The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-10
The Recent right on The Min River.

AiG RSCShb N1SAht Oit INC WIFE INlNers
Letter from Eye- Witness. in Pittsburg Dispatch.
The great trouble with the Chinese is that
they cannot or will not, discriminate between
foreigners. In Chinamans eyes any man that
is white is foreign devil" and in case Of
trouble between France and China the mob
would try and revenge themselves on all for
eigners. Shortly after our arrival at Shanghai
the Treuton arrived, and in day or two Ad-
miral Davis transferred his flag from the Tren-
ton to this vessel and we steamed down to our
! present anchorage which is twelve miles from
| the city of Foo Chow. 1t is impossible for yes
| sells drawing more than eight or nine feet to get
up to the city, consequently most of the shipping
| is done from Pagoda anchorage The United
States ship Monocacy being light draft vessel
was up at Foo Chow also the English gunboat
Merlin. Admiral Davis went up to the Monoc-
acy at once, and the landing party, followed two
days ago.
Yesterday morning an officer from the French
flagship came on board with his admral's com
| pliments to our captain, and message to the
effect that they would commence operations in a
| few hours, as the Chinese government had re
fused to pay the SO, OOO, 900 francs demanded by
France.
Three English men of war, this vessel, and four
or FIVE merchantmen wero anchored about half
mile down the harbor, giving clear space TO
the opening forces.
At 1:55 in the afternoon a single shot was fired
from one of the French vessels, and in few
seconds the battle commenced 1t is supposed
that in the first minute and half fully one hun
dred shots were fired, most of them from mo lern
breech-loading great guns.
The following extract from the ships log will
give an idea of the fight and of the swift de
struction of the Chinese forces;
"A naval engagement between the French
fleet, consisting of the Volta lAagShip), Aspic
Nipere, D'Estange, Lynx, Dougay TrOuin, Vii
lard, and later, the Triumphant and the Chinese
fleet, consisting of nine sloops of war, two gun
boats and eleven r-junks took place off Pa
CODA anchorage. AT l;56 o'clock the flagship
Volta opened fire from her tops when general
engagement followed At , o'clock the Chinese
flagship was blown up by torpedo. At POS il
Chinese gunboat blew up. At 2:45 a Chinese
sloop of war, fire, drifting down the harbor,
sank abreast of us with colors flying, while an
other Chinese sloop of war, on fire grounded on
Flat island near us, aud blew up at 4:51. At $3.50
another Chinese slOop of war on fire. French
colors flying, drifted down the channel The
French kept on bombarding the navy yards and
forts on shore, which took an active part in the
engagement. During, and subsequent to- the
engagement, fire rafts and junks came floating
down the river"
The destruction of the Yung Wo, the Chinese
properly handled AS soon as the fight com
menced a torpedo boat darted toward the ill fated
vessel, and in an instant there was nothing LETT
of the stately craft out some drifting timber and
broken spars. The Yung Wo was built at the
navy-yard at this place She was full ship-rig
ged, of about two thousand tons displacement
and was beautiful vessel. Her destroyer 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 down the harbor
and anchored near We could see that some
of her crew were wounded, as we'll as her com
manding officer. Our vessel sent surgical aid to
her as soon as international law permitted it.
AS far could be seen, only one Chinese yes
sci made determined fight. This was a gun
boat, commanded by a young Chinaman who
had been educated in America. His craft was
the target for great many French guns, but he
went down gallantly, his colors flying, and Just
as his vessel was sinking he fired parting shot
The rapidity of the French fire completely de-
moralized the Chinese, and the French gunners
craftsmanship was excellent Their machine
guns did frightful execution. One Of the Chi
nese vessels that sank shortly after the fight
commenced was terrible sight; her decks were
covered with blood and the mangled remains of
| her crew. The HOtehkiss revolving cannon in
the tops of the French ships kept up steady
| fire. One Of these guns, properly managed, IS
enough to clear the deck of any ship.
! Only two of the Chiueso vessels we're hhoat
after the engagement; they escaped by getting
u