The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-06-03
FATE OF THE SHERMAN.
Her Crew Beheaded and the
Schooner Burned.
After Lapse Of Nineteen Years a Mys-
terry of the Yellow Sea is Revealed.

WARRINGTON, June 2.-The Navy Depart
ment received very interesting letter yester-
day from Corea, containing information for
which the government has been seeking nearly
nineteen years. Lieutenant George O. Foulk
sends the letter, and says he got the facts from
reliable Corean, Christian. They relate to
the destruction of the American schooner
Sherman, lost on the Yellow Sea coast in 1866.
The lieutenant is one Of the very few Ameri-
cans who speak the Corean language. He ac-
companied the rainbow-hued embassy to this
country two years ago, and returned to Corea
with it. In his letter he says:
oThe Sherman arrived in the Felong river in Au-
gust, and anchored short distance below Phyong
Yang city, the capital Of Phyong Do, the north
western province of Corea. 1t was then the time
of the midsummer heavy rain, when the rain falls
almost ince sanity for ten or fifteen days. the low
lands are flooded and the river rises many feet The
Sherman was seen from the walls of Phvong Yang.
but on account of the dangerous condition Of the
river no boat ventured near her for some time.
When the water began to subside, the provincial
governor sent officers to inquire her mission.
The common people took advantage of the depar-
ture OF these officers to crafty their own curiosity
and went with them, the whole party being in
large feet of small boats. The Sherman's people
considered the movement as a hostile demonstra
tion, and fred several shots in the air. The officers,
accompanied by all the other people, at once re-
turned to the CITY, The river fell rapidly after this
and IN few days the Sherman went aground and
careened over. This was seen from the city walls
and again the people became greatly excited An.
other fleet OF boats toward the schooner, this
tlme with hostile intent, the people being armed.
Shots were again fred from the Sherman, and the
Coreans turned back as before.
Both officers and people of the city were now en-
ragged. Boats were loaded with combustible mate
rial and taken to points above the schooners an
chorage 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 drowned, a few were picked
up by Corean boats. Among these was European
who was able to communicate with the officials
Inc prisoners were brought before the Kamsa and
examined, All efforts to Themselves
less, however, and in few days they were let out
OF prison and beheaded.
Up to 1870 the United States government
could learn nothing of the Sherman's destruc-
ton. In that year Rear-Admiral John Rogers,
In command Of the Asiatic station, was or
dered to investigate her loss. Commodore
Schley of Greely relief fame was at the time
connected with the station as Lieutenant Com
he said:
"The Asiatic squadron went to the Yellow
Sea and to the mouth of the Sale river, our
object being to learn, il possible, something of
the Sherman's loss. In order to ascend the
river we obtained permission from the Corean
officials to make a survey Of it, This squad
ron assembled the river for some distance. The
Palos and Monocscy continued farther. They
were fred upon from the Corean Notifications.
Admiral Rodgers gave the Corean officials ten
days In which they might make an explana-
ton Tor hiring on the vessels. No attention
was PAID to the communication, and the Ad-
mlral determined to secure an explanation by
force. We landed 1000 men and attacked the
notifications The result was that nearly 7C0
Coreans were killed, and about $50 taken
prisoners. We lost 25 or 80. Our investigation
OF the Sherman's destruction was terminated
because of the fight with the Coreans."
Commodore Schley attributes to this fight
the making Of the Corean treaty with the
United States about two years ago