Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-10
A KOREAN INCIDENT.
How Few American Sailors Taught q
Salutary Lesson.
From the New York Times.)

SdiNAoiJ GOSoo's
From the New York Times)
Korea, once the hermit kingdom, is
apparently about to pay the penalty of
her position, a defenseless peninsula
separating mighty and progressive ma
tions. For many years the only tales
of her people and customs which
reached the ear of civilization came
from shipwrecked sailors, few of
whom were fortunate enough TO escape
from her remote shores and powerful
inhabitants.
In 1870 an American schooner, the
General Sherman, was wrecked upon
her coast, and rumors of crueltieS per-
petrated on members of her crew hav-
ing reached the United States, an eXpe-
dition was fitted out having for its pur
pose thorough investigation of the
truth of these accusations and the ne
gotiation of a treaty which should for
the future ensure the protection OF
American seamen on those remote
shores. At that time Korea being trib-
utary to China, it was necessary to OBJ
tain the concurrence Of the latter coun-
try, and our minister. Mr. Low, under
took this mission with the full knowl-
edge and promised cooperation of the
Chinese authorities.
A fleet commanded by Rear Admiral
Rodgers and composed of five ships, OF
which the Colorado was the largest
sailed in May 1871, from Nagasah for
Borsee on the Sail river Visits were ex-
changed between the envoys and local
authorities upon the former having
given satisfactory assurances of the
peaceful nature of the expedition, ana
an amicable understanding having ap-
parently been reached, a surveying
party was dispatched up the river to
make soundings in the interest Of
science and commerce.
The forts which protected the mouth
of the river had long been passed, and
the work was progressing favorably
when the boats, entangled amid hidden
rocks and dangerous shoals, were at
tackled by ambushed enemies, and only
through skillful seamanship and alert
courage did the party. encumbered by
their scientific apparatus and unpre-
pared for a treacherous attack, succeed
in extracting itself from this perllous
position Alarmed by the firing and far
from confident of the good faith Of the
Koreans, the smaller ships of the squad
RON, assisted by French vessel then in
port, sailed past the forts, whose fire
they returned with such good effect that
the surveying party was enabled TO
make good it's escape with the loss OF
but two men.
An explanation of and apology for this
outrage was demanded. AS it met with
no reply the admiral was convinced that
nothing short of successful attack
would prove to the Koreans our power
and determination.
Accordingly, on the tenth day party
of sailors and marines was landed, Whlch,
after a circuitous march through an un-
known and difficult country, attacked
the forts in the rear, while the ships
bombarded them in front, and after a
desperate defense, in which the Koreans
lost their commander and nearly 300 OF
their men, the citadel and forts sur
rendered
The Americans bivouaeked inside the
walls and on the following day de-
stroyed the forts, spiked the guns, and
with their prisoners returned on board
ship.
This attack made by men presumably
unaccustomed to fighting on land, was
characterized by great courage and
steadfastness.
Their loss was small az but three
were killed and ten wounded, but among
the former was Lieut.. Mckee, who met
his death while scaling the walls or the
citadel at the head Of his men, as his
father had done before MIN, in a charge
at Buena Vista.
The diSpFOpOrtlon IN losses can III
great measure be accounted for by the
nature of the weapons used, the Kore-
ans being armed with old f1intlocks and
swords made of some soft metal.
Had their offensive weapons been as
effective as their defensive armor, the
result might have been less easily at
tained, for the latter, composed of nine
thicknesses of cotton, was impenetrable
except to rifle bullets. The assault re-
suited in the destruction of five forts,
the capture of fifty flags, and 4S1 pieces
of artillery, the total decentralization of
the Koreans, and the attainment by the
Americans of prestige never before en-
joyed in those remote waters.
Insulting letters were Ssent to the ad-
miral in reply to queries from him as to
what he should do with his prisoners,
but deening it unwise to engage in fur
ther hostilities while the Koreans were
still smarting under the salutary chas-
tisement administered, the feet set sail
on July for Shefoo, there to complete
by negotiation what it had made possi-
BILE by force of arms.
The Chinese authorities, impressed by
the vigorous action of Admiral Rodgers,
readily agreed to arrange the prelimin-
aries of a treaty with the Koreans,
whose infantile plot to surprise and an
initiate the American fleet had so sig
nally failed.
M. D. c.
AETLJT uNrvrc&es AN TT5Nr W Ctrncc,