The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-07-17

with spears and long knives. came down.
headed by a mandarin. 10 hold a parley.
They faid again that the barriers were
there for the protection OF the empire
and would not be removed. Any attempt
10 take thsm up would be resisted and
the forts would open fire.
HOPES DESPERATE MISSION.
Trcnchard returned to the Toeywan
with his answer. and By that time the
little steamer had been extricated, and
took up q position near the outer bar. Ad-
miral Hope determined to remove the
barriers in the river by force. The only
,uneasinsss In the squadron was caused
by the fear that Russian troops were I'm
the vicinity, and would assist the Chinese
against the allied feet. On the night OF
June - three gunboats were sent up the
river. and they succeeded In forcing a
passage through the barrier OF stakes
and through the second obstruction OF
iron cables. Captain Willes. who COM
manded tho gunboats. believed that these
boats could not remove the RATS. and Ad-
miral Hope decided to take the vessel
of the feet up through the passage made
by the gunboats.
BY $50 on the morning Of the 18th all
hands on the allied squadron were whis-
tied to breakfast. and by o'clock the
gunboats were In position. The flood
tide was running strong. and Admiral
Hope believed that he might get his fleet
In position while the water In the shall
low mouth of the Pei-Ho was at its
height. In and around the forts per-
feet calm was maintained. With the
single exception Of a single shot during
the first passage OF the gunboats the
Chinese gave no warning Of what they
intended TO do. Considerable delay oc-
Cured, owing to the narrowness OF the
channel, and II was not until 11:30 In the
morning, at high tide. that the vessels
were I'm position. Then more delay oc-
CURED ewing to the grounding Of two
gunboats. Finally, at 2 O'clock. Admiral
Hope. with his nag on the gunboat
Flower. signaisd the opossum 70 remove
an iron pile TO which she had been FAST
ened. In half an hour the obstruction
had been wrenched loose, the way clear
ed and the whole fleet steamed trium-
phantiy past the first barrier. They were
then squarely under the guns Of the fort,
in point blank range of the grand bat
terry.
The Plover, full steam on. attempted to
break through the second barrier, when
= shot was discharged from the forts. In
a moment all the rnantlets making the
batteries fell, and forty pieces Of artil-
lsry opened on the little craft.
AMERICANS ASSIST THE BRITISH.
Engage the enemy az closely as pos
sible." signaled the Admiral. who was
taken entirely by surprise. The gunboats
crowded up to the support OF the fiag-
ship, but they were hopelessly at the
mercy of the big Chinese battery. Within
twenty minutes the Plover and Opossum
had 80 many men killed and disabled
that their guns were practically sienced.
Admiral Hope was seriously injured in
the thigh, Lieutenant Commander Rason
Of the Plover was cut IN two by, a round
shot, and Captain McKenna Of the Ad-
niraps stan was killed. The Chinese had
plenty OF reserve guns ana ammunition.
When gun was dismantled by shot
from the fleet, I'm a few minutes second
gun had been run up In place. and be-
gan firing away from the same embra-
sure
Captain TatnalI and the Americans OH
the Toeywan observed the desperate
straits Of the British Admiral. Finally
Tatnall exclaimed, "Biood's thicker than
water, and I'll be d---d II I'll stand by
and see white men butchered before my
eyes. No. sir, old Tatnall isn't that kind.
sir. Is that boat ready? Tell the men
we won't need side arms"
He sent TO Colonel Lemon Offering the
services OF the Toeywan In towing back
the gunboats, knowing that II would be
impossible for the rest OF the allied fleet
to make head against the ebb tide and
go to the relief OF their brothers.
Just at that moment a little boat shot
out from the smoke Of battle and came
alongside the American steamer. A mid
shipman quickly handed 10 Captain Tat
nall note, smeared with blood and COW
cred with pow der stains. When the 40
erican commander read It he became
greatly excited, and announced his inten-
ton OF at once paying an official VISIT
to the English Admiral. Over the har-
Dor in the gold sunshine OF a day In tho
Orient went a little American barge to-
ward the black smoke that hung over
the rivers mouth Close In her wake
followed the British dispatch boat and
in q few moments both disappeared In
the darkness of the fight. AS the Ameri-
can barge swung through the allied feet
cheer after cheer went up from the
crew. A shot passed nrough the Amer
can colors at the mast and left them n
bunch OF flying shreds. The men on the
deck OF a disabled gunpoat caught sight
ofNthe remnant of the stars and stripes
and yelled Justify. A second shot killed
Coxswain Hart and wounded Lieutenant
Trenchard. A third knocked the barge
itself almost to splinters. and with DIFF
reached the side Of the British flagship.
BRAVERY Or IANhEE lAfto.
Aboard the Plover, Captain Tatnall
found Admiral Hope desperately wound
ed, but still directing the fight. The
boats crew OF the American barge
promptly went forward and manned the
British guns. Nearly every English gun
ner had been killed or wounded. A boy
OF IL or IS years brought the powder
from the hold, and for an hour the AM
ericans kept up a rafting fire. At that
time a boatload OF men from another ship
reached the Plover and relieved them.
what have you been doing?" asked
Lieutenant Trenchard. who sat on deck
nursing desperate wound. The faces
of the American tars were covered with
sweat and powder.
oh nothin'. SIR said one, except
sort OF lendin' helpin' hand to those fell
lows forward"
The Americans then boarded little
boat and returned to the Toeywan safely
But by this time the position OF the Brit
ish on the gunboats was becoming more
desperate than before. A little distance
away lay 600 reserves which they had no
means OF bringing into the battle. T'at-
nall grasped the situation. took the junks
In tow. and -rought mem into action. A
landing party was paced ashore and
stormed the forts. The British rushed