Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-08-11
AN AMERICAN NAVAL HERO.
PhilO McGriffin Unique Commander Of
Modern Warship in Battle.

The Chinese battleship Chen Yuen,
in the fight at Yalu with the Japa-
nese, September II, 1894, was COM
manhed by an American, Captain
Phllo Norton McGiffin. 1t was the
only one of the Chinese squadron that
came out of the fight with credit,
and competent authority" is quoted
to the effect that his daring, as
shown in that 1attle, has probably
never been surpassed in the history
of the world" Captain Mctiitfin was
born in Washington county, Pa, in
1860, where, not long ago, he was laid
to rest. At the age of seventeen (says
the Literary Digest) he entered the
Naval Academy at Annapolis. While
there he saved two children from a
burning house, and received for this
deed the thanks of the secretary OF
the navy. He was graduated in 1882,
and after a two years cruise passed
the final examination; but under an
act of congress for the reduction Of
the naval force, he was honorary
discharged with years pay. 1t was
a heavy blow to hun, and at the be-
ginning of the Nranco-Chinese war he
set out for China with letters of in
PRODUCTION. Captain Mannix, who had
organized the Chinese marine corps,
spoke about him to \iceroy Ii Hung
Chang, who expressed a desire to see
him. McGitfin presented himself at
the palace, and, being challenged by
the sentries and not knowing their
language, he flung them aside and
forced his way to the viceroy. He
was put in command of a gunboat,
and captured the only. glmboat lost
Dy rne 'rremcn IN tnat War. At the
conclusion of hostilities he entered
the naval college at lien Tsin as a
teacher, and in 1887 was placed at the
head of a naval academy at Wei-Hai-
Wei, When war was threatened be-
tween China and Japan he bad OBJ
tanned leave of absence, and was
about to return to America; but he
returned his papers and was made
captain of the Chen-Yuen.
An account in the Home Magazine,
written by Calvin DIN Wilson, says:
Before he went into the battle OF
the Yalu, he wrote to his brother:
You know it is four killed to one
wounded, since the new ammunition
came in, 1t is better so. | don't
want to be wounded; and hate to
think of being dreadfully mangled,
and then patched up, with half my
limbs and sense gone, yet "a triumph
of surgical skill" mol l prefer to
step down or up, and out Of this
world.
1.-THE great battle Of the Yam river
took place on September II, 1884.
J When this fight had scarcely opened,
McGiffin saw the navigating lieuten-
ant disappear from his position, look
ing very pale. Soon after, something
went wrong with the training engine
OF one of the turrets, and the captain
was Obliged to go down to the ar
mored place below to set 1t to rights
AIS he was getting down, some one
caught him ~ the leg, calling out:
There's no room for any more here,
You must hide somewhere else.' lie
looked down, and saw the navigating
lieutenant and a dozen more terrified
men, in hiding McGiffin was so an
cry that he used physical force upon
the cowardhy lieutenant to get him
out of his way; after that they let
him fix the engine.
During the fight three of the enc
mys ships, one on the port side, one
ON the starboard, and one right
ahead, were concentrating their fire
ON the Chen-Yuen. As the one on the
port side was doing the most mischief
the men at the two starboard guns
were ordered to turn the guns around
and try to silence the ship that was
doing so much damage on the other
side. To do this they had TO fire
across the forecastle."
At this juncture fire was discov-
cred over the foreohstle, and McGif.
fin ordered line OF hose to be run
ant hut nc fha mon refiead IN On un.