The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-26
AN AMERICAN HERO.
He Commanded a Chinese Ship in
Naval Engagement.

The Kansas City Journal spoke the 9TH
er day OF modern naval weapons as being
almost entirely untried. citing the single
exceptio OF the imperfect test furnished
by the late war between China and Jap
an. In that war the Chinese batueship
Chen-Yuen was commanded by Captain
Phllo McGifin, the only man OF American
or European blood who ever commanded
a modern warship In battle captain
McGifin was an American, having been
born at Washington in 1860, and he was
but thirty-four years old when the pat
tie occurred.
The Home Magazine recently contain
ed a long article on Captain McGithn IN
which competent authority Is quoted
10 show that his daring has never been
surpassed in the history OF the world.
he was a graduate of the Annapolis Na-
val Academy going 20 China In search %
adventure when he found that ms own
country had no place TO oner MN. a,
the breaking out Of hostiiues ne "'S
nlaced i'm command OF the Chen-Nuen ana
fought the ship in the decisive pa''le o.
the Valu River. this being the only
chinese shin that came out Of the Tray
With credit. According 90 his biographer
he wrote as follows 20 his brother Just
before the battle: You know II IS iour
FILLED 10 one wounded since the new am.
munition came i'm. II IS better So 4
don't want TO be wounded. and hate 70
think OF being drcadfully mangled' ana
then patched up with halt my nihp9 an,
sense gone. yet "A triumph OF SUI W. ~.
Skill No I prefer 10 step uoWh' OF uP'
and out of the world
shortly after the fight commenced
something went wrong with the engines
and McCimn went below 10 set IL rlsn'.
Az no was getting down some one caushO
him by the legs. calling out lnere u ITO
room for YOU here. you must hlue soiut-
,yhcro else" lie looked down and saw
the navigating lieutenant and dozen
more of the Chese officers. IN among
whom he jumped and administered some
lusty blows. Left thus without assist
ance he fought the battle alone, some
times steering the ship sometimes train
ing the guns. ar all times cheering the
crew and urging them 10 their duty. We
oucte. Gle received forty wounds, many
Of them caused by splinters Of wood: he
with his own hands extracted a large
spiinter from his hip, and holding ms
eve-lids open with his finger this Eeroic
man navlgated his ship which had been
struck four hundred times safely 10 US
dock. slSilfully evading capture me
Chen-Yuen being the only ono or tne
Chinese vessels that came out or that
lehI Win ilfhAts
Continuing. Captain McGifiin bio
grapher SAYS: "The japanese offered So
GOO for his capture but did not have the
satisfaction OF taking him. But what
he dreaded had happened; his nerves
limbs and senses were shattered Atter
the battle Of the Yalu, ne went into "A
hospital I'm China for a time, but hnding
himself with little promise OF complete
recovery he came 10 America. Onior-
tunately he was indisposed TO submit 10
treatment: he insisted on dressing his
own wounds His body had the ap-
poaranca of q checkCrboard. with IT'S
many bruises: there were still in him pull
let's and splinters; he was compelled 20
walk with two canes. His pain was so
great that he spent hours hobbing PACK
and forth across the floor, saving mat ne
was more comfortable thus than IN si'-
ting or reclining posture
Within a year this heroic young AmeIl-
can died. VIXEN death was almost AZ
his bedside he said of himself I'm iesting
wav. 81 am still I'm the Chinese navy; put
7 am not I'm good standing You know
If &c customary there for a naval OF
Gcer when he loses a battle to commit
suicide. and they wanted me to follow
the custom. hut declined with thanks.