The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-07-28

Following is the report of the action
made by Commander Wise, of the
Monocacy, to Rear..Admiral Kempff:
United States steamer Monocacy, Tong
Ku, China, June II, 1900.-Sir: l have The
honor to report upon the occurrences
since Yesterday noon.I attended a meeting
bora. | was shown the protocol and ul-
timatum as to the Taku forts. The sig
natures to the document were autograph
formed the senior officer that he would
have to leave the Monocacy out of the
plan, and places for vessels of the attack
ing forces.
2. The first gun was fired at 12:45, and
with the simultaneous discharge that fol-
lowed, two OF the shots passed over the
Monocacy. although she was out of the
line Of fire between the forts and vessels
attacking
8. The Iltis did not leave her berth.
which was a short distance from mine,
until 1880, and the Japanese did not leave
hers during the bombardment.
4. The fire was well sustained on both
sides, and although shells continued at
intervals to pass near me. or burst short
or beyond, l attributed it to a wild firing
top of the pilot house by the Calling |
had mounted there, when l heard a shell
approaching, and Immediately, a crash.
The second cutter hanging at her davits
a few feet below and behind me had been
struck by a shell. 1t entered her stern.
tore out the bottom and, ranging diagon-
alis - ~ tAAPf tuN ~ alltl IAN
of the steam launch, smashing the port
forecastle ladder, and passed through the
ships side; in which 1t left a clear cut
oval. two feet by ten inches. There were
many men on the forward main deck.
and 1t must have gone as close to some
Of them as ii did to me. 1t fortunately
have caused it to explode.
3: 1t was difficult to make out how the
allies were faring' but they were evident
from guns like Gatlings or Maxims were
heard. At four o'clock there was a tro-
mendous explosion. and a mass of fame.
Whlch ATTRIBUTED to a magazine in one
of the forts.
6. Towards four o'clock the bursting of
shell in my near vicinity increased to
that the forts might be directing some Of
the fire on the railroad station. as in this
nat country 1t was a prominent mark.
and a number of Japanese and Russian
troops, were encamped around it. In such
case the Monocacy would be in consider
able danger from q fire which I had hith-
erto considered bad shooting. Acting upon
the thought, | at once cast off every
thing, steamed away from the bank. and
" Te he t 6re, m pdbd up TPrt The river, ansherine
80 and at $50 the fire slackening and a
Japanese flag floating over one of the
forts; | returned to my berth.
T. I was able to render the following
assistance; First. a party of 81 ladies and
children, refugees from the mission at
Iaku. who had fed hurriedly on notih-
49, = NfN AA-' ilFIi. lnGN tdt1t
aboard last night at n ne O'Clock. and are
stu with me; also came two officers Of
Il NJ. s.. Barfeur, who had come down
from Tien Tsin too late to get to any
English ship. AS | was coming down the
river al . a. m. met an English torpedo
boat, owing a Chinese boat prize. l had
no small boat to make a landing. so !
sent the launch to run her line
ashore, for which. thanks have been
returned. nave taken on board and had
japanese soldier with a gunshot wound,
a Chinese coolie found close to the ship
with arm torn off by fragments of she'll.
a Russian soldier with wound in the hand.
:. mi place is deserted by everyone:
no trains, no telegraphic communication
on shore, but l had a phone from Mr..
first disturbance.
3. know nothing of the fight except
ina the forts were AIKEN. | feel a nat
ural regret shared no doubt by the Of
neers. that duty and orders prevented the
old Monocacy from giving her ancient
smooth bores a last chance.
Very respectfully.
F. NJ. WISE,
Commander, U. s. N. Commanding