boat with 1, 900 transports and the two
sinking gunboats. The scenes OH the
river as the dead and wounded foated
by were terrible. The English saved
many of the wounded. The forts
lower down have not yet been attack
ed. The Times correspondent, the
only newspaper representative pres
ent, was on board the Champion.
The Times Foo Chow dis patch,
dated Sunday, 3 o'clock p. M, says
the French shelled the barracks and
camp near Puantao. No resistance
was made to the attack. The consul
ate buildings were looted by Chinese
soldiers, who were in uniform and
armed The French chief of staff re-
ports the French loss at SIX men The
Times correspondent believes this es-
innate untrue. An English pilot was
killed during the scare Saturday
night, when the French opened their
heavy fire, and. it is believed, sank
one of their own torpedo boats. The
bOmbar9ment is described as of a most
sickening character. The Chinese
feet lately on the Min river with the
exception of two ships, was blotted
out, No surrender was allowed the
disabled and sinking ships. After
their guns were silenced they were
Shelled for hours