Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-08-02
THEY Died HARD.
Splendid Conduct of the
Chinese Troops
ON Inflated K0W SHING.
Massacred by Wholesale by the japan
ese Cruisers.

LONDON. Aug R-The Times has re
csivsd the following account Of the sink
Ing OF the Chinese transport, Kow Shing,
from Che Foo. Chinsi
On July % the japanese admiral, on
the oraiser Matsushlma Kan, with two
| other men. of-w "a his com m and,
sighted the Kow Shing. which was carry
| ing 1000 Chinese troops for Oorea, In
| Corsan waters, 40 miles OF Chenulpo.
He signalled the Kow Shing TO stop
where you are or take the consequences. "
The transport. which was fying the
British ensign, promptly came 10 anchor.
The Chinese man-of-war which was con-
sorting her steamed away. The How
ShiDg's captain, trusting TO the proteo-
tion of the British flag. refused the ad-
vice Of the commander Of the Chinese
cruiser 10 slip her anchor and run. The
japanese cruiser NaniwA Kan steamed
up near tho Kow Shina and sent a board
ing party 10 her. with instructions b
make a strict scrutiny Of the ships
papers After this had been done. there
was some hesitation on the part OF the
japanese commander as 10 the action TO
be taken under the circumstances.
Finally he peremptorily ordered the
Kow ShinR's commander 10 follow 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 wonld not
surrender. They said: I'VE refuse to be-
come prisoners; we would sooner die here.
II you move the ship. except to retarn 70
China, we will kill you" They then
posted . guard at the anchor chains and
allowed no one else TO go near them.
Japanese Were Warned.
The off GERS of the Kow Shing signalled
to the Naniwa, requesting that another
boat be sent with an officer. When the boat
arrived, Colonel Won Hannskin explained
the situation to tse Japanese boarding
officer. Hs told him that the Kow Shing
had left China in time Of peace; that
there had been no declaration OF war, that
the vessel was a British ship aud sailed
under British flag.
He then urged the impossibility " ex-
ecuting the order Of the Naniwa's com.
mittee, and explained that the flag should
be resps oted and the ship escorted back to
the ChiIess coast The boarding party
returned TO the Nanlwa and little later
the Kow ShinB was signalled by the
cruiser, "Quit ship az soon as possible"
The Kow Shing replied that It was i'm
possible TO quit ship.
The Naniwa LhereUpon few an answer
Ing pennant, steamed quickly aud liued
up, broadside on, at a distance Of about
200 metres from the Kow Shing and inn
mediately discharS d all her guus, COM
prising two OF 70 tons aud four Of 10 tons
The excitement aboard the Kow Shing
was awful The troops had begun fitting
up number Of small mountain guns,
when the Nsniwa threw the torpedo. The
missile struck a coal bunker and burst
one OF the boilers, the explosion being
terrific, but not sufficient to sink the YES
sell The Chinese troops fired on the Nan.
iva with rifles aud small guns, and ex-
hibited the greatest bravery.
ToEribis siaugbter.
The Naniwa continued 70 fire her 10
tonners, aud soon had the kow Shing In
n badly disabled condition. Many of the
Chinese sold!ers Jumped overheard, and
on these the Naniwa rainsd bullets from
her deadly machine guns The Kow
Shing gradually began to sink, aud after
10 discharges from the cruisers big guns
she went down In eight fsthoms Of water.
The troops who remained aboard kept
up their fire TO the very last. some of their
shots being aimed at their own people
who were swimming away, they being
determined that all should die together.
The vessel then sank stern first, flying the
red ensign Of the Chinese. Ons heavily
armed boat was lowered from the Nan.
iva. and from this a hre was directed
upon the troops struggling in the water.
There was no attempt to save life. II
was evident that no quarter was to be
given All were to be massacrsd. The
Naniwa steamed away to report to the
British consulate OF naval officer that
seven Englishmsn had been killed. A
number of soldiers reached a rock. and
were saved.
Colonel Won Hannekin had q miracu-
lous escape. and arrived at Chemulpo 10
Corean fishing boat on July IS He has
sworn TO an affidavit before the British
consul In regard TO the events above
narrated. He bears testimony to the
splendid conduct Of the Chinese troops,
who. he says, died gloriously. fighting TO
the last.