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 THE 
 
 FRENCH AT FOOCHOW, 
 
 BY 
 
 JAMES P. ROCHE,| 
 L. L. COWEN, 
 
 U. S. Navy. 
 
 C . 
 
 SHANGHAI : 
 
 PRINTED AT THB "CELESTIAL EMPIRE" OFFICE. 
 
 188 4. 
 
THE 
 
 FRENCH AT FOOCHOW, 
 
 BY 
 
 JAMES F./KOCHE, 
 
 ^ [U. S. Navy 
 
 L. L. COWEN, ) 
 
 SHANGHAI : 
 
 PRINTED AT THE "CELESTIAL EMPIRE" OFFICE. 
 188 4. 
 

 ^^.T^F»^^rit.H 
 
iFI^IEin^OIE. 
 
 Our desire in presenting this little volume to the 
 public, is to give a full and impartial statement of 
 the late French operations on the River Min. 
 
 Having been eye-witnesses to the events herein - 
 described, and having since had many opportunities 
 of testing and correcting the numerous statements 
 in circulation, we have rejected all that could not 
 be fully verified by facts. 
 
 We wish to express our thanks to the naval 
 and military authorities, who have furnished us with 
 facts and data, and also to many correspondents 
 who have so ably assisted us in our work. 
 
 The haste in which this volume has been 
 compiled, and the many circumstances that have 
 combined to retard its progress, must be our excuses 
 for the faults which it undoubtedly contains. 
 
 That this, our maiden effort, may give satisfac- 
 tion and reliable information, and meet with a 
 generous approval from the public, is the sincere 
 desire of _ 
 
 •M147832 
 
 The Authors. 
 
Digitized by tine Internet Archive 
 
 in 2007 witii funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 littp://www.arcliive.org/details/frencliatfoochowOOrochricli 
 
THE FRENCH AT FOOCHOW. 
 
 Chapter I. 
 FOOCHOW AND THE EIVER MIN. 
 
 Foochow, or more properly Fii-cliow-foo, (Happy 
 City) the scene of the recent French conquest, is situated 
 in a picturesque position on the left bank of the river Min, 
 twenty-six miles distant from the sea. Opened to foreign 
 commerce by the treaty of 1842, the capital of the pro- 
 vince of Fokien (or Fuh-keen) ranks to-day only second 
 to Shanghai in commercial importance among the 
 Chinese ports ; and this in spite of obstacles, furnished 
 by nature, such as harbour bars, narrow channels, etc. 
 
 The city contains about six hundred thousand in- 
 habitants as near as one can estimate the popula- 
 tion, and the city itself is of the better class, 
 although retaining the national characteristics of dirt, 
 smells, and disagreeable sights, without which you 
 will never see a typical Chinese town. Five hills 
 overlook Foochow, resting at their base on an un- 
 dulating plain, which is divided into two sections, 
 one Chinese (and thoroughly so), and the other con- 
 taining the mercantile houses and residences of the 
 *'men of brain and business," that have borne hand 
 in hand the Starry Banner of America and St. George's 
 Cross of England to the antipodes, and combated 
 successfully with native cunning, superstition, prejudice 
 and bigotry, until that great civiliser of the world, 
 intelligent trade, has been so firmly planted that revolu- 
 tions shall not shake its grasp. 
 
The Min is a river abounding in picturesque 
 natural scenery, some parts of which would well repay a 
 faithful reproduction. To enter it is necessary to cross 
 a bar, which at high tide is covered by twenty-four 
 feet of water. Inward, through narrow passes, opening 
 into wider channels, then growing again to narrow 
 roads, the observer looks upon paddy fields, dotted 
 in the back- ground by the bamboo huts of the 
 natives, who may be seen near by, working over 
 their crops, their large sun hats bringing to mind 
 early school days, when pictures contained in geogra- 
 phies and illustrated histories impressed the youthful 
 mind more in the manner of Arabian tales than of 
 substantial records of the world's mysterious corner. 
 Still the steamer glides on, and we now look upon hills 
 from small to great, all in a high state of cultivation, 
 rising in green terraces from the still, calm river, up- 
 ward to their very summits, and even there uplifting 
 their fresh glad faces, clothed only with nature's com- 
 plexion, in thankfulness to the God who cherishes and 
 protects them. 
 
