The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-08-02
JAPS WERE BRUTAL
Rained Fire on the Chinese
Struggling in the Water.
Sunk the KOw Shing After Being In
formed 1t Was British Vessel
Under Col. Won Hennekin.
LATE DECLARATION OF WAR
England Reserves Her Answer to
the japanese Apology.
Proper ReparatiOn" in This Case May
Be Serious Thing for the
MikadO's Government.

LONDON, Aug. 1.-The Times has re-
ceived the following account of the sink
ing of the Chinese transport Kow Shing
from Che-Foo, China: On July % the
Japanese admiral on the cruiser Matshu-
hima Kan, with two other men-of-war in
his command, sighted the Kow Shing,
which was carrying 1000 Chinese troops
for Corea. in Corean waters, forty miles
off Chemulpo. He signaled the Kow Shing
to stop where you are, or take the con-
sequences" The transport, which was fly
ing the British ensign, promptly came to
anchor The Chinese man-of-war which
was consorting her steamed away. The
Kow Shlngs captain, trusting to the pro-
lection of the British flag. refused the ad-
vice of the commander of the Chinese
cruiser to slip her anchor and run.
The japanese cruiser Naniwa Kan
steamed up near the Kow Shing and sent
a boarding party to her with instructions
TO 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 to the action to
be taken under the circumstances. Finally
he peremptorily ordered thes Kow Shing's
captain to follow with his vessel Great
excitement at once arose among the Chi
nese troops on board the transport, and
they told the English officers of the ship
that they would not surrender. They said:
"We refuse to become prisoners. We
would sooner die here. If you move the
ship except to return to China we will
kill you."
chains and allowed no one else to go near
them.
The officers of the Kow Shing signaled to
the Naniwa requesting that another boa.
be sent with an officer. When the boat
arrived, Colonel Won Hennekin explained
the situation to the Japanese boarding Off
cer He 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 British ship and sailed under Brit
ish flag. He then urged the impossibity
of executing the order of the Naniwa's
commander, and claimed that the flag
should be respected and the ship escorted
. back to the Chinese coast
The boarding party returned to the Nam
iva and a little later the Kow Shing was
signaled by the cruiser: "Quit ship as soon
as possible" The Kow Shing replied that
it was impossible to quit ship.
The Naniwa thereupon flew an answering
pennant. steamed quickly and lined up,
broadside on, at a distance of about two
x,
Immediately discharged a torpedo at her,
following this with two broadsides with all
her guns, comprising two of twenty-five
tons and four of ten tons. The excitement
aboard the Kow Shng was awful The
troops had begun fitting up a number Of
small mountain guns when the Naniwa
threw the torpedo. The missile struck a.
coal bunker and burst one of the boilers
the explosion being terrific, but not suffi-
cent to sink the vessel. The Chinese troops
fired on the Naniwa with rifles and small
guns and exhibited the greatest bravery
The Naniwa continued to fire her ten-ton-
ners, and soon had the Kow Shing in a
badly disabled condition. Many of the
Chinese soldiers jumped overheard, and on
these the Naniwa rained bullets from her
deadly machine guns.
The Kow Shing gradually began to sink,
and after fifteen discharges from the
cruisers big guns she went down in eight
fathoms of water. The troops who re-
mained 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 sunk stern
| first, flying the red ensign of the Chinese
One heavily armed boat was lowered from
| the Naniwa and from this a fire was di-
rected on the troops struggling in the wa
ter. There was no attempt to save life.
| 1t was evident that no quarter was to be
| given. All were to be massacreG
The Naniwa steamed away to report to
| the British consulate, or naval officer, that
seven Englishmen had been killed. A num-
| Der of soldiers reached a rock and were
| saved. Col. Won Hennekin had a wonderful
escape and arrived at Chemuipo in a
| Corean fishing boat on July 2S. He was
sworn to an affidavit before the British
| consul in regard TO the events above mar
| rated. He bears testimony to the splen-
did conduct of the Chinese troops who he
says, died gloriously, fighting to the last
Since receiving the above the Admiralty
| has instructed Admiral Sir Z. r. FIRE.
| mantle, in command of the China station.
| to prevent troops. arms or munitions of
/ war being conveyed under the British flag
| to either China or Japan. The admiral is
| also instructed to guard British lives and
| interests.
The Times in an editorial says that if
the Che Foo account of the sinking of the
| kow Shing be correct Japan's reparation
| must be ample, indeed. The Standards cor
respondent at Che Foo sends a similar ac-
| count to that OF the Times correspondent.
| and says: The facts may be implicitly ac-
| cepted as the truth. The Japanese made
the most strenuous attempt to destroy all
| the survivors, who were witnesses TO their
\ action"
a dispatch to the Standard from Tien-
| Tsin says that the japanese minister at
| Pekin has given notice of his Immediate
| departure from China.
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