The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-26

he would have TO leave the Monocacy out
of IL. plans and places for vessels Of the
attacking forces.
go. The first gun was fired at12:45o'c ock
a. m, 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.
"S. The ntis did not leave her berth,
which was short distance from mine,
until t:30, and the japanese did not leave
hers during the commandment.
II. The fire was well sustained on both
sides, and although smell continued at IN
tervals to pass near me or burst short or
beyond, attributed it TO a wild firing at
the forts About 2:30 I was standing on
top of pilot-house. by the Calling. | had
mounted there when l beard shell ap-
preaching, and Immediately crash. The
second cutter hanging ut her davis. few
feet below and behind me, had been
struck by a shell. Il entered her stern, ore
out the bottom, and ranging diaBohaly
across the ship, out after fall OF the ste am
launch, smashing port io-ccastie lad -er,
and passed through the ships side, in
which It left c,eaT-cut oval, two feet by
ten inches. There were many men on the
forward main GccE. and it must have gone
as close 70 some OF them as it did to me.
1t fortunately missed the launch's dayt,
as that would have caused it TO exp.o1e;
IS. 1t was difficult to make out how the
allies were faring but they were evidently
closing IN, as after a. m. discharges from
guns like GatlinSs or MGxlms were heard.
At there was tremendous explosion
and mass of flame, which l attributed to
a magazine in one of the forts.
80 Toward 4 o'clock the bursting OF
shell in my near vicinity increased to such
an extent that II occurred to me that the
forts might be directing some Of their fire
OF the railroad station. as in this nat
country il was 6 prominent mark. and a
number of Japanese and Russian troops
were encamped around 1t. In such case
the Monocacy would be in considerable
danger from fire which l had hitherto
considered bad shooting. Acting upon the
thought, / at once cast OF everything. /
steamed away from the bank and went
two miles up the river, anchoring in the
first bend. This move was made at 450,
and at $50, the fire slackening and a
japanese flag floating over one of the forts,
returned to my berth.
-. / was able to render the following
assistance: / A party Of thirty-seven Ia
dies and children. refugees from the mis-
sion at Taku. who had fed hurriediy on
notification of the bombardment. They
=
still with me. 2. Also came two officers OF
H. NJ S Barfieur, who had come down
from Tients;n too late to get to any Eng
lish ship. 3. AS l was coming down river
at 6 a m. an English torpedo boat towing
a Chinese boat prize-I had no small boat
to make a landing so l sent the launch tc
run her line ashore. for which thanks have
been returned. I have taken on board and
had surgical attendance for the following
A japanese soldier with gunshot wound
a Chinese coolie found close to the shiI
with arm torn of by fragment Of shell, {
! Russian soldier with wound in the hand.
IS. This place is deserted by everyonei
no trains. no telegraphic communication or
| shore, but had a phone from Mr.. Potten-
gill. who reports all quiet since first dis
| turbance.
"9. I know nothing of the fight except
/ that the forts were taken. l feel a natu-
raj regret. shared no doubt by the officers
! that duty and orders prevented the old
Monocacy from giving her ancient smooth
bores a last chance.
Very respectfully,
F NJ WISE,
Commander L. S. Navy, Commanding.
ITO the Second in Command, Z. s. Nava
Forces on Asiatic Station"