 And so, still moving, past hill and plain, we go 
 through Mingan pass and come in full view of our long- 
 looked-for haven, Pagoda Point. Making toward it, 
 the Neptune of the ship, pointing to a small island, 
 remarks, ''Boys, that's Flat Island." Nothing interest- 
 ing there, surely. No, not now ; but in less than two weeks 
 it will figure as a burial place for one of those Chinese 
 sloops of war, now in sight, and riding the wave with her 
 Imperial dragon waving so proudly at the gaff, and 
 engaged in its everlasting attempt to swallow, so 
 indicative of the Government it represents. Of course 
 the chief point of interest at the anchorage, that is, to a 
 stranger, is the object from which it takes its name. At 
 the extreme upper part of Losing Island is a small 
 mound or hill, upon whose summit rests the Pagoda. 
 Looking from the river, immediately to the left, a square 
 unpretentious building with the English flag floating 
 above it, marks the home of the missionary. Clustered 
 about and descending the hill to the water front, are 
 numerous huts, and at the water's edge there are several 
 substantial buildings, notable among which is the white 
 
square police station. A small house nestling in trees 
 and bushes, has the flag of freedom floating over it, 
 and is the agency of an American mercantile firm. 
 Probably if we ascend the hill, to the Chinese street, 
 we shall see tbe guileless natives pursuing their general 
 toil, and also what is the staple product of this part of 
 the country. Well, here is a Chinese shop ; let us 
 investigate its goods — Bass's Ale ; Burke's Irish Whis- 
 key ; Hennessey's Brandy; Guinness' Stout and Cigars 
 — and in the face of this some people dare hold that the 
 Celestials cannot be civilised — a basket of rice, and 
 some curious looking objects on a stick in the corner. 
 We ask the name of the latter and the proprietor smiles, 
 blandly significant, then answers, " No belong European 
 chow- (food)." 
 
 The Pagoda is in shape and appearance similar to 
 all of these curious buildings. An octagonal-shaped 
 hollow shaft, rising between one hundred and one hundred 
 and twenty feet ; embellished at regular intervals on its 
 sides by the usual cornices ; and dome-shaped at its top, 
 out of which a small straight pillar ascends for a few 
 feet. According to the natives it was built very long 
 ago, but its age they cannot determine. There is no 
 doubt that it was erected anterior to the invasion of the 
 Mongol Tartars, under the renowned Genghis Khan, in 
 the early part of the thirteenth century. China has 
 numerous Pagodas and temples; and although some of 
 them may be in use for religious purposes, the majority 
 only serve as curiosities, or landmarks, such as those on 
 tlie banks of rivers and bays. It is estimated that at 
 the present day, in Pekin and the vicinity fully eight 
 thousand of them are standing, some of which are 
 monuments of Chinese splendor ; and there is no hamlet 
 in the country, however small, that does not possess 
 one at least of them, if even in miniature. 
 
 Opposite, across the river from the Pagoda, is the 
 Custom House. It occupies a commanding position on 
 the left shore, between the German Consulate on one 
 side, and the residence of an Italian gentleman on the 
 other. It is a large, white, square building,^ with a 
 business-like appect, facing the stream, a silent witness 
 to scenes of blood and carnage, and an exemplification 
 
of the saying ; *' Wars may come, and wars may go, but 
 trade rolls on for ever." 
 
 Tlie Navy Yard and Dock being the objective points 
 of attack by the French force, it will be necessary to 
 place before onr readers their location, value, and fitness 
 for practical work. 
 
