The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-05-10
FIERCE NAVAL FIGHT
THE WYOMlNG'S HEROIC BATTLE
WITH THE JAPANESE.

Against Overwhelming Odds the American
Commander McDugall Fought One of the
Most Daring and Successful Engage.
ments In the History of Marine Warfare.
Strange as It may seem, the Wyo.
ming's oriental battle is an almost un-
recorded chapter of our naval annals,
though it ranks even higher in point of
daring and success against overwhelm-
Ing odds than the defeat Of the Ala
bama by the Wyoming's sister ship, tho
Kearsarge. But the Wyoming never
was in very great luck as naval star
She had her part throughout the civil
war in all the hardest of blockading and
cruising service, and fought we'll when
ever she had the chance, but she did
not have the luck of getting into the
papers. She was sent off at the same
time as the Kearsarge to cruise for that
scourge of the seas, the Alabama, and
just missed her by the merest chance
on two occasions In the China seas.
1t was in 1868, toward the end of the
dual reign of the tycoon and the milra-
do, when Japan was in the throes Of
civil war, and the forces Of the rebel
princes were resisting to the last the
passing Of the old .adal system. The
Prince Of Nagato was one of these, and
from his tiny kingdom that fronted on
the straits Of Simonoseki he declared
himself lord paramount of everything in
sight, including the neighboring seas,
from which he took generous toll as did
ever the pirate chiefs of Tarifa. He
had laid violent hands and hot shot
upon the vessels Of various powers, in.
cluding Great Britain, France, the
Netherlands and the United States.
Meantime Prince Nagato throve and
fiourished by the strait Of Simonoseki,
and failing one day to wiring tribute or
blackmail by any other means he fired
on the American merchantman Penn
broke and killed q couple Of her crew.
There was another diplomatic protest Of
the combined foreign representatives to
the Japanese government, and Com
mander McDugall, who happened to be
in port with the Wyoming, suggested
that if the mikado could not take fall
out of his rebellious subject the Wyo-
ming could and would without much
urging. This struck the government as
good thing and an easy way out of the
international difficulty, SO McDugall
was given carte blanche to settle ac-
counts with the Prince of Nagato In be-
half of all the powers concerned, and
he forthwith Sailed away.
It was the middle of July when the
Wyoming found herself in the strait
of Simonoseki and in sight Of the shore
batteries which were part OF the
princes defenses to seaward. Before
she had time to open on the batteries
two Japanese gunboats loomed up, one
ahead and one astern, in the narrow
strait, and presently third came cruis-
ing out from among the neigbboring is
ployee. Taking him to one side, the
yelled lady seized both his hands In hers
and tenderly rubbed them as she ex-
tracted promise that he would imme-
diately deliver her request to the presi-
dent. Perkins was almost overcome by
o most peculiar odor that appeared 10
emanate from His companion and has
tened to get rid Of her without creating
a scene.
No sooner had he accomplished this
than he confided to one OF the official
household the effect produced upon him
while In conversation with the impor-
tunate visitor. A physician who was
present promptly OWNED the truth and
instituted search for the woman, when
it was learned that she had driven rap
idly away In carriage, and all trace
was lost. Perkins was Immediately or
dered to return to his home and await
Developments.
Within the usual period he was taken
Ill with one Of the worst cases Of vtru-
lent smallpox ON record, and Tor weeks
lay at the point Of death. Upon his ~.
covery the faithful messenger, wh0oq
devotion to duty doubtless saved the Life
Of the president was appointed by Ma
Lincoln to permanent position on tho
clerical force Of the war departmenk-
Washington Post.