The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-05
from tho battlefield and getting under

was dlSorganlZed ana tne gunneTY Wad
wild. A torpedo was launched ab the
transport, but it exploded before
reaching her,, Another torpedo was
sent from ship not fifty yards away
A thrill of terror ran through the
Saikio's crew as the huge projectile
plunged into the sea, headed straight
for the vessel. But the distance was
not great enough for the style Of att
tack and before the torpedo could rise
to the surface it had passed under the.
Saikio's hull, and her astonished of
fcers and men saw it come up on the
other side and dart away toward the
horizon. - ~
"a sudden burst Of speed carried
the transport to the shelter of the
main squadron. As the Chinese
lines were doubled up, the van squad
ron, under Rear Admiral Tsu boi, att
tackled the bewildered commanders,
who seemed to have lost all thought OF
fleet formation and were fighting at
random. The main Chinese force had
gradually drawn away from the pro-
lection of the ironclads, and each ship
was acting on it's own account.
cat about $50 o'clock in the after
noon the Chlhyuen began to sink, bow
first. As she went down the Japanese
guns pierced her again and again. Her
crew jumped into the sea and her stern
rose in the air, the propeller wheel
going at full speed. For q few minutes
she was completely hidden by clouds
of smoke and steam. Just before she
disappeared her propeller reached the
water again, and she whirled around
in the sea with mighty swirls, drown
ing men engulfed at every quivering
sweep of the sinking ship. Then With
final sbudder and lurch she plunged
under the surface and was seen no.
more.
1.-TWO Chinese ships tried to with
draw from the action, but were pur.
sued by the van squadron. The
Laiyuen or the King Yuen suddenly
keeled over on her port side and went
down sideways. She was sunk by
stern shot, although it is almost Ger.
tain that she was. seriously injured be-
fore she attempted to break away. The
wind lulled and the ocean was wrapped
in smoke, through which shone the
dull glare of q confagration. The
Tshaoyong was in flames, and the
Japanese batteries were concentrating
their fire upon her. Down went the
cruiser with her shrieking crew and q
great cloud hid the spot where she
disappeared in the distance, leaving q
trail of dying men in the waves.
"By this time the two Japanese
squadrons were about five miles apart.
with the Chinese main force between
them. The squadrons were in perfect
line, the main squadron advancing on
the two ironclads and the van squad
ron chasing two or three fugitives
headed toward Port Arthur. It was
now few minutes past 8 o'clock. Ad-
miral Ito feared that the two squad
rons might be separated IN the dark
ness, and, not daring to risk fight at
night with the ironclads and the CHI
nese torpedo boats, he signalled the
van to join him and withdrew to west
ward of the Chinese.
cat the same time the Chinese feet
reformed and shaped it's course south
east. The Japanese squadrons took
parallel course, but kept at 9 sufi-
cient distance to avoid an attack by
torpedoes. The van squadron followed
Admiral Ito and reported that the
Chinese cruiser Yangwai was on fire
and had started for Talu Island, prob
ably to beach herself.
''Ito was satisfied that the Chinese
fleet intended to take refuge behind
the forts of Weihaiwei He felt con-.
fident that with the superior speed
and discipline of his squadrons he
could afford to renew the battle at
daybreak, and he proceed at ullspeed
to the neighborhood of Weihaiwei.
But in the morning there was no sign
of the enemy to be seen. The Chinese
had fed to Port Arthur. Ito steamed
straightway to Talu Island. As he ap-
preached he saw smoke in the dis
tsnce, but it vanished on the horizon
without trace of its origin being dis
covered. The Japanese believe that
fast torpedo boat was in the vicin-
ity.
"The van squadron discovered the
Yangwai aground and abandoned on
the south shore of Talu Island. She
was promptly blown up with gun cot
ton. The Japanese fleet then returned
to the new naval rendezvous at the
mouth of the Tatong River ana the
Akagi, Matsushima, HiYei and Salko
Maru was sent to Japan for repairs,
Admiral lto's flag being transferred to
the Hashidate. While the feet was
lying in the Tatong inlet, the Naniwa
and Akitsushima were sent across the
Yellow Sea by Admiral Ito, in conse-
quence of report that one OF the
Chinese warships had got aground
while retreating from the battle. On
September % they discovered the
Kuaneki ashore off Talienwhan Bay,
near Port Arthur. When the Japanese
men.of-war drew near the stranded
ship they saw her blown to pieces by
her officers.
''This was the fifth war ship lost by
the Chinese since the opening OF the
battle. Not a single Japanese ship
was lost. Twelve Japanese officers
and ninety-eight men were killed,
while thirteen officers and ITO men
were wounded. The Chinese loss !
am unable to give, but it must be
| nearly two thousand. Probably the
| exact figures will never be made pub
Io Enow from the accounts of