The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1898-11-25
HEROES OF OUR NAVY
STORIES OF THEIR NERvY DEEDS IN
AsIATIc WATERS.

The First Clash between American
Citizens ana the Chinese-How Com
mander Glynn Brought the Japa-
nese Oncia1s to Terms.
The first passage at arms between |
American citizens and Chinese was in |
1909, when Mr.. J. P. Sturgis of Boston |
arrived in the ship Atahualpa, Captain |
Bacon, at Macao. The terrible Chinese |
pirate Apootsae was then ravaging the |
coast, capturing imperial forts, laying
whole towns under contribution, mas
sacring those who opposed him and ter
rorizing the mandarins. In vain were
rewards offered for his head. Having
watched and seen the chief officer and
an armed boats crew leaving the Alta
hualpa for the city to obtain a river
pilot, he thought the capture of the
foreign DEVILS ship would be easy.
Ranging his junks under color Of NOV
ing up the river and feigning to run
past the American ship, the pirates
suddenly rounded, expecting to leap on
board and kill the 18 or 20 men left
there. Instead of quick success the
Cbinaman caught Tartar.
Astounded as the Yankees were, their
cannon were fortunately loaded, and
they made lively use Of them, and with
Brown Bess muskets, horse pistols and
boarding pixies defended themselves
with spirit. The Chinese threw on deck
plenty of those homemade hand grenades
which, owing to the quantity Of sulphur
in the powder, were unpoetically term
ed "stinkpots, but they killed none OF
their foes. Amid the shrieks and groans
of their wounded a hellish din with
gongs and drums was kept up. The Yam
KEGS fred with such effect that the Chi
neee were beaten off. Apootsae called
away his men, and his ships were soon
lost to sight. This episode put such
courage into the cowardly mandarins
that, by means of bribery and treachery,
they secured the cutthroat Apootsae and
had him put to death by the slow and
prolonged process Of hacking, called
"the thousand cuts" From this time
] forth there was intense respect for
Americans at Canton and Macao, and
, business increased with little interrup.
, tion.
The following is an interesting and
l
CURED in Japanese waters:
: Captain Geisinger, formerly OF the
P Peacock, hearing from the Dutch consu
: at Canton of 18 sailors imprisoned Al
? Nagasaki ordered commander Glynn il
). the United States brig Preble to rescue
!, them. At this time the seas were SO lit
: tie known, the charts go imperfect ant
the season so inclement that naval mel
i at Hongkong laughed at the idea Of tn
y little IA gun brig ever arriving at he
0 destination. At Napa, in the Loo -Cho
It islands, the natives openly scorned tn
n notion of Glynn being able to do any
4 thing, when, in the Japanese victor.
:, over the Americana to tn
episode in Yesso bay-a ship of the lin
" and sloop of war had been "drive
- away"
J. All this put Glynn on his mettle
q Reaching Nagasaki, he dashed throug
70 the Gordon of boats and dropped ancho
e within range of the city suburbs. Th
q boom of the cannon announcing his al
!. rival was sweet music to the America
sailors in prison. Boarded by chic
interpreter with attendants, who il
quired his business, Glynn was ordere
to leave the waters of Japan at onc'
ar The Americans immediate reply we
y, that his mission was to the government
Then rather ostentatiously he gave tt
10 order to heave anchor, spread sail an
move forward. Visions of involuntaI
bara kiri at once excited the Japane!
to voluble protests. Nevertheless Glyn
N moved into the inner harbor and al
"a chored within 200 yards Of the ba
teries on either side of the anchorag
j. He refused to see anybody but the go
ernor, sending word that he would n
leave until he had obtained the Amer
81 can seamen on deck. He demanded the
~ immediate release. Furthermore,
ID made it plain that if the Gordon of boa
at was not quickly broken up he wou
blow them out Of the water.
ce During the nine days the Preble r
=, mained a great army of soldiers gat
T cred. Extra guns to the number of
were mounted, any one Of which, righ
90 " trained, might have sunk the Prebl
ct Yet, in spite of the glittering arms, t.
bright and variegated colors OF t.
feudal banners and the military al
naval flags, the American commando
while granting little longer time, 1
fused to modify his request. Half b
10 crew were on deck all the time, and
cry precaution against surprise al
preparation for attack was made. Glyl
was seconded by Lieutenant Silas Bel
A new governor came into office. V
) iting Glynn in the cabin, he asked
three days more time Making an O.
10 to suavity of manner, Glynn dashed
ter fist upon the table and exclaimed, "N
va another hourp' Nor should the govern
an nor any of the party leave the ship t
-. he got an answer. Instantly the excit
=. Japanese stood up, the interpreter te
ao ing Commander Glynn that this wal
cn high officer and must not be SO spok
1as to. $50 am l" retorted Glynn. II RI
rec resent the government Of the Unit
ers States.'' A parley was then asked
nv by the japanese. With watch in har
,,v Glynn waited during the promised
minutes. When the japanese return
to the cabin, the governor remarked
'~y Glynn that he could have the men
no the following day.
or Then "grim visaged war smooth
our his wrinkled front - With the frank
ny cordiality Glynn ordered refreshmen
ph extended every courtesy aud showed
.ck officers the drill, discipline, manual
arms and general quarters. The NJ
day the imprisoned Americans W
es- brought on board, with every parti
ast of property that belonged to them
our their owners. Within SO days fir
ere leaving, Glynn had returned to Hol
lis kong.-"Our Navy In Asiatic Waters
nm. by William Elliot Grifis in Harpe