 Dividing Pagoda Point from the mainland is a 
 small creek, above which stands the straggling village 
 of Ma-moi extending back to the base of the hills, and 
 is principally the abode of Chinese compradores who 
 supply the ships at this place. And, beyond this, is the 
 dock, which is of eastern structure, planked with wood, 
 and similar in size and construction to those of Shang- 
 hai, with which it has about an equal capacity. 
 This dock is surrounded by a high wall and in its 
 vicinity stands a few brick buildings, engine or pump 
 houses. Just beyond the dock, is a large coaling 
 station, the contents of which were undermined by 
 the Chinese before the battle, and of which fact the 
 French were probably ignorant, as doubtless they would 
 have exploded the mine when taking possession of the 
 yard if they had been informed thereof. Next comes the 
 Navy Yard and Arsenal which occupy an area of about 
 ninety acres. It extends along the water for nearly the 
 half of a mile, and has a long line of ways capable of 
 accommodating large ships. The yard contains boiler 
 shops, machine shops, foundries, etc., and in its 
 offices may be found working drawings, with French 
 headings. Araund the yard runs the usual wall. This 
 property was constructed under the direction of French- 
 men. Its estimated value to the Chinese govern- 
 ment was fifty millions of dollars, including, of course, the 
 dock. It has every appointment and facility that a well- 
 fitted yard should have, and is capable of turning out 
 ships that should be able to compete with those of some 
 of the foreign nations at present trading with China. 
 Before the engagement, two ships were on the stocks in 
 the yard ; one with the keel just laid, and the other 
 so far advanced that her engines were being fitted 
 to her. Two other new vessels had been built and 
 taunched, moored just in front of the yard, but were not 
 Ihoroughly fitted. In the hasty preparations, howitzers 
 
were mounted upon these, that they might participate 
 in the defence. 
 
 Immediately following the construction of the yard 
 its management was given to Europeans — Frenchmen, 
 and they continued in office for some time, doing good 
 service, not only in building but in teaching to the 
 natives the principles of work, building, etc., required in 
 a place of its kind. These Europeans were much thought 
 of at Pekin. M. Giquel, the first director of the Arsenal, 
 was allowed a large European staff and many privileges. 
 He and Gen. Gordon were the only two Europeans 
 upon whom was conferred the "yellow riding jacket,'' 
 the highest honour that the Imperial government of 
 China can confer upon foreigners. 
 
 By degrees Chinese influence ousted European 
 management. Not, however, until the native mind had 
 mastered its problems and secured a good education in 
 ship-building and the direction of affairs ; enough, in 
 fact, to carry on matters with their own ideas, and under 
 the supervision of native minds. One tracing of the 
 French is left — the language. The natives in the 
 yard work by French plans, use French terms to 
 designate their parts of work, and a large number of 
 them, in fact all, with few exceptions, speak the French 
 language. 
 
 Above the Navy Yard, the Min remains the same 
 in a natural sense as below, being wider on the average. 
 The hills and mountains can be seen reaching far into 
 the country on either side, until the sight can follow 
 then* blue-crowned tops no further. 
 
 Chapter IL 
 
 ''COMING EVENTS CAST THEIR SHADOWS 
 BEFORE." 
 
 The United States steamer Enterprise, a vessel of the 
 American squadron under the command of Commander 
 Albert S. Barker, U. S. Navy, rode at anchor in the Woo- 
 8ung riv^r near Shanghai, Sunday morning, July 10th, 
 
8 
 
 having been called to that place a few days before, from 
 Yokohama, by rumours of war. Near by was the Juniata, 
 under Commander Harrington, and up the stream, an- 
 chored off the U. S. Consulate, the Trenton, Capt. 
 Phythian, having on board the flag and person of Eear 
 Admiral John Lee Davis, U.S.N., Commandant of the 
 United States forces in Asiatic waters. 
 
