The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-26

America nauthorities were opposed to the
food Of japanese who were invading the
country.
As Japan was received by other nations.
with the United States as godfather, in
1854. so when the United States announced
that the new old nation had reached the
years OF discretion the other powers ex-
tended q welcome. Similar treaties OF
freedom for travel and abolishing consul
lar courts and extra-territorianty were
made by the other powers
Corea was the last OF the Eastern Ash
attic countries 10 be opened to the world.
1.-THE Hermit Kingdoms as it was called.
excluded all foreigners until 1922 when
Commodore Shufeldt OF the United States
navy opened it by much the same meth
DDS that had been employed by Commo-
dore Perry in the case OF Japan.
The first Communication the United
States and Corea had was one OF force,
and in a unitive expedition 700 Coreans
were killed. This expedition was sent be-
cause Of the treatment Of the crew OF an
American schooner. the General Sher-
man, which had been chartered by Brit
fsh trader.
ne OtISdIlS fNcIo D4llSIly OB0tSCu 10
foreigners and had succeeded in making
successful resistance TO all their attacks.
A French expedition sent in 1866 to chas-
tise the Coreans assembled the Seoul river
and attacked the forts, but lost so heavi
" that it was forced to retreat This
gave the Coreans the impression that for
eigners could not fight A few weeks
later they attacked the General Sherman,
which never returned after entering the
Ia. Tong river. The fate OF the crew was
not learned until 1895. when IL was dis
covered that three scows loaded with sui
phur and saltpeter had been ignited and
sent against it Thus the General Sher-
man was set on fire. The crew was snok-
ed out, and as them came tnmbling
ashore, they were hacked to pieces by the
mob, while some were preserved for the
more frightful tortures which the Cor
cans, like the Chinese. know how to de-
wise.
When the General Sherman's disappear
ance became known the United States de-
manded redress Of China. but that 'coun-
try denied responsibility for affairs in the
peninsula. So in January, 1861, the
Wachusett;- unde rthe command of Com
nander Shufeldt, proceeded to Corea- The
local officials refused to give any inforIna-
ton, and the Wachusett left. A similar
mission under Commander Febiger of the
Shenandoah. dispatched a few months
later, proved equally barren.
Finally. in 1871, the American Asiatc
squadron. consisting of the flagship Colo
with the gunboats Monocacy and Benicia.
with the gunboats- Monocacy and Palos,
were dispatched to Corea, under the~com-
mand of Rear Admiral Rodgers to obtain
satisfaction. When the feet arrived at
Seoul a boat came out to the flagship with
native officials bearing a letter from the
king. 1t was couched in insulting terms
and stated that unless the feet left II
would be destroyed; that the king desired
nj intercourse with foreigners: and that
the crew of tina General Sherman had
committed piracy and murder and had
been put to death Admiral Rodgers re-
piled that his errand was pacific and that
he merely wished definite news Of the
Sherman's crew. Then the king professed
friendship. Admiral Rodgers sent four
steam launches I'D the river, whereupon
the Corean batteries, containing eighty
guns opened fire. In few seconds about
300 shots swept owe rthe launches, and the
officers said that never during the civil
war had they experienced such murderous
fire. Admiral Rodgers still kept his pa
tience and again demanded an apology
and satisfaction, which was not forthcom-
ing
Admiral Rodgers did not believe his
+al- oft
but he was determined TO teach the king
a lesson. On June 10, 1871, the gunboats
proceeded up the river and landed a force
of 644 men, who were in command of Gem
mander L. "A Kimberly, the adjutant gen.
eral being Lieutenant Commander W. S.
who was afterwards to win fame
as the rescuer of Lieutenant Greedy and
at the battle Of Santiago. The first bat
terry was taken by surprise and the works
rolled into the river. An attack was
made upon the principal fort. Amid
hail of bullets from the enemy the Ameri-
cans sprang up the steep incline to attack
the citadel. They swarmed over the ram
parts or through the breeches. and, in
a twinkling, were at close quarters with
the garrison. The Coreans fought stub
bornly to the last without asking quar-
ter, and nearly 1000 Of them were slain.
After that the SUBSIDIARY forts and 4s1
pieces of artillery fell into the American
hands. Three Americans were killed and
seven wounded.
Their defeat In this battle taught the
Coreans a wholesome respect for Ameri-
cans. VINO were ,unmolested from that
time forward. TheSUnitel States as de-
termined. howeves. to secure trade with
the peninsula, China and Japan. The ne
gotiations were put in charge OF Commo-
dore Shufeldt, who had served In one OF
the expeditions against the Coreans. The
matter was accomplished by diplomacy
China, which claimed to be the sovereign
of the king Of Corea. became Jealous at
the growing influence OF the japanese in
the kingdom. japanese trade was grow
ing rapidly, and II Hung Chang feared
that Il would soon become 50 great as 10
make Corea a commercial dependency OF
the Mikado. Commodore Shuteldt. after
a visit 70 Peki1. where the consent OF the
Chinese government was secured. went 70
Seoul. and. after some negotiation. per
suaded the king 10 sign IN June, 1ss2. a
treaty similar 70 the one with China and
japan BY It several ports were opened
10 American trade, and protection guar
anteed Americans who might be ship
wrecked OF II. coasts and those who
might trade with the country The
Uasted States arranged fer diplomats IN
ercourse, and the king % coreA sent 70
trs United States the first minister he had
ever sent abroad. ard the United states
sent ~ king IL first foreign minister e;
MS c5s-t TIE Unite: States and Japan
have been the only nations that sent