The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-17
MONOCACY,S COURSE.
It is Explained by the Surgeon Gen
eraI of the Navy.

washington. Oct. 17.-AdmiraI van
Reypen, surgeon general of the navy,
has received a detailed report from Sur
geon c. j. Becker. who was on board
the Monocacv during the assault on the
Taku forts and who later established d
base hospital at Tong1u, where the bulk
of American, British and Russian
wounded from Ilen ISln were operated
upon and cared for. The report is a
most interesting contribution giving the
first statement of the wounds made by
Chinese shot and shell. the remarkable
stOicism shown by the wounded and the
care which the American surgeons We're
able to extend TO British. Russian, Ger
man. Japanese and Chinese sufferers.
The British officers were so grateful
that Admiral Bruce, the BRUSH COM
mander in chief, accompanied by his en-
tire STAFF, called at the American hospi-
tai TO express thanks and later Admiral
Seymour made similar calls.
Surgeon Decker first gives a. graphic
description of the storming of the Taku
forts and explains why the AIonocaey
did not reply when she was struck by
Chinese shell.
1t appears that she was crowded with
refugees, many OF them women and
children. so that her entering upon the
night would have jeopardized scores of
women and children.
The wounded began coming in about s
O'Clock Surgeon Decker says. Only a
Few operations were performed on the
MOnOcacy. owing to limited facilities
soon Is japanese. % Russians and Is
Chinese were operated upon DR.. Decker
says the stOicism of the wounded was
remarkable In one case. that of a Cos
sack. whose hand was shockingly mutt
lated there We're amputations Of the
fourth and fifth rneda-carpel bones and
middle finger. The COSsack then asked
Tor something to eat and after being
fed returned to duty. BY , o'clock the
japanese surgeons were at work and
took all their wounded. The Russian
surgeons also began work and the Chi
nese We're carried away by their com
rades. although one who was sufferine g
greatly from shock was kept some DAYS
at the American hospital
Surgeon Decker then tells of the IRE
parations for the expected attack on
lien Tsin- Many wounded were looked
for, so that he secured Admiral Reuey' s
approval for opening a base hospital at
Iongku, where the wounded from the
front could be readily brought
In the absence of a regular hosnitaI
equipment, the Yorktown. Newark and
Monocacy each contributed spring beds.
mattresses. cots. as well as medical SUP
plies The first of the wounded from
Tien TSin came in at II a m on the D ST
or June, including American marines
and some Chinese. For a month the
hospital was busiiy engaged, Az cases
being recorded. During this time the
English surgeon in chief was taken with
scarlet fever, and the American sur
geOns took charge Of the English hos
Nilal- containing = wounded It was af-
ter this service that Adrnirals Bruce and
seymour with their staffs called and ex-
pressed their thanks to the Americans.
As the American surgeons had the only
operating table it was resorted to by
the German, Russian and English sur
geons- Chinese mines had mangled
many Of the patients. Ninety per cent.
OF the Chinese were armed with Man
licher rifles. others with AIausers and
1lngles, the latter a two-man gun send
ing soft bullet making an ugly wound
Surgeon Decker describes each case.
showing the popularity of wounds made
by Chinese weapons. many of them
novel to military surgery.
One of these cases Of extreme rarity
was that Of a marine, whose picture was
given, showing the gaping wound torn
by Chinese bullet. DR.. Decker de-
scribes the wound as follows:
a copper-nickle jacket from a Man
licher bullet became detached in flight
and the base end 1attened 1t tray
eled with sufficient velocity to enter the
thigh. pass through the muscles and
come out just exterior to the left tubes-
osity of the iscium. The wound of en-
trance was five and one-half inches long
and OF exit nearly four inches. The lead
part Of the bullet made a wound par
allel and Immediately beneath the large
wound Both wounds healed rapidly in
spite of being infected. This wound is