 On board the Enterprise, nothing unusual was 
 occurring, the crew making prepartion for the weekly 
 inspection by the commander; everything in its place, and 
 a place for everything. Guns shining, muskets, cutlasses, 
 and pistols, brightened, and an occasional interrogation 
 as to whether the trouble would interfere with liberty to 
 visit the shore. Outside of this perfect peace. And yet, 
 in five minutes from receiving notice, this ship, in com- 
 pany with the others of her squadron, could have had 
 boatloads of men, armed and equipped, on their way to the 
 breach, prepared to protect foreign residents. Although 
 the arrangements of Admii^al Davis and his commanders 
 had provided for every exigency, still neither officers nor 
 men, though prepared, deemed such a contingency 
 probable. That France and China would fight was 
 questioned as much on board ship as ashore, and in the 
 quarrel each side had its adherents. So the preparation 
 and routine went on, and the Sabbath stillness prevailed. 
 At ten 0^ clock, a signal from the Trenton calls Com- 
 mander Barker to that ship. He goes and returns. 
 
 "Secure all boats for sea; we are going away." 
 To-day ! For where ? — Nobody seems to know, until at 
 last the rumour leaks out around the decks, that trouble, 
 perhaps fighting, is anticipated at Foochow. But the 
 Monocacy is there ; further up the river than we can go. 
 Yes, but we are to take the Admiral thereto assume 
 personal control. Besides, two ships are better than one 
 in a case of this kind. So at thirty minutes past 
 one, in the afternoon, having received Admiral Davis 
 and some of his staff on board, we steam out of 
 the river. Passing the Woosung forts, then the 
 Eed Buoy, we see the two French men-of-war 
 D'Estaing and Triomphante laying calmly at anchor, to 
 all intents and purposes peaceable enough. We shall 
 meet them soon again, and in a different attitude — 
 
9 
 
 belching death and destruction. The Enterprise reached 
 Pagoda Anchorage, July 12th, a trifle after three o'clock. 
 In the outer bay, near Sharp Peak, were sighted two 
 French men-of-war, the GaUssoniere and Bayard. At 
 the anchorage, there were the following French war 
 vessels; Soane, troop ship; Duguatj Trouin, corvette; 
 Aspic, Ltjnx, Vipere, and Volta, gunboats ; the latter 
 having on board one whose name was soon to be written in 
 French history, more forcibly than in mere naval routine 
 — Vice Admiral Courbet. These ships were prepared for 
 battle, their upper masts being housed, revolving cannon 
 in the tops, cables ready for slipping, and the men 
 reheving each other at the guns by watches. Everything 
 prepared for the grand finale enacted on that Saturday 
 so fatal to China. 
 
 Besides these ships, there were in the river two 
 vessels of H.M.'s squadron, viz.. Champion and Sapphire, 
 Also three merchant barques the Sin Kolga, Batavia^ 
 and Guiding Star ; steamers Talcu, Glenfinlas, and Mary 
 Austin, A fleet of Chinese war ships were anchored 
 in defensive order, leading from the Custom House to 
 above the Navy Yard : — the Yang Woo, flagship ; Yang- 
 Pao, Chun-hing, Chun-shing, Fuh-shing, Yee-sing, Foo-poo, 
 Chi-an, Fei-Yuen, Chin- Wei, and Fuh-sing. Thirteen war 
 junks, armed with smooth bore cannon, guarded the creek 
 just around the Pagoda bend, and innumerable fire-rafts, 
 filled with explosives, were expected to spread destruction 
 among the ships of the French. The tj.S.S. Monocacy, 
 under Francis J. Higginson, Commander, U.S. Navy, was 
 at anchor off" the city of Foochow, and to her Admiral 
 Davis transferred his flag, soon after arriving. H.M.'s 
 Merliii lay near the Monocacy, and the presence of these 
 two vessels gave foreigners a sense of relief from probable 
 trouble. Immediately on our arrival rumours of the 
 most wild and varied kind reached us. The French 
 were to open fire at sunrise. Torpedoes had been 
 planted by both sides under each opposing ship. And 
 80 they flew about, making the situation such that, if 
 true, an instant would have completed the battle and 
 both fleets have disappeared in smoke. Day after day 
 came and went with ensuing quietness, and the situa- 
 tion remained the same, save that the soldiers ashore 
 
10 
 
 might be seen strengtliening their defences, over which 
 (with the exception of those at the Pagoda) floated 
 banners and streamers enough to have siipphed a field 
 division of European troops. '* Braves " from all near 
 provinces .were reported as encamped behind tbe differ- 
 ent hihs, but if so they stayed there as nothing could be 
 seen to verify their presence. The Chinese and French 
 fleets maintained their positions, each covered by the 
 guns of the other, and in perfect condition to fight. 
 
