Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-07
A HORRIBLE FATE.
Dzc1PlrATsD BY coREAxs.

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A Mystery Or ne Ysiisw Sea. which has
Existed Nearly Twssu Year, Missstsn
ssens.
A Washington special says: Lieu
tenant George O. Foulk, of the navy,
under date Of Seoul, Corea, March 10Th,
has sent to the Navy Department an
account OF the destruction of the Ameri-
can schooner Sherman and the behead-
ing Of portion of her crew on the Yel-
low sea, coast Of Corea, in 1865. The
narrative was prepared from accounts
obtained from . Corean Christian OF
good standing, and is now published for
the first time. Lieutenant Foulk says:
"The Sherman arrived in the Felong
river in August and anchored . short
distance below Phyong Yang City, the
capital of Phyong An Do, the north
western province Of. Corea. 1t was
then the time of the midsummer heavy
rain, which occurs annually. During
this season the rain falls almost inces-
sanity for ten or fifteen days. The
lowlands are flooded, the river rises
many feet. The Sherman was seen
from the walls Of Phyong Yang,
and was the cause Of much ex-
element, but on account Of the dan
gerous condition Of the river, which
was then very high, no boat yentured
near her for some time. When the
water began to subside the Provisional
Governor sent officers to inquire her
mission. The common people took adj
vantage Of the departure of these OFF,
GERS for the Sherman to crafty their
own curiosity, and went with them, the
whole party being in large feet 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 fired seve-
raj shots in the air. The officers, ac-
companied by all the other people, at
once turned back and returned to the
city. The river fell rapidly after this, and
in few days the Sherman went aground.
Efforts to get her ahoat were unsuc-
cessful, and she careened over. This
was seen from the city walls, and again
the people became greatly excited.
Another feet Of boats came towards
the schooner, this time with hostile in
tent, 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. Boats were loaded
with combustible material and taken to
points above the schooner's anchorage.
Here they were fred 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 which had put out after
them. Among these was European
who was able to communicate with the
officials. The prisoners were brought
before the Kamsa and examined. They
told the object of the Sherman's com
ing and tried to explain why q white
flag had been waved on board Of heT
upon the approach Of the fire-boats
They asked that they be taken to Chin'
and surrendered there. All efforts tt
save themselves were useless, however
and in few days they were let out o.
prison and beheaded."
Up to 1870 the United States Gov
eminent could learn nothing Of thu
Sherman's destruction. In that yea
Rear-Admiral Rodgers was ordered t
investigate her loss. Commodor
Schley, Of Greedy relief fame, was q
the time connected with the station a
lieutenant-commander. Referring t
the expedition to-day, he said:
1.-THE Asiatic squadron went to tn
Yellow sea and to the mouth of tn
Sale river, our object being to learn,
possible, something Of the Sherman
loss. In order to ascend the river W
obtained permission from the Coreal
officials to make survey of it. Tn
squadron assembled the river for som
distance. The Palos and Monocac.
continued further. The two vessel
were fred upon from the Coreal
Notifications and returned to tn
other vessels of the squadron. Adml
raj Rodgers sent message to the 20
reans giving them ten days in whicl
they might make an explanation 70
| firing on the American vessel. No at
tention was given to the communica
ton. and at the expiration of ten day
the Admiral determined to secure Al
| explanation by force. We lande'
1000 men and attacked the forth
cations. The result was that nearl..
seven hundred Coreans were killed an
about one hundred and fifty take
prisoners. We lost twenty-five o
thirty. The explanation afterward
given for firing on our vessels was tina
the Coreans never allowed foreig
vessel to go up the river without firm
on it. Our investigation of the Sher
mans destruction was terminated be
cause of the fight with the Coreans.
Commodore Schley attributes to thi
fight the making of the Corean treat
with the United States about two year
ago. Lieutenant Foulk is one Of tn
| few engineers who speaks the Corea
language. He accompanied the Corea
embassy to this country two years az
and returned with it.