Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-07-25
MoNocAcY NOT IN IT.

MONoCACY NOT IN 1T.
Following is the report Of the action
made by Commander Wise Of the Mono
cacy, to Rear Admiral Kompn
U. S. S. Monocacy, Tong Ku. China,
June 10, 1900
Sir. ] have the honor 20 report upon
the occurrences since yesterday noon. I
attended a meeting of officers az D.
M. on board the B0rbora. ] was shown
the protocol and ultimatum as 90 the
Taku forts. The signatures 90 the doc
ument were autographs. and as yours
was not appended, ! informed the sem
ior officer that be- would have TO leave
the MonoCacy out OF the plans and
places for vessels OF the attacking
forces
g The first gun was fred at 1915,
and with the simultaneous discharge
that followed 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 "a short distance from mine.
until 1880 and the Japanese did not
leave hers during the bomblrdmeut
AMERICAN BOAT STRUCK.
g. The fire was well sustained on both
sides. and although shells continued az
intervals to pass near me or burst short
or beyond ] attributed 10 90 wild
firing by the forts. About 1880 / was
standing on top of pilot house by the
gatiug ] had mounted there when /
heard q shell approaching and imme-
dately a crash. The second cutter
hanging az her d1yits a few feet below
and behind me had been struck by
shell. il entered her stern, tore out
the bottom and ranging diagonally
across the ship, out after fali of the
steam launch, smashing port fOrecastle
ladder and passed through the ships
side, in which % left a clear cut oval
two foot by ten inches. There were
many men on the forward maindeck
and IL must have gone as close to some
Of them as IL did to me. IL fortunately
missed the launch's davit, as that would
have caused il TO explode.
MAGAZINE EXPLOSION.
o. It was difficult to make out how
the allies We're faring but they were
evidently closing as after three a. M,
discharges from guns like gatIngs or
maXims were heard At o'clock there
was a tremendous explosion and mass
OF flame. which I attributed to a maga-
zine I'm one Of the forts.
G-T0Wards four o'clock the bursting
Of shell In my near vicinity increased 20
such an extent that it occurred 90 me
that he forts might be directing some
Of the fire on the railroad station as in
this Hat country 10 was a prominent
mark ana a number of japanese and
Russian troops We're encamped around
g. I'm such case the MonOcacy would he
IN considerable danger from "a fire which
] had hitherto considered bad shooting.
Acting upon the thought, ! az once cast
of everything. I steamed away from
the bank and went two miles up the
river. anchoring IN the first bend This
move was made at 4.2O and $3.50 the fire
slackening and japanese flag floating
over one Of the forts, ! returned to my
berth.
ASSISTANCE RENDERED.
II was able 70 render the following
assistance First party OF 81 ladies'
and children, refugees from the mission
at Taku. who had Ned hurriedly on the
notification OF the bombardmont. They
came aboard last night 40 3 pm, and
are stu with me, also came two OH
GERS Of the h. NJ S. Bardeur who had
come down from Tien Tsin too late TO
get 10 any English ship. As was CONE
ing down the river az am. met am
English torpedo boat towing a Chinese
boat prize-l had no small boat To make
landing 80 / sent the launch 20 run
her line ashore for which thanks have
been returned ] have taken on board
and had surgical attendance for the fol-
lowing a japanese soldier with gun
shot wound, Chinese coolie found close
90 the ship with arm torn of hy frag-
ment of she'll. a Russian soldier with
wound I'm the hand
80 OBJECTION TO FIGHT.
S-Taku forts deserted by every one.
no trains. no Geographic communication
from anywhere. but / had a telephone
from Mr.. Hettlngil. who reports AN
quiet since first disturbance.
81 know nothing OF the fight except
that the forts were taken ! feel "a ma
tural regret shared no doubt by The OF.
hcers, that duty and orders prevented
the old Monocacy from giving her an
vient smooth bores a last chance
Very respectfully,
+. NJ WISE.
Commander U. S. ~. Commanding.