The herald., 1894-10-07

who had died at their guns were floating
about in the blood. Several heads,
hands, arms, feet and legs were strewn
about and piled up in heaps, and from
splintered bulkheads of iron and steel
hung fragments OF human bodies still
dripping blood.
Mixed in with these hidecus evidences
OF conflict lay dozens of poor wretcheg
mortally wounded; insensible come OF
them to the frightful surroundings. they
awaited the end. Others, less seriously
hurt, bore their pain with that inditfer-
ence so characteristic of the Chinese
and looked upon their condition as a
matter of no particular concern.
THE MORTALITY WOUNDED POISONED.
As rapidly as possible the ships doc
tor. young Irishman named Kirk,
made the rounds of the injured. Those
who stood a good chance of recovery
were sent below to the sick bay, or ships
hospital, but the mortally wounded
were given their quietus in q manner
peculiarly Chinese.
Acting under orders from the captain,
the doctor carriad an atomizer filed
with prussic acid. Approaching help.
lessly msngled sailer the doctor made
hasty examination. If it was case
which was likely to result fatally the
doctor lowered his atomizer. On ses-
ing the instrument the sufferer thinking
he was about to obtain relief, would
stretch his hand forth in eager desire
for medicine. Placing the nozzle OF the
atomizer to the lips and nostrils OF the
victim, the doctor gave the bulb a
squeeze and all was over. The deadly
acid did its work in an instant and 30
effectively that the sailor never knew
what killed him. More than q dozen
cases were given the acid treatment and
the bodies heaved overheard with the
more fortunate ones killed in action.
Where no chance OF saving life existed
the surgeon had no hesitancy in using
the stomizer.
''It seemed a brutal thing to do"
said the engineer, 'but it was all for the
best. accompanied the doctor on his
rounds, and helped to dispose of the
bodies. The most heart.rending feature
of the poiaoning business was the eager
ness with which the sufferers reached
for the medicine. Many a poor fellow,
torn almost in two, but perfectly con-
scious, would be awaiting the doctor.
With the little, feeble strengh be pos.
Hessed, he would raise himself and
reach forth his hand to his slayer. OF
course the doctor did his work as
humsnely as possible, but it did seem
like murder. He always spoke kindly
before spraying the lips of the doomed
man, who died without even look OF
reproach to haunt the doctor.
FRIGHTFuL DEATH LIST.
''The list of the dead, wounded and
missing contained the names OF 122 men.
Some of the missing were never found or
located from the mass of fragments on
the deck. Some of them were doubtless
carried overheard by the force OF the
exploding shells. while others were so
completely destroyed as to leave no SEM
blance to the human form. Where the
shells pierced the armor OF the main
deck they exploded, tearing great holes
in the deck and tearing and twisting the |
beams as though they were paper.
Holes IA feet square were blown in the
armor plate, which was supposed to pro-
tect the gunners stationed behind it. |
On the main deck. where the dead end |
wounded we're found, the batteries had |
been thrown inboard by the conclusions,
and helped to do their share in manning
and mangling the crews who manned
ehOAhs GNOt thAAB thC OOCh COAbhlucQ
was hopelessly wrecked and spattered
with blood. Gaping holes yawned in
the decks above and below, and couple
of heavy shells had plowed their way
into the lower of the three decks. How
the engines escaped in all that ruin is
one of the mysteries of war;"
BOTH SHIPS OUT OF SERVICE.
At O'Clock on the day following the
battle the Yang Wei reached Wei Hal
Wei, where the wounded were trans
ferred to hospitals fitted up in the drill |
sheds at the arsenal. All the ships |
boats had been smashed, but the pa.
tients were taken off in boats from the |
shore.
There is no truth in the stories that
the Matsushima has been in fresh en-
gagements since her fight with the Yang |
Wei. On August 18th the engineer, |
while on his way to America, saw the |
Japanese ship at Yokohama. She was
being towed from Nsgasski to the yards
at Toxic, and was in the same condition
as when she drew out OF the battle. Ac-
cording to this statement, she could not
have been repaired in time to take part
in the later engagements.