The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-26

versations with officers engaged. but may
contain minor inaccuracies. During the
Monocacy. which was out OF the line Of
fire. She was struck. no casualties. and
was forced to withdraw up the river.
VERY respectfully.
LOUIS KEMPFF,
Rear Admiral, U. s N"
Report of Commander Wise.
ITO the Secretary OF the Navy, wash
ington ID. c.: Following is the report
OF the action taken by Commander Wise,
Of the Monocacy. to Rear Admiral
~. S. s. Monocacy.
'Tongku. China. June II. 1900
Sir. / have the honor to report upon
the occurrences since yesterday noon. l
attended a meeting of officers at y. m.
on board the Borbora. l was shown the
protocol and ultimatun as to the Taku
forts. The signatures to the document
were autographs, and as yours was not
appended. | informed the senior officer
that he would have to leave the Monoc-
acy out of the plans and places for YES
sells of the attacking force.
The first gun was fred at 12:45, 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
of attack.
which was a short distance from mine.
until 1880. and the japanese ship did not
leave hers during the bombardment..
sides, and although shells continued at
intervals TO pass near me or burst short
or beyond, / attributed IL TO wild firing
by the forts. About 1880 | was standing
on top of the pilot house. by the Gatling
had mounted there, when / heard shell
approaching, and Immediately crash.
The second cutter. hanging at her dayits
been struck by she'll 1t entered her
stern, tore out the bottom, and ranging
dlagonaly across the ship. smashed the
Il 1n. u mn G.A tclt
the ships side, in which 1t left a clear
cut oval hole two feet by ten inches.
There were many men on the forward
main deck, and IL must have gone as
close 10 some of them as z did to me.
IL fortunately missed the launch's davit,
as 1t would have caused It TO explode.
.It was difficult to make out how the
allies were faring. but they were evidently
closing. as after a. M, discharges from
guns like Gatlings or Maxims were heard
At O'Clock there was a tremendous ex-
plosion, and a mass of flames which at
tributed TO the bursting OF q magazine
in one of the forts.
Toward O'Clock the bursting OF shells
in my near vicinity increased to such an
extent that 1T occurred TO me that the
forts might be directing some of the fire
on the railroad station, as In this nat
country IL was n prominent mark and a
number OF Japanese and Russian troops
We're encamped around 1t. In such case
the Monocacy would be In considera bic
danger from a fire which ] had hitherto
thought l at once cast OFF everything
steamed away from the bank and went
two miles up the river. anchoring i'm the
first bend This move was made at 40
and at 40 the fire siackentng and jap
anesc flag floating over one OF the forts,
returned to my berth.
IT was able to render the following as
sistance: First. to party OF thirty-seven
ladies' and children. refugees from ne
mission at Taku. who had fed hurriedlv
on the notification Of the bombardment
They came aboard last night at p. M
and are still with me. also came wo Of
flcers of II. NJ. s. Barfieur. who had come
down from Tentsin too late to get to any
English ship. As was coming down the
river at a. m. met an English torpedo
boat towing Chinese boat ~-'ve-I hsd
no small boat to make "A landing. so sent
the launch to run her line ashore. for
which thanks have been returned. |
have taken on board and had surgical at
tention for the following: Japanese
soldier with a gunshot wound; Chinese
coolie found close to the shin with arm
torn of by fragment of shell; 2 RUSSIAN
soldier with wound In the hand.
"raku forts deserted bv everyone. no
trains. no teiegraphic communication from
anywhere, but had a telephone from Mr.
Pettengill, Who reports all quiet since first
disturbance.
II know nothing OF the fight except that
the forts were taken. | feel a natural re-
greet. shared no doubt - my officers, That
duty and orders prevented the old Mon
ocacy from giving her ancient smooth-
bores a. last chance. Very respnrts"nv
Commander IT, 3. N. commanding.