Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1892-04-26

The date is Saturday, Aug IS, 1854, the
place. near the mouth OF the river MN; the
cause Of the struggle, the clashing desires
OF France and China to rule in AMMAN and
Tonqun. Early on the morning OF the
day mentioned the French commander,
Admiral Coufbet, informed the consuis,
foreign residents and the commanders OF
the different men-of-war belonging to
friendly nations that at 80 p. IN. he would
open fire on the Chinese feet and all gov
ernment property within reach of his guns
This was done to give nentrals time to dis
embark their men and protect their prop
erty and that Of their countrymen.
During the forenoon tho French pre-
pared for action. The fleet consisted OF
the cruisers Dnguay- Trouin, Viilars, d ils-
taing, the war sloop Volta and the gun
boats Lynx, Aspic and Vipere, Their top
mi,sts we're housed. revolving cannon
| glittered from the tops, and the men re-
| lieved each other ut the guns by watches,
| The Chinese fleet comprised the armored
| cruiser Yang Woo, the war sloops Foo Poo,
| Chi Ain, Fei- Yen, Chaing Wei, Fuh-Sing,
| Yu Sing, the troopers Yang Paon and
| Chun- Hing aud the guuboats Chin Shing
| and Fuh Shing, und sixteen war jnnks NO
| sound was audible In the harbor until two
bells were heard striking on board OF all
the vessels at anchor. Then large man
of-war steamed slowly up the river toward
Foo-Chow. The tricoior iiew from her
main gaff, and in golden letters at the bow
was the name Triomphante. The arrival
of this redoubtable ironclad had been
anxionsiy awaited by the French, and
hardly had signals been exchanged be
tween her and the flagship when the death
4 kneil was heard Ginning from the gunboat
Lynx, followed by fash, puff of smoke
aud the oniinous report of a HotehkisS
gun The battle had beguni
In another moment terrific thunders is
sued froin about thirty ships and many
shore batteries, making The mir culver ant
smite ones face aud the hills to tremhle
; Dense clouds Of smoke settled upon til,
water and travelled slowly seward in al
! manner of fantastic shapes before the ligh
breeze Along the starboard side of TIN
mighty Duguay Trouin could be noticed
, puny craft Suddenly nine men jumpe,
. on her iron deck, and off she darted head
, ing straight for the most powerful of tn
Chinese fleet, the Yang Woo. She wa
soon discovered, and u tempest of shell am
4. shot hailed upon her deck Nevertheless
| the little craft held on her way, turnin
' neither to The right nor to the left, aud AZ
i pareutly regardless of fire that we
. might make II ship ten times her size hes
tate. Her crew did notbutnunber that {
. an ordinary fishing smack, but they WEI
there for duty, and the thundercus Shell c
; shot could not make them swerve. TIL
!, tiny vessel, though literally pelted wit
II iron hail, held her way up to within q
o yards OF the enemy. Then rang out i
y tones so firm and clear that they might /
heard from side To side Of the river IL
II words Lance" and "Renverse."
Il The first WAS the order to launch I'll
= torpedo (for the mysterious little craft W,
n "A torpedo boatl, and the latter order meal
"a to get back out of the jaws Of DEATH
, the moment the first order WAS given
q small, obloug shaped body WIS proieett
2 noiselessly straight for the big ship, lea
!, ing as it went only faint track in Il
:. water; but it moved with the accuracy
an arrow. The Celestials saw that Il
hated European invader had sent II dead
messenger They were filled with terro
and instead OF standing by their guns ri
ii hither aud thither iabbering and iuvokit
-, their gods The officers gave words
i command recalling them to their post
+, but in vain md too late The thing W
:. already alongside.
- There WAS slight tremor through q
- frame Of the ship, then in the twinkliug
i, an eye it seemed To the frightened sailo
~ Ms if the end VI the world had come. 7
VI torpedo had struck ahaft mitlships. Tn
IT came IA deafening defamation aud tongues
Q flame leaped far above the clouds OF smoB
10 This was the first fair test Of the disastro
N efficacy of the modern torpedo What W
a IA few moments before stately ship, t
n pride OF the Chinese empire. was reduc