Great Falls weekly tribune., 1895-01-04
AN AMERICAN IN CH|NA'S NAVY
He Is in Command of the Largest
War Ship IN the Chinese
Fleet.
And Is Said to Be Relative of We'll
Known Citizens Gf Sand
COulee.

ship OF the Chinese navy, is taken from
the San Francisco examiner and is o.
special interest to our readers from thu
| fact that Mort McGif1in, the gentleman
referred to is said to be cousin of Nat
and Alb McGiffin of Sand Coulee, hil
father being an uncle of theirs:
| One ofs,the most picturesque figures
thus far developed in the Chinese-Japan
ese war is an American, not yet 33 years
old. This is Mort McGiftin, the com
mander of the Chen Yuen, the largest
war ship in the Chinese navy, and the
man who fired the first gun in the battle
of the Yalu, and who bids fair to rival
Chinese Gordon in bold methods and in
great achievements in the land of the
"Son of Heaven" says the New York
Sun.
McGiffin, whose full baptismal name
is Philo Norton. but who is known 10
his friends simply as Mort" was born
in Washington, Pa, in 1862 He was a
student in Washington and jefferson
college in his native town for two years,
going through the preparatory depart,
ment and then entered the naval aca-
denny at Annapolis. His people on both
sides are among the oldest Scotch. Irish
settlers in western Pennsylvania. His
father, Norton McGiftin, was cassmate
of Blaine in the Washington college,
daring soldier during the Mexican war
and colonel Of regiment in the civil
war. Colonel McGiffin has been men,
Der of the Pennsylvania legislature and
held an office, given him by Blaine, dur
ing the Harrison administration. The
mother Of Commander McG;;iin beloDgs
to the old family of Quan, wei! known in
western Pennsylvania. Her paope are
connections of the Blaine family, as well
as of the Ewlngs of the Thomas Ewing
branch Like Gordon, Norton was reared
in the strictest Pres terian faith.
AS boy Com mander McGit1in was an
omnivorous reader, making habit of
lying in front of an open fire buried in a
book, the floor around him covered with
books. At Annapolis he received the
thanks of tine secretary of the navy for
saving two children from a burning
build ing. Onone of his return trips to
Plttsburg he found himself in that city
IN the time OF the great railroad riots
and promptly offered his services. He
was stationed in one of the round
houses, which was surrounded for daye
by the mob. McGiffin volunteered to
carry message and got on & locomotive
ny himself to do it. An engineer arted
the engine for him and told him how TO
stop It,. lie went flying through the
mob safely.
Having been graduated from the naval
academy ne continued in the United
States service for two years. during
which time he made Il trip around the
world. He received the thanks of the
secretary of the navy for his courage in
storm. when the ship. being closely
reefed, boom swung loose, and the
blue jackets refused 10 go aloft. Nc
Gifiin set them an example by starting
up the rigging. was followed by cadets.
and saved the ship from imminent dan
ger.
At the outbreak of the Franco Chinese
war he resigned from the service Of the
United States and went. with letters OF
introduction to China. lie presented
his letters to Captain Mannix. who had
organized the Chinese marine corps,
Alannlx spoke of him to the Viceroy,
who said he would like to SEQ him.
McGiffin at once pres nted himself at
the entrance of the palace and was chal.
lenged by the sentry. Not being ac-
quainted with the language, and know
ing that the vlce.oy was wiling to see
hlm. he threw aside the guards and
forced his way into the presence Of Lii |
Hung Chang, who. instead, OF being
angry. admired his pluck. After ha ling
been duly examined he was put in com
mand of the gunboat. In the naval
battle of Yang-ize he captured the
only French gunboat that was lost
IN the war. He was sent later to
England to superintend the building of
four ironclads of one of which he ls now
commander. When the present war
opened he was placed in command of the
Chen Yuen. He was woundad in the |
battle of the Yalu, but is now doing we'll |
In time of peace he lives in a palace at
Shanghai, surrounded by sixteen serv-
ants. In physique McGiffin is tall and
lean, quite the reverse of the obese Chi
nese ideal of a hero. He has an extremely
fine nose that looks like the beak of a |
hero, fine eyes and firm figure, and is
straight as the proverbial arrow. His
voice is vibrant and thrilling, suitable