Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-28
.L|EUT,ENGLAhD KILLED
Struck by Rifle Bullet From a
French Cruiser.
IN THE HARBOR At CHEF00
Victim Was on the Bridge of the
Chattanooga
WHEN PASSING FRENCH FLEET
Hit in the Back at Base Of the Spine
Probably by Ricochet
Bullet.
IN THE nARBoR At cHEFoo
PASSING FRENCH FLEET

CHEFOO China July 2S.-Lieut. Clar-
ence England, navigating officer Of the Uni
ted States cruiser Chattanooga, was wound
ed at about noon today by a rifle bullet
fired by member of the crew OF the
French armored cruiser Dupetit Thouars
and died at o'clock this evening.
The Chattanooga, with Lieut.. England on
the bridge, was proceeding from the harbor
to the target range. just outside, and was
passing the French squadron. which was
anchored near the American squadron and
was engaged in small arms practice.
Signaled to Cease Firing.
The Chattanooga. after several bullets
had struck the side of the ship, signaled
to the Frenchman to cease firing, but be-
fore this was accomplished Lieut.. England
was struck in the back, at the base OF the
spine probably by ricochet bullet which
left his body under the arm.
The crew of the Dupetit-Thouars later
CO ntinued their practice from the deck of the
cruiser Their fire was directed at targets
in the water, differing from the American
practice of landing men on barren Island
at the entrance OF the harbor
The French squadron here consists OF nine
ships and the American OF seven.
Great regret was expressed at the Navy
Department today at the receipt OF tne
news of the shooting of Lieut.. England
He had a number of friends among the or
fcers here and brother, Capt. Lloyd Eng
land of the Artillery Corps, United states
army. His father, ]. f. England, Is next
of kin and lives at 500 Rock street, Little
Rock, Ark. Lieut.. England was appointed
from Arkansas in 1890 to the Naval Acad-
emy and became a lieutenant In l902 he
has been on the Chattanooga since 1904.
An1 hea -
rniral Train, commanding the Asiatic sta
tion up to noon but the naval officers here
believe that the shooting was entirely ae-
cidental, and 1t is expected that the French
officials will make ample apologies. Many
naval officers have had experiences which
show how such accidents could occur. One
officer related an experience he had when
the American vessels were practicing with
subcaliber tubes, and several shots struck
near him. The next day the surgeon IN
formed him that he had cut a bullet out
of one of the men which was buried in the
flesh four inches deep In. his back. The man
belonged to the watch below and came on
| deck TO get some fresh air and lay down
and went to sleep. He was awakened by
what he thought was the sharp .prick of a
| pin and turned to and damned an apprentice
| boy near him. thinking the boy had been
| up to the mischief The next morning he
| went to the surgeon complaining of PIN
| in his back and upon an examination the
surgeon found the bullet.
Later in the day the acting secretary OF
! the navy received the following cable mes
| sage in regard to the matter from Rear
| Admiral Train commanding the Asiatic
| station. dated at Cheefoo:
Lieut.. Clarence England seriously wound
| ed while on the bridge of the Chattanooga
| leaving harbor for target range, by bullet
| from French man-of-war engaged upon
| small arm target practice.
| Admiral Train subsequently cabled the
Navy Department that Lieut.. Clarence Eng
land died Saturday doday) pm, eight
hours after being wounded.