The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-26

Juno % was the date set for the carry
Ing out OF the decree. and on that day
Mori was given Jus, the opportunity he
sought for carrying out his part Of the
programme, for during the afternoon the
American merchant vessel Pembroke on
tered the straits on her way to China.
having on board a pilot supplied by the
Yeddo government. At once she was
the guns OF the armed brig Kosei. but
escaped unhurt. But the fatal blow had
been struck and by that one incident the
peace OF two and half centuries was
broken.
Wyoming Was on Hand,
Now II happened that at this time the
Wyoming was most opportunely al hand.
for In April of the same year Commander
McDougai of the United States navy, in
command OF the Wyoming. was in Hong
kong looking for trouble in the shape Of
Confederate privateer. He received or
ders at once from the United States min
isier in Yokohama 10 bring his ship 10
that port with her guns ready for serv-
ice, as the japanese were beginning 10
MAKE trouble for foreigners. Close upon
the heels Of this order came the news
OF the firing upon the Pembroke, and.
nothing daunted by the fact that he was
unacquainted with the passage Of the
Of inc place the doughty commander or
dered coal on board and. procuring two
pilots from the government. lost no time
in sailing out 10 Shimonosekl.
w
700 tons equipped with four thirty two
FOUNDER side guns and two eleven Inch
Dahlgrcn pivot guns. She carried
crew OF 160 officers and men. all Of whom
fine crew,
The straits of ShmonoseM form the
western gateway OF the Island sea. the
actual straits being about three miles
long and from ono and half TO two
miles wide. bgt the navigablc channel Is
ONLY from 200 10 700 feet wide. The
- Of LONE
street running along the foot of some
bold bluffs. and there is - raNl"" In whIcn
the houses cluster pretty thickiy. The
population was at that period about
irteen or sixteen thousand persons. The
batteries. or more correctly speaking.
the redOubts or platforms. where the
seventy four guns were mounted. extend :
ed from a point at The extreme east II
the straits right up TO the town itscii,
the village Of Chofu. where the heaviest
guns were mounted. being nearly in the
ten -gunned fort on the opposite shore,
but In such a position that IT could not
come into action against any ship ihaf
| was attacking the town Of Shifpnnosekl.
| In addition 10 the shore batteries. the
! Japanese had three armed vessels
Land Batteries Open Fire.
The Wyoming entered the narrow
| straits at 6 o'clock on the morning OF
July IS Signal guns were fred from ihe
| first redoubt and the warning was passed
|
| shin was within sight of the town the
| first shot struck her above the engine
| room No reply was made. however, un ,
| IN the Wyoming rounded The Monshl
| promontorY on tho southern shore when
! the three ships and the whole town burst
| into view Stakes had been driven into
| the mud on the edge of the naviglble
! channel and 81 was evident that the Jap
| anese knew the exact distance and eN-
pected 10 blow the ship TO smlthereens.
| The steamer koshn was lying close In
under the forts. and McDoueal ordered
| the man at the wheel to steer direct Tor
| her as Inc intended 10 rake her; inc
| pilots ,hen got frightened and told him
| he would run his ship on shore, as there
was not enough water and they were
| doing all they could to keep their Vea-
| sel on the southern shore. II being very
| evident that they were not accustomed
| To fighting, , roo,, N
| he steering for tnc northern shore me
| steamer and another battery up the Side
| M the hill began 10 fire. Then announcer
battery was also opened and upon this
if was shown McDougai's wisdom IN
| sicaming out of the staked channel, as as
| The sho; began to pass above me nun nun
| and up in the rigging. Even ny thls
| it,nc thanks to the eighteen guns car
ried by the Japanese man of war tne