Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-25
The Foo Chow Bombardment.

DESTRUCTION OF THB CHINESE FLEET AND ARSENAL
sICKENING SIGHT.
AS stated in Saturdays STAR, in the French at
tack on the Foo Chow arsenal and feet on that
day, Admiral Courbet opened IRE at 2 p. m, and
the Chinese replied almost simultaneously. Lon
don Times dispatch says: The dock-yard arsenal
fired Immediately, but with only partial success
TIE eleven vessels forming the Chinese feet were
mosy Ieosy nght ver and coast transports and were
ssa1y tosm he I sren1h S had eight heavily armed
Ing, Asplc, Vipere, Loux, and Villars.
NO FIGHT But A MASSACRE.
Several Chinese gunboats maintained bravely q
desultory fire for about 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 disabling the Chinese vessels, no fight It
was massacre. This is the opinion OF every spec
tator. TWO 1S-ton gunboats OF the Chinese neet
fought well. one sinking near the English man-of-
war Champion, while the other, stationed above
the lunks. made good stand. The French kept
up the fire on the arsenal, neighborlng buildings.
afternoon, although resistance IRON the shore bat
ter1eS ceased about three O'CLOCK. Some French
ana Chinese shi IS were engaged In close proximity
10 the English men-of-war Vlgtlant and Champion
THE CHINESE FLEET sLorTED OUT.
The bombardment is described as of the most
sickening character. The Chinese neet lately on
Min river, with the exception Of two boats, has
been b!otled out. No surrender was allowed to the
disabled and sinking ships Their guns having
f Deen sllenced, they were shelled for hours. The
French torpedo boats exploded the SternS of the
fang-NO0 transports and the two sinking gun
boats The scenes on the river as the dead and
saved many Of the wounded. The forts lower down
have not yet been attacked. The Times CORE
spondent, the only newspaper representative pres
ent. was on board the Champion
RENEWAL OF THE BoMBAKDMENr YESTERDAY
Yesterday the French again opened fire, shelling
q vii fho hate
the arsenal In the course OF the evening three
burning boats foated down the stream, one carry
ing the French cOlors Numerous fire junks, blaZ
Ing in dangerous manner, imperiled the English
nen-of-War, but were Tended off. One English
bark was saved by the English men-of war.
In Paris Yesterday it was thought that the
trouoe might yet he settled under the auspices OF
Prince Bismarck.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CITY AND THE ARSENAL
Foo Chow, or the Happy City, as it is called,
five miles from its mouth. Suburbs extend from
the walls three miles to the banks and stretch
along on both sides OF the stream They are con-
nected with each other and a small tslet In the
river by stone bridge built In the eleventh CEN
tury. The scenery Is bold, and such parts OF the
surrounding hills as not cultivated Or used for
graves are covered with pines. Some OF the hills
north OF the city are 1000 feet high. The river is
filled with craft Of all kinds. The walls OF the
city are thirty feet high and twelve feet wide on
top. The gates, seven in number, are overlooked
Dy nigh towers; smaller guard houses stand upon
the walls at short intervals In which few soldiers
lodge, and where two or three cannon indicate
their object
From an eminence on the north side OF the city
the view Is extensive and presents great diversity
OF charming objects. The square 6attlements Of
the wall are seen extending In devious and irregu-
iar circuit for more than eight miles, and nclosng
most OF the buildings. except on the south. On the
southeast hill rises abruptly more than 200 feet
Its ridge built up with interspersed dwellings, and
another on the extreme north OF the city, sur
mounted moi by Watch-tower, closes the prospect In
that direction. The city is closely built inside the
walls The watch-tOwer on the hill in the northern
part OF the city Is upon the wall, which here runs
near precipice 200 feet high; it Is most conspicu-
Gus object when approaching the place. The city
navigation. Its commerce is very large. The popu-
latlon Is estimated at 100000 The European firms
importance only TO that of Shanghai
The great arsenal was begun twelve years ago,
ana now comprises iron works, rolling mills engine
factories and building slips-n fact, all the pant
OF hlgn-class navy yard in full working order.
Attached TO It is school for naval Officers and
tod TO al-o