Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-06-04
BEHEADED BY CoREANs.
How American sailors Were Iassacred
Near Phyong YAng-The Treaty.

Near hgohB AAbk-Ane fGAN4s
WASHINGTON, June Lieut.. George
c. Foulk. of the navy, under date Of Seoul,
Corea, March %, 1898. has sent to the
/ Navy Department an account of the de-
structiOn of the American schooner Sher-
man and the beheading Of portion Of her
crew on the Yellow Sea coast Of Corea in
/ 1866. The narrative was prepared from
I accounts obtained from Corean Chris
/ tian of good standing and is published for
/ the first time. Lieut.. Foulk says:
/ THE Sherman arrived in the FelOng
/ river in August and anchored n short dis
lance below Phyong Yang city, the CAPT
tai Of Pnyong an De, the northwestern
province OF Corea. 1t was then the time
+ Of the midsummer heavy rain which Oc-
ours annually. During this season the
rain falls almost necessarily for ten or
fifteen days. The lOwlands are flooded
and the river rises many feet. The Sher-
man was seen from the walls Of PhyOng
Yang and was the cause of much excite
menU, but on account Of the dangerous
condition Of the river, which was then
very high, no boat ventured near her for
some time. When the water began 70
subside the provisional Governor sent Off
GERS to inquire her mission. The common
people took advantage of the departure of
these officers for the Sherman TO crafty
their own curiosity and went with them,
the whole party being in a large fleet of
small boats, which put out from the shore
together.
The Sherman's people, not under
standing the object OF the approaching
expedition, considered the movement as a
hostile demonstration and fred several
shots in the air. The officers, accompa-
MED by all the other people, at once
turned back and returned to the
city. The river fell rapidly after this,
and in a few days the Sherman went
aground. Efforts to get her ailoat were
unsuccessful and she careeued over. This
was seen from the city walls, and again
tee people became greatly excited.
Another fleet of boats came toward the
schooner, this time with hostile intent,
the people being armed. Shots were again
fired from the Sherman, and the Coreans
turned back as before.
Both officers and people of the city
were now enraged, and an attempt was
made to destroy the vessel, which was
successful. Boats were loaded with COM
Dustible material and taken to points
above the schOoner's anchorage. Here
they were fired and allowed to drift down
upon her. The Sherman was soon in
flames. Her people jumped overheard to
save themselves, but most Of them were
rean boats which had put out after them.
Among these was a European who was
able TO communicate with the officials.
The prisoners We're brought before the
kamsa and examined. They told the OBJ
ject of the Sherman's coming, and tried to
explain why a white flag had been waved
on board Of her upon the approach Of the
fire boats. They asked that they be taken
TO China and surrendered there. All ef-
forts to save themselves were useless.
however, and in a few days they were let
out of prison and beheaded."
ATTACKING THE FORTS.
Up to 1870 the United States Govern
ment could learn nothing Of the Sherman's
destruction. In that year Rear Admiral
John Rodgers, in command of the Asiatic
Station, was ordered to investigate her
loss. Com. Schley, of Greedy relief
fame, was at the time connected with
the station as Lieutenant Commander.
Referring to the expedition to-day, he
said:
THE Aslatic squadron went to the Vel.
low Sea and to the mouth of the Sale river,
our object being to learn if possible some
thing OF the Sherman's loss. In order to
ascend the river we obtained permission
from Coreau officials 80 make a survey of
It. The squadron assembled the river for
some distance. The Palos and MOnocacy
continued further. The two vessels were
fired upon from the COrean Notifications
and returned to the other vessels of the
squadron. Admiral Rodgers sent a mess
age to the COrean officials giving them ten
days in which they might make an eXpla-
nation for firing on the American vessel.
No attention was given to this cOmmuni-
cation, and at the expiration of the ten
days the Admiral determined to
secure an explanation by force.
We landed 1000 men and attacked
the Notifications. The result was that
nearly 1O0COreans were killed, and about
100 taken prisoners. We lost about - or
30. Tae explanation afterward given for
firing on our vessels was that the COreans
never allowed foreign vessel to 90 up
the river without firing on it. Our inyes-
tigatiOn of the Sherman's destruction was
terminated because of the fight with the
Coreans."
Com. Schley attributes to this fight the
making of the Corean treaty with the
United States about two years ago.
Lieut.. Foulk is one of the few foreigners
who speak the Corean language. He ac-
companied the Corean Embassy to this
country two years ago and returned with
it.