The San Francisco call., 1899-04-23

heralded to the world by tele-
graph occurred at Samoa on
April l, and sent thrill of ap-
proval through the hearts of the
people Of both great nations.
OF course things were not always SO.
There was a time not so long ago when
the sight Of one on shore leave was a
signal for the other to fly at his throat.
This state Of affairs went on from the
time OF the founding Of our republic until
1853, when all bitterness was ''sponged
out"
This happy state Of affairs came about
at the mouth Of the Peiho River, China,
on the day that Captain Tatnal uttered
the immortal words, Blood is thicker
than water"
The affair that occurred on this day Is
without doubt the first instance where
British and American forces have off,
cially acted together in arms against a
common foe, or for the achievement of a
mutually desired end. 1t is not. however.
the first time that the innate feeling of
brotherhood between the men OF the two
great English-speaIdng nations has
spoken forth in noble actions, gratefully
recognized and applauded on both sides
Of the water.
Though as British subjects the Ameri-
can colonists had fought side by side with
the British regulars against a common
foe and as freely poured out their blood
for the glory Of the British flag at Louis
burg, Fort Duquesne, Quebec and many
another hard fought field. they were
never accorded such recognition by their
comrades in arms as was their due, but
were rather treated with jealousy and
contempt.
The success Of the American arms on
land and sea during the revolution and the
war of 1872 enforced certain amount Of
respect for their prowess, but added a
bitterness that amounted almost to hatred
on the one side, which was cordially re-
ciprocated on the other.
This semi-hostile attitude was the cause
Of frequent duels between the officers Of
the two services, and many bloody colli-
sions between their men, when they met
in the various ports Of the world
The action OF the American commando
and his men put an end to all this and
inaUgurated an era Of mutual esteem and
friendliness that has borne good fruit in
the years that have followed a notable
instance Of which was the prompt and ef-
fective protection Of the British flag and
British guns given to the helpless Ameri-
can Consul and the doomed Americans of
the Inflated Virginius by the captain Of
the British sIoop-of-war Niobe at San
tiago de Cuba in 1872.
Coming into port and hearing that Cap
tain Fry and fifty Of the men captured on
IIle NeSSel Hdu dlTedOy Deen DuLCnereQ IN
cold blood. in spite Of the protests and
appeals Of the American Consul and that
another large number were then about to
he slaughtered. he ran his lone little Ves-
sci in between the city and the two Span
ish warships lying in the harbor and sent
word TO the Butcher BurieT' that the
murders must cease or he would blow the
ships and city to pieces. The slaughter
was stopped and 100 American lives were
saved.
TatnalTs words and actions were not
forgotten With Captain Sinclair blood
was thicker than water" Serving the
gun on board the Plover was not the
only instance of timely and valuable aid
TO the distressed Britons rendered by Tat
nall and his men. The story of that days
work contains others.
Great Britain and France were endeav-
oring to secure from the Chinese Govern
ment recognition Of a treaty made some
time before with Viceroy Yek at Canton
and the admission of their Commission
ers TO the Chinese capital
The allied fleets under command of Ad-
miral Hope, arrived at the mouth OF the
Peiho River on June 20, 1853.
The American war steamer Powhattan,
under Captain Tatnall, arrived the same
day, having on board John E. Ward and
suite, who were TO represent the United
States in the negotiations that were ex-
pected to follow, but with no Instructions
TO resort TO force to obtain the desired
ends
The Chinese, in anticipation Of an at
tack by the English and French, had for
tilted the river, in hopes of making 1t
impregnable.
Immediately on his arrival off the bar
Admiral Hope sent a boat to cornnuni-
cate with the commander Of the forts, ex-
plain the friendly nature of his mission
and request the removal Of the obstruc-
tions from the channel of the river This
being refused, he wrote to the authori-
ties, saying that if they were not removed
by the evening Of June "a he would re-
move them himself.
While matters were in this condition
Captain Tatnall, with Mr. Ward leaving
the Powhattan outside, started up the
river in the Toey-wan, a light-draft
steamer chartered for the purpose. When
the Toey-wan was near the first barrier
she ran aground on the hidden bank and
was for time in critical situation from
exposure to the batteries, and the danger
of the fast-faIling tide leaving her half
hanging on the bank
The British vessel Plover came to her
aid, with an offer of the privilege of hoist
ing the American flag on her, if necessary
to abandon the Toeywan.
While banging there Captain Tatnall
sent his lieutenant to the officer in COM