Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-25

L
A NAVAL OFFICERS INTERESTING sroRY--Bow THE
| ENGLISH TREATED THE oooLTEs-AS xxrEcTEp At
rAcK-AIp RErrsED ~ TIE fRESca-rRxfARA-
TroSs FOR pHfTSsH
DIR. d. B. Phillips, OF Madison Run va, recently
related to STAR reporter the following details OF
an Incident which happened nearly thirty years
ago, While he was serving an Officer on board q
naval vessel In the Aslatic waters:
| "The U. g steam frigate Mississippi commanded
| oy Capt WIN. c. Nicholson, entered the shanghai
River on the 2lst day OF July 1884, he said "and
dropped anchor at woosung, 20 miles below the
Chinese walled city, Shanghai and Is below the
/ Foreign settlement OF the same name Il was
about six weeks after the Chinese had defeated
.ne Engiisn with such terrible slaughter at the
| mouth OF the Peiho River, and from being civil
| ana polite. As they hao been before they gained
| tnat victory. the Ceiestiais had now become 50
| rude IN their intercourse with all baroarians. as
| they styled Americans and Europeans, that the
latter were seriously alarmed lest they should be
e area assaulted in some unguarded hour
was very much Increased by the arrival and an
chorage near the mouth OF the river OF
AN ENGLISH oooLrr VESSEL,
"nicn was crowded with Its unhappy inmates, and
who, 1t was said, were badly treated. On the night
OF the 10th OF July large number OF these poor
creatures. who Were being forced DOWN into the
shlps hold. where the air was so foul @d sitting
that they could scarcely breathe forced their way
l N~N>
| EFFORT 10 escape. They were fired upon In the
water by the English, and the larger number were
| were fortunate enough to escape The reports OF
the firearms and the agonizing cries OF the diving
ana wounded, were distinctly heard on our ship.
| ana also oy the Chinese In their huts on shore.
| Fun Information OF AL the tragic circumstances
| was promptly conveyed TO the governor and people
OF the Chinese city OF Shanghai by those who es-
capped, and their report was confirmed by the ma.
| tives on shore. IL excited intense indignation
among all classes OF their countrymen ana threats
RAJ Inn fraa
against all foreigners without distinction as 10
| nationality. Somewhere about 10 O'Clock on the
nlght OF the Dist OF July boat pulled hurrledly
alongside OF our ship, and two or three citizens
from the lower town clambered Up the SIDE and
eAcitedly informed the officer OF the watch that
! the Chinese were preparing TO
| ATTACK THEIg SETTLEMENT.
"A few minutes later another party came aboard
with the statement that they (the Chinese, were
then on the march, and there was no time TO LOSE
II We Intended to go to their relief This informa-
| ton was speedily supplemented by the arrival OF
third boat, bringing the news that the people In
| the upper portion OF the town were flying before
| the enemy from the small and less deIensible
houses TO the large and strong hongs OF the mer.
| chants, for safety.
| FRENCH ASSISTANCE ASKED.
| "It being then dead low water and our vessel
being Of too heavy draft to ascend the river under
! such circumstances, some one suggested that a
small French war steamer lying not far OF might,
II applied TO, take up detachment OF our officers
ana men, as her displacement OF water Was so
| light that she could at any time go up without
olEiculty, and without pilot. Capt Nicholson,
turning 10 Lieut. Sproston. the officer OF The deck
az that time asked II any OF the room officers
| spoke French. and being referred to the writer |
was sent for, and requested by the captain TO take
| 0oat board the Frenchman, make known the
| eXgelcy, and ask her commanding of1icer TO get
| up steam and take up detachment from our
vessel TO the relief OF Shanghai Upon stating the
OBJECT or my visit TO her captain he informed me
! that re Was under the exclusive control Of the
French ambassador, who was then absent and had
tAlx
| under no circumstances TO leave his anchorage
during his absence. But said he, If you can
positively assure me, in your capacity OF an Officer
In the United States Navy OF tue truth OF these
statements, VIII promptly and cheerfully comply
Win capt NichOlS0n'S request, be the copse-
! quences 10 myself whatever they may be: bur
| unless you can so assure me- l dare not disobey
the orders OF my superior Having repeated 10 him
an the grounds upon which Capt Nicholson based
Ills request the Frencninan shrugged his shoulders
! and remarked that has experience had taught hin
/ that civilians were easily alarmed, ana that ne
would not lee justified IA acting upon the strength
or what might at last turn out 10 DC their baseess
! fears
! BOATS TO THE RESCUE.
