New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-28

n lent commonly known that Corea has a par
Escllsr niche "a the naval annals Of this country
"a niche that grew out % the misguided OTaehlal
taotion OF the proprfeties OF civilized nations an
Frror that cost the lives OF three OF our men,
and Tor which. On turn. tie Coreans paid a nun
rre6foId II killed and wounded and loss OF race
For a great many years the Hermit Nation
Hcoksd upon 81 foreign efforts 20 eject inter-
sosrrse as impudent and intrusive and its attltuoe
coward euch endeavors was distinctly hostue' ms
sras due 20 a number OF circumstances. put lriA-
ripsUv 70 The predatory character OF the Chlnese
er.eboote-r who made pretty nearly annual incur
elons upon their seaboard villages The result
sr,g the Coreans came 20 look upon ell foreigners
"a OF one and the same persuasion; and n leoe
when the American trading schooner Genera
Sherman went ashore on that coast. the crait was
burned nnd the entire complement Of twenty-seFen
sersons put 20 death by the natives. The follow
inr wear the United States ship Wachusett under
Commander r. ". ShufeldL was dispatched 10
orea 20 look into the outrage. and 20 recover Ire
survivors should there be any. His mission was
a fr-Iitiess one. and the high handed attitude OF
che only native official with whom he coulc deal
made q friendly understanding impossible Be
cause o. the dangerous nature q the coast ano
Ste generally uncharted condition, occasion was
chen taken 70 make some preliminary surveys ana
ECundings.
IN 1871 however the United States government
determined 20 erect diplomatic relations with the
Corean court. and TO that end squadron under
10 China. ny Low. was dispatched from Nagasak,
Janan. on May g the squadron arrived at koze
Roads On the following day the Palos and Tour
steam launches were sent ahead up the Salce
Rive 20 make EoundirCs preparatory 20 carrying
rho feet up 20 Boissee Anchorage, some miles
Bho-e. This was necessary. owing 20 the rocky
coast and the swift currents. the udes making
srou twenty 90 thi-tr-dve feet. The expedition
rcaelo5 Ts destination without difficulty or mol
e=tatf.- from the natives, and FOUR days later
Yglanea taa main force ar Roze Roads in the
sneau umo parties from Che ship in the roads
were busy surveying the nearby waters. and
landing parties had been iu communication with
RI natives. who appeared % be Of friendly dis
position. During the landing of one of these
parl.s pa rrues. written Sd chinese characters,
vas handed to ole re The officers. and its context
v-heu translated. made Inquiries as % the nation
oity AVID the purpose ~ the visit The paper
Vyaa without signature or other indication OF off,
e..I character. Al informal answer was sent
Tack br tH. minister giving Only the Information
shat ,i. ia.l- u.-e Americans: that their purpose
vas f-iaa.'r. a-t iaaL taey had come 10 seek an
irtr-Nloa with -h- governing authorities.
'. N.uiH. Gt- o.. tEc fleet got under way.
h-- owing tH rr-ry t1g cid not reach Boissee
tu.a.rar. uatI rhe next day. when. Immediately
s.t-r .ueaa-.-r Sunk approached. having on
i1arl nr. -s WHO hr signs indicated their desire
50 comm riea-o with tho vessels. They professed
L. Pa. messengers sent TO announce the coming OF
superior officials. WITH that Oriental love FOR
F.olersa-r. auG She desire always 10 folst the
ci1.9-atic Office boy upon the Unsusnecting for
Fr-c~ tho forthcoming officials proved 20 be OF
sa.c-H- rank and without authority 10 initiate
nsE0tau1rs. Ar Low declined to receive them
nIa they we've advised thar he should treat only
N-th officials 0f tae FIRST rank Nevertheless they
wee assured 80 FRIENDLY latent and told that only
- rezcIIt assault would there be resort 10 arms
They were also advised that IL was only wished
= take EcunCIFs O. the waters and 10 make
surveys ~ the shores. To this they gave no evil
nelcos az dissent Hope was expressed that 10
nolestauon would be offered parties IN landing
a. passing Up tho river and these officials were
requested 10 send W0rd 10 their people that they
Hl-slu preserve the friendly relations which were
oesired. Twcnty-four hours was given IN which 10
EromUlgUte this announcement among the natives
hlong the river before moving forward IN their
work OF surveying. Nothing in the way OF dis
sent or objection WIS offered by the officials. So
g. the faith that obstacle existed. an expedi-
No1 was sent 70 examine and 10 survey the Salee
River and thence 10 the River Seoul which passes
~ near tho capital o. the country The vessels
detailed for this work were the Monocacy and the
1alos. under the general command OF Commander
~ c. Blake
The vessels got OF e. noon On June 2 ana r-o-
reeoec I'd the river IN the following order: -Four
stream launches leading s. limo abreast. followed
Immediately by tho Palos with the Monocacy
Bringing Up The rear. a swift current was max
ing up the river. which. sweeping the launches
&long mace g Gificult to secure accurate sound
tngt OF 10 take angles. There was no show OF
noslhties until thu lower cId q KGng-Ifoa Island
was reached. where began a line OF forts con-
necteo by @ wall and facing the river. Here was
observed the mark Of military occupation a big
yellow nag which bore tho Chinese symbol mean
arg commanding general As the batteries came
INTO view. = was seen that they were manned and
Tic face % tie I'm was lined with men. perhaps
thousand IN number. On the poi-t opposite
The parapet upon winch few the great yellow flag
was line ~ small fortifcatious. also manned
and armed with artillery no larger than siugals.
- tAe main fort were two o. three large pieces
~ ordnance. perhaps S2-2ounders. while the re-
sllaifing eru1rC1ures were occupied BY i've six
small pieces dashed together. As our vessels
came abreast the fortiacations q single shot ep-
porentiy t-0m pistol or musket fired as q
signal eroln near the standard. and instantly the
forts and masked batteries along the face OF the
mn opened a heavy IRE upon the ships and the
launches THIS WIS promptly returned By the
Nessels. and the enemy soon driven from hts
suns and forced 10 the cover OF the ravlnes The
EWIft udc mace the vessels nearly unruanageable,
Dnd prevented The shius from coming 20 a halt
enreast ot the place where fire was first opened
upon Them The Falos and NonCcacy were carried
around tho bend in fhe river and brought 10
anchor close uudor Fort J5ydroRraphes where they
continued 20 IRE upon THO forts long as there
was any evidence o. occut alton
Captain Blake. IN RS report says:
Shortly after anchorlng. Commander NcCTea
Nonococy had struck The rocks and was leaking
reported THAI they had appended al but few
ROUNDS OF arT,lLuuilion The port battery ~ the
5slos soon became disabled, from the slight con-
ttrlciion 81 her bulwHrks We also found great
clilclltt III Training The guns. To obviate TITS
gave Lieutenant Commander Rockwell permits
s.oi 70 cut away 50 much q his ran and bulwarlE
~ ~os necessary. TIE launches having been
ur1 Win water from the vessels drinking water
We t1ppec cur anchors and steamed hack Tor tl,e
lufpose u re-cngagiLg the batteries We nasea.I
Nsletls Dut MOI a shot fired al - nor could
We see any Indication ~ their being occupied
except the Tag spoken % was SIN aysng from The
Eeooubt. IN passing down We fred unor me forfe
~N-@a Ire We were unable ~ return II passing ~