Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-08-01
SINKING OF THE KOW SAUNG
Chinese Troops Refused to
Leave the Boat.
All Died Together Fighting 10 the
Last--Thc Japanesc Government
Makes An omcinI Statement.
An Apology to England.

London. Aug. THE Times has re-
ceived the foil - account OF the
sinking of tn 81 %. 1t Kow shung;
on July 20 s>NS admiral ON
the cruiser Mats, % .Me with two
other men-of-war ~ 'mand,
sighted the Kow shy ~ 'No. was
carrying 1900 Chinese tro. VI corea,
in Corean waters, forty mi, of Che
mupo. He slgnaled the Kow shung
to stop where you are. or take the
consequences" The transport which
was flying the British ensign complete
" came to anchor. The Chinese men-
of-war. which were conaorting her,
steamed away. The Kow Shuns's
captain, trusting TO the protection Of
the British flag. refused the advice Of
the commander of the Chinese cruiser
to slip her anchor and run. The Jap
apese cruiser Naiwa Kan steamed up
near the Kow Shung and sent a board
ing party to her. with instructions 10
make a strict survey of the ships
apartments. After this had been done
there was some hesitation on the part
Of the japanese commander as to the
action to be taken under the circum-
stances. Finally he peremptorily or
dered the Kow Shungs captnin TO fol-
low with his vessel, Great excitement
at once arose among the Chinese
troops on board the transport and they
told the English officers OF the ship
that they would not surrender. They
said: 1--WE refuse to become prisoners.
We would sooner die here. If you
move the ship except TO return TO
China we will kill you" They then
posted guard at the anchor chains
| and allowed no one else 10 20 Ia. The
! officers of the ISow Shung signolled to
| the Naniwa, requesting that another
boat be sent with an officer. When the
| boat arrived Col. Vanhannekin ex-
planned the situation to the Japanese
board officer. He told him the Kow
shung had left China in time of peace,
! that there had been no declaration or
war: that the vessel was a British ship
| and sailed un6er a British flag. He
| then urged the impossibility OF exc
| cutting the order OF the Nanlwa's COM
mander and claimed the nag should be
| respected. The ship started back to
the China coast. The boarding party
| returned to the Nanlwa, and a little
later the Kow Shung was signalled by
| the cruiser; "Quiet ship as soon as
possible" The Kow shung replied
that 1t was impossible to quiet ship
The Naniwa theroupon flew an an
swering pennant, steamed quickly ana
and lined up, broadside on, at dis
lance of about 200 metres from the
Kow Shung and Immediately dis
charged a torpedo at her, following
with two broadsides with all her guns,
comprising two of 25-tons and four lO-
tons The excitement aboard the kow
Shung was awful. The troops had
begun setting up number of small
mountain guns when the Naniwa
threw the torpedo. The missile struck
a coal bunker and bursted one of the
boilers, the explosion being terriiic, nut
not sufficient to sink the vessel. The
Chinese fired on the Naniwa with
small guns and exhibited the greatest
bravery. The Naniwa continued TO
dre her 10-tonners and soon had the
Kow shung in a badly disabled condi-
ton. Many of the Chinese soldiers
iumped overheard and those on the
Naniwa rained bullets from her
deadly machine guns. The kow Shuns
gradually began to sink. and after
,,fteen discharges from the cruiser $
hIg runs she went down In eight
fathoms OF water. The troops VINO
remained aboard kept up tnelr nre 70
the last, all their shots being aimed
nj people who were swimming away,
they being determined that all should
: ale topether The vessel sank, stern
frst living the red ensign OF the
chinese. One heavy armed boat was
lowered from the Naniwa. and from
: this FIRE was directed upon the
2 troops in the water II was evident
NO Quarter was to be given. All were
l 20 he massacred. The Naniwa steamed
away 10 report TO the British consul
: that seven Englishmen had been killed.
! A number of soldiers reached rock
s and were saved, Col. Vanhannekin
: had a miraculous escape ana arrived
-. r-,s.,,,,,ino In n Corean fishing boat
a., 1,iv % He has sworn TO an afilda-
Z vii before the British consul In regard
: 70 the events above related. He bears
h testimony to the splendid conduct 81
: The Chinese troops, who ne says uieu
r eloriously lighting TO the last