The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-19

heather, was more than Tattnall could
enoure. Calling his barge he left his
own snip, from which ne was OBJ
serving the combat, and pulled along
side the British flagship.
Ii was a critical moment. a Chinese
roundshot Immediately sunk Tattnalfs
barge and killed his coxswain, while
Lieut.. Stephen Decatur Trenchard was
dangerously wounded.
But Tattnall with his Blood is
thicker than water" offered his own
services and those of his bargemen
10 the British admiral. For half an
hour he and his, Yankee tars fought
the British guns, whose own crews
had been swept away. Meanwhile
Tattnall's steamer had towed up the
British reserves, and the shattered fleet
was enabled TO withdraw and escape
destruction.
NEVER REALLY PUNISHED.
OF course Commodore Tattnalls act
was breach of neutrality, but he was
never really punished for il, and he
won undying British gratitude. Less
than three years before we had had
a little war OF our own with China. On
Nov. l6 1856, commander-afterwa
Admiral-Andrew Hull Foote of the
sloop-war Portsmouth was fired up
on by one OF the Chinese forts at Can
lOfi, anu du dDOlOfy was TtluStu.
With the permission OF Commodore
James Armstrong Of our Asiatic
squadron, Commander Foote thereupon
took the Portsmouth. the San Jacinto
and the Levant, and bombarded the
forts, which were four I'm number, built
of granite eight feet thick, with 176
heavy guns and garrison of five thou
sand soldiers. After delivering a ter
rife hammering from the Yankee
smoothbore broadsides. Commander
Foote landed 2s7 sailors and marines.
captured the four forts by assault, one
after another, and blew them up.
One OF the younger American officers
who participated in this brilliant affair
was Master George Eugene Belknap,
now retired rear admiral. and dis
tinguished citizen of Massachusetts,.
MAY CALL EXTRA SESSION.
Chicago, June ia special to the
Tribune from Washington, June 10, 2
n. m. says:
Persistent rumors are aloat that
President Mckinley has decided to cali
an extra session OF congress To deal
with the Chinese situation. If war ex-
lists in China. growing out OF the de-
struction of the United States and other
legations II will be necessary TO send
more troops TO China. Owing TO con-
ditions in the Philippines no more
troops can be withdrawn safely. There
fore IL will require authority from con-
gress for furnishing troops.
The rumors OF an extra session can
not b. traced to a reliable source at
this hour and inquiries at the White
House throw no light on the subject.
ONE AMERICAN PRIEST.
New York, June 19--Little can be
learned In this city about the Catholic
missionaries in China, as the head
quarters OF all the Catholic missions are
In France. SO far as can be ascertained
there Is only one American Catholic
priest in China. He is Father Horns.
by OF St Louis and is at present teach
ing English TO the native preachers In
a seminary I'm Makao. The missions I'm
the North province Provishi-Ll I'm
which Pekin is situated. are under the
control OF the Lazarus monks. There
ls no house OF that order IN New York.
From the latest statistics from Pitschi-
ii Il appears that out OF a population
Of 10000. 900 IN the Northern province
there are $500 Catholics. % Europeans
and "A native priests. 1873 schools and
two seminarles. IL II said that there
II larger proportion OF native priests
I'm that province than In any other In
China.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF FIGHT.
London. June Is.-The admiralty ONO.
has received the following message