The Forrest City times., 1900-07-27
Commander Wise. Report.

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 IT. ls0o.-Sir: have the honor to report upon the occurrences since yesterday noon,l attended meeting of officers at s p. m, on board the Bor- bora. I was shown the protocol and ul- timatum as to the Taku forts. The sig natures to the document were autograph h- ic. and as yours was not appended, I 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 Monocncy. although she was out of the line of fire between the forts and vessels ,. The Iltis did not leave her berth. which was a short distance from mine. nntl lo:3o. and the Japanese did not leave hers during the bomba rdment
 {. The fire was well sustained on both sides, and although shells continued at intervals to pass near me, or burst short pr Deyond l attributed It to wild firing by the forts. About 2:30 was standing on top or the pilot house by the Gatling | had mounted there. when I heard a shell approaching. and immediately a crash The second cutter hanging at her davit. a lew feet below and behind me had been U s.ssss m sy shell. | entered her stern, ally across the ship out the after fall of the steam launch, smashing the port ships side in which t eft shrGesn eles9 tne oval, two feet by ten inches There were many men on the forward main deck. of them as it did to me. It Fortunately missed the launch's davit. as that would have caused t to explode.
 5: It was difhcult to make out how the allies were faring. but they were evident- " closing in, after a. m dicharees from guns like Gatlings or Maxims were neHTd n fnln 41A~ mendous explosion. and mass of flame which l attributed to a magazine in one of the forts.
 6. Towards four o'clock the bursting of shell in my near vicinity increased to such an extent that it occurred to me ,ha ,hat the forts might be directing some of nat country it was a prominent mark. and number of Japanese and Russian troops were encamped around It. In such case the Monocacy would be fin consider. able danger from fire which I had hith- sto esto considered bad shooting. Acting upon thing, steamed away from the bank and in e the tWe ro, maes hand uP the river anehoring Japanese flag floating over one of the torts; l returned to my berth.
 | l was able to render the following children refugees from the 0' miss;or rduss ana Taku who had fled hurriedly on notifi- cation ehnsr,, or the bombardment. They came
 
 s,ili with me; also came two officers of Fl M 5. Barfieur. who had come down rom I1en Tsin too late to get to any Ensnsh ship. As was coming down the rlNer al a. m.. met an English torpedo ooat, towing Chinese boat prize. had no small boat to make a landing, so I sent the launch to run her line ashore. for which thanks have been returned. l have taken on board and had surgical attendance for the following: A Jape nese soldier with gunshot wound Chinese coole found close to the shin, "l1h arm torn off by fragments of shell, hursian soldier with wound in the hand s This place is deserted by everyone: no trains. no telegraphic communication 9n shore; but l had phone from MT. first disturbance Ne .,s. I know nothing of the light except that the forts were taken. I feel a nat ural regret shared no doubt by the Of nee ncers, that duty and orders prevented tho smooth bores last chance
 Very respectfully,
 Commander JJ N Commandtnr