Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-08
"Rlood Thicker than Water"

in Chinese waters when that famous
phrase blood is thicker than water"
was coined has just oeen told most
yiyidly by a writer in the London
Spectator. The writer L. all American
residing in California. He was one Of
the Yankee blue jackets that helped
belongs to the expedition of the Brit
ish Admiral Hope, who sailed into the
Peiho in 1859 to take the taku or mud
forts at the mouth. but the Chinese, in
the words OF the Old sailors account,
nearly took him. After fighting four
hours and having several Of his vessels
destroyed he sent Il midshipman over
to the American ship to ask Commo-
dore Tatnall to tow his six hundred
men into action for help. The account
continues:
Our commodore said: mo. it is worth
more than my commission. We are ut
peace with China; that is declaration
of war. No matter what my feelings
are. | can not do it." Thu midshipman
went over the side of the vessel bear
ing a very dOwn-hearted expression on
his face. The commodore was watch
ing him and sang out: "Avast! young
man. Lay aft! You say the admiral IS
wounded?" Yes, sir IF he had those
six hundred men towed into action he
thinks he can withdraw" Yes. sir"
This is when that celebrated express
sion was uttered: "BlCOd is thicker
than water. A brother sailor is in dis
tress; 1 will help him out"
We were lying about seven miles out
of range. We had 4 small steamer
called the "Toney Wan." and we lowed
those six hundred men into action. We
then retired from the range of the
lighting. The commodore wished to go
over and see the English admiral, VINO
was lying wounded, having had both OF
his legs broken. Just as we got along
side a shot struck the stern of our boat
and killed the coxswain, Hart. Lieu
tenant Trenchard, flag officer, who is
now Admiral TrencharI was wounded
Our boat was smashed and we were all
thrown into the water. That was the
lISl tltlc tIC EIloiIoi tNCl Hdu liz
pleasure of fishing for Yanks. Every
time they threw the line over n Yank
bit at it, and they hauled them OF
board.
The commodore and Trcnchard went
aft to see the admiral, who was lying
on settee, giving orders the best he
could. And We. as naturally as ducks
take to water. went forward. The bui-
warks were shot away. the guns de-
stroycd and the decks bloody. The
decks had been sanded down to absorb
the blood. We went to the bow gun--a
pivot sun on the fOTec&Stie-and stood
l-looking at those four men fighting
that gun, whore they ought to have had
| fourteen. They had 20 act as train
tackleman. side tacklclnan. handspike-
| man, leaders and spOrgers They
| could not fire the gun very often.
We stood there a-watcEing them
| restraining themselves TO fire that
| gun. One after another Of us dropped
| in and fought that gun for them, an i
made the English stand back. We
| went IS white Yanks and came out as
| black ones. We fought that gun for
1.-TWO hours. That is the WY in which |
served under two flags in one day.
| If all history could be written with
the lucidity. spirit and directncss that
| chaIacterizes this account of the
American sailor a different face would
be put on the worlds records. The
| Spectator rightly speaks of it as of I'M
rivaled interest. The Milwaukee Sem
| tinel says Of it:
| So there was an actual case of Anglo
! American gunnery-Only it was Ameri
| can gunners on a british ship. And
they were not serving for pay. nor
| glory. nor duty, but because blood is
| thicker than Wate:." international
| memories of this kindly sort are well
worth rcviving and refreshing.
| All OF which is true and wholesome.
| If all hostilitieS could be inspired by no
other feeling than that which gave
origin to the famous phrase that has
enriched the language. the world would
he further on toward the cay when war
| should be no more.