The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-12-26

heroic band of Cinnamon was another
Chinese line on knoll with three field
guns which checked the japanese ad-
vances and enabled the broken line to
make safe retreat.
'':At 6:45 the next morning the bat
tie was resumed, the japanese steadily
driving the enemy back. The forts
fell one after another, and Issuyama
was taken at sos. From Shoju there
shot out strange sprays of fire. The
arsenal in Port Arthur had caught fire
and was ripping, roaring and rafting,
vomiting flames and smoke like vol
cano as an acre of massed shells and
cartridges exploded.
In order to take the town troops
had to cross the bridge or wade in the
river, but on the other side Of it was a
road leading between two small hills
and on either side Of the road wero
rife pits filed with Chinese infantry.
On tie hill in the right Of this road
was battery OF three field guns
manned by the only good gunncrs on
the Chinese side. Every time the
japanese attempted tomove out Of the
cover Of the camp the Chinese rife
men swept the parade grounds with
continuous volleys.;
Stretched in a line parallel wit:l
the coast in front of the harbor were
eight or nine japanese warships and
the peninsula forts were sheliing them
clumslly and without effect Torpedo
boats were going through the waves
and sinking junks loaded with women
and children endeavoring 10 escape.
The water was filed with drowning
inhabitants. The massacre had begun.
At last part of the troops moved
from behind the walls OF the camps
and under shelter of the Eastern drill
ground. they opened fire upon the
Chinese force guarding the entrance
to Port Arthur \ battalion moved
out Of the drill grounds and knelt in a
semi-circle, sending volley upon volley
across the stream against the rife pits.
Another detachment crawled along
through the sheltered road to wall
on the Southern side Of the drill
grounds. For fifteen minutes three
skirnlish lines kept up a fire and the
plucky Chinese We're driven from their
position. Finally, small column,
covered by the skirmishers, advanced
across the bridge and marched along
the road leading to the town. At the
same time Marshal Oyama ordered the
reserve centre to move down the val
ley, then bands Of them came pouring
along the roads behind the troops el-
ready on their way to the town.
Not a shot was fired in reply. The
battle was over as far Port Arthur
was concerned. Even Ogunsan was
silent and deserted. The soldiers had
made their escape and the frightened
inhabitants were cowing in the streets.
AS the troops moved on they saw the
heads Of their slain comrades hanging
by cords, with the noses and ears gone.
There was a rude arch in the main
street decorated with bloody japanese
heads. A greatslaughterf followed. The
infuriated soldiers killed every one they
saw. No attempt to take prisoners was
made. Women and children were
hunted and ShOt as they ned 10 Tue
hills with their protectors. The town
was sacked from end to end and the
inhabitants We're butchered in their
own homes.
''The van of the second regiment
reached Fort Ogunsan and. found it de
serted. Then they discovered junk
in the harbor crowded with fugitives.
A platoon was stretched across the
end OF wharf firing into the boat un-
til every man and women and child
was killed. The torpedo boats outside
had already sunk numerous junks
filed with terror stricken people.
Il am satisfied that not more than
one hundred Cinnamon were killed in
fair battle at Port Arthur and that at
least 1000 unarmed men were put to
death.