The Van Buren press., 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, l900-Sir. | have the
since yesterday noon,I attended meeting
OF oincers at p. m., on board the Bor-
bora. | was shown the pfotocol and ul-
tmatum as to the Talku forts The Sig
natures to the document were autograph
ic, and as yours was not appended, | in
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 l2:45, 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.
3. The Hits did not leave her berth,
which was short distance from mine,
until 1890, and the Japanese did not leave
hers during the bombardment.
T. The fire was well sustained on both
sides, and although shells continued at
intervals to pass near me- or burst short
or beyond, | attributed It to a wild firing
by the forts. About 2:30 | was standing on
top of the pilot house by the Calling !
had mounted there, when heard a shell
approaching, and Immediately, crash
The second cutter hanging at her davits
few feet below and behind me had been
struck by a shell 1t entered her stern,
tore tore out the bottom and, ranging dagonl;;
Of y ye sssm ha audR snP s%asr oH he sr e po M
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 it did to me. 1t fortunately
missed the launchs davit as that would
have caused Il to explode.
o. IT was difficult to make out how the
allies were faring, but they were evident
ly closing IN, as after 3 a. m, dicharges
from guns like Gatlings or Maxims were
heard, At four o'clock there was trc-
mendous explosion, and a mass of flame
which ! attributed to a magazine in one
OF the forts.
g. 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
fiat country 1t was a prominent mark.
and a number Of japanese and Russian
case the Monocacy would be In consider
able danger from fire which had hith-
erto considered bad shooting Acting upon
TIE thought ! at once cast off every:
thing, steamed away from the bank, and
in NTH the @ FIRST BEND BEND fhs T move 5y'v was sSnSf'n n
$50 and at $500 the fire sackening and a
japanese nag noating over one Of the
T. ! was able to render the following
assistance; First, party Of 81 ladies and
children, refugees from the mission at
Taku, who had fed hurriedly on notin-
cation OF the bombardment. They came
aboard last night at nine o'clock and are
still with me- also came two officers Of
II. NJ $, Barneur, who had come down
from Ton Tsin too late to get to any
English ship, As ! was coming down tho
river at s a. M, met an English torpedo
boat, towing a Chinese boat prize had
no small boat to make landing, so |
sent the launch to run her line
returned | have taken on board and had
surgical attendance for the following: A
japanese soldier with gunshot wound,
a Chinese coole found close to the ship
with arm torn OFF by fragments OF shelf
a Russian soldier with wound in the hand,
s. This place Is deserted by everyone;
no trains, no telegraphic communication
on Shore but | had u phone from Mr.
pottengill, who reports all quiet since
first disturbance.
o. I know nothing Of the fight except
that the forts were taken. feel a nat
ural regret, shared no doubt by the Of
iicers, that duty and orders prevented tho
old Monocacy from giving her ancient
smooth bores a last chance.
Very respectfully,
Commander, u, s, n, Commanding