| "Returning at once and reporting the result OF
my mission to the captain he Immediately ordered
| the ships launch and first and second cutters to
| be lowered and got ready, and we soon started up
| the river with SIXTY armed men, brass howitzer
| and as many extra carbnes pistols and .cutIasses
arm sucn citizens as We're unpfovded W WS d 90
ien5lye weaponS-ail being under the command OF
| M. Roger y. Stemble, our first Lieutenant. The
| Hood Tide having 10y this time set IL IN, and the
| wind, though light, being favorable, We reached
| our destination almost as soon as the steam
would have carried US but, as a matter OF course
| With much smaller number OF men. As We
le1fed the town the yells and discharges or fire
arms gave every Indication OF the con.iict having
commenced. and our crews, putting forth all the
| energy they could We landed at the first wharf
We came 10, ana fastened 10 the hong OF Angus
tine heard Co., which, besides being the largest,
was the nearest OF our American mercantile
| houses. MIR. Stemble, informing me that ne would
make this house his headquarters lett me there.
and proceeded az once to station his little force az
best he could. Mir. John Heard, the head OF the
firm, with some OF the employees OF the house ana
the writer all welcome took seats in the open air
| over The spacious veStibule, through which tue
front OF the hong was entered, there To await the
| course OF events. From this elevated position we
had an excellent view OK the river and also OF the
long street beside it, by which the Chinese must OF
| necessity march ia order TO attack the town. BY
this time the uproar had so Increased la variety
| volume and intensity that the great dome OF
| heaven seemed TO yiorate and tremDle from the
| zenith 10 The horizon. Such medley OF sounds
| and commingHng OF ryrotechnlcs We had never
| heard or Witnessed before.
| THE WILD WELLS AND HoARsE SHOUTS
OF the men, the shrill shrieks and screams OF the
! women the walls OF distress proceeding from
heaven only knows what, the barking and bowling
OF dogs the thunders OF artillery, the reports OF
| small arms, torpedoes and cannon-crackers, and
the deafening roar OF the gongS ashore and afioaL
mingled with the fare OF lnany-colored lights and
the rapid and brilliant flight OF innumeraole sky
~
| and many more from the dense feet OF Iunks
| fishing smacks, and sampans on the river and
bursting like great shower or meteors In the air:
| all combined IN suggesting the idea that Pande-
Ihoutam had broken loose Il ON its internal moor
ings and worked Its way, with all its diabolical
agenciea TO the region which we then inhabited
| Long and anXlously we gazed up the river and
street watching for the foe, and expecting every
/ moment 10 see them rushing tumultuousiy upon
1 us Indeed, from time to time we IMAGINED thai
we diScerned the vast horde, Surging in dense
1 masses and numbers by land and water and could
| detect amid the din and clamor whicn filed the
air, the tramp or feet, and the re, ular strokes
from the thousands OF oars as they advanced
slowly and steadily toward the de- oted town.
Whilst thus eagerly gazing and trying TO note
the movements of the enemy, and at a time when
our nerves were strained 10 their utmost tension
| the moon, which had hitherto shone with great
brilliancy, commenced 10 pale It's light Suppos-
Ing that this was occasioned by a cloud, looked
up to see how long IT would probably be before it
| OF Madam Lunar bright lace was obscured by the
segment OF dark unprecedented disk, and that II
would probably soon I've totally echpsed. Spring.
ing my feet with a shout, greatly at variance
with our previously anxious silence, and turning
to my companions, who were regarding me win
your arms gentlemen! II Is O false alarm, and
your town Is in no danger. Look at the eciipsei
The Chinese are the anxious ones and all this ire
mendous uproar and grand display or fireworks
was got up TO scare on the great dragon, or some
other kind OF monster, which they think Is attack.
Hest and most useful OF their celestial Kindred.
Let us 20 down and undeceive Stemb aud our
friends without further delay?' .ng three
hearty cheers to the lair queen or the night we
descended and gave Stemble the news He at
once called In his men, and we went quietly TO