 August 15th, the French corvette Villars 
 arrived from the South. The following day being the 
 birthday of H.I.M- the Emperor of China, all ships in 
 the river (French included) dressed with flags at the 
 mastheads^ in honor of the occasion. In the afternoon, 
 the Villars left, and the ram corvette D'Estaing arrived. 
 The next day H.M.S. Vigilant arrived and received Vice- 
 Admiral Dowell and his flag. During the day the large 
 cruiser Diigiiay Trouin went out, returning within 
 twenty-four hours, accompanied by the Villars, passing 
 the small ram Lynx going out through Mingan pass. The 
 latter returned to her station on the morning of the tw^enty- 
 first. There is no doubt that these vessels proceeded 
 below the forts for the purpose of replenishing their 
 supplies. During these movements the steamer Woo- 
 sung arrived and took up a position near the other mer- 
 chant steamers. 
 
 August 20th, seemingly well-founded rumours 
 reached us that the decisive day had arrived, and that 
 before darkness came the battle would either have been 
 finished, or well under progress. Perhaps this may have 
 been the arrangement, but if so there never was a better 
 exemplification of man proposing and a higher power 
 interposing. A sudden gale sprang into existence in 
 the early morning, and soon had assumed the pro- 
 portions of nearly a typhoon. The wind whistled, like 
 the screech of a boatswain's pipe, and the rain des- 
 cended in sheety torrents, thoroughly drenching those 
 whom duty called to its exposure. It increased in violence 
 dnring the day, so much so that the vessels of H.M.'s 
 squadron were seen to send down their upper yards and 
 topgallant masts. All wandering sampans hied them- 
 selves to the friendly shelter of the difi'erent creeks, while 
 
n 
 
 no more ventured on the bosom of tlie angry river. The 
 day following brought in its early part no abatement of 
 the storm. All the ships were under only lower yards 
 and masts, the wind etill howling, the rain still beating, 
 and the river lashed to a yellow foam, giving the different 
 vessels a motion nearly similar to that at sea. *' I pity 
 the poor fellows outside in such a storm as this '' was the 
 remark of many an old sailor. 
 
 And still with all this our friend Rumour still survives, 
 and makes his daily round of the ship. *' Fighting will 
 begin at three o'clock to-day, at the changing of the tide.'' 
 This on the best of authority ! — Oh ! this best of author- 
 ity ! Why cannot someone start news on no authority ? 
 Best authority has failed us so often that a change might 
 produce truth — that quality, such a stranger in all parts, 
 that when it visits a place we know not whether its 
 intention is for good or evil, and hesitate in the welcome. 
 
 At three o'clock movements among the fleets seemed 
 to confirm the rumor of the morning. The Chinese 
 vessels near the Custom House got up anchor and steamed 
 about tbe harbor, sometimes very close to the French 
 ships. One of them in particular, nearly struck the 
 bowsprit of the Duguay Troiun, so close did she pass. 
 The French fleet stayed at anchor, apparently uncon- 
 cerned, with the exception of the Duguay Trouin and 
 D'Estaing, both of which were seen to be on the move and 
 seemingly alert for anything that might occur We 
 believed at the time that it was the intention of these 
 Chinamen to manoeuvre for the purpose of seeing 
 whether the French intended to stop their exit from the 
 harbor ; and seeing the opposing rams prepared to pre- 
 vent any trial of the sort, they went quietly back to their 
 moorings, and matters once more assumed a state of 
 quiescence. 
 
 The 22nd opened with a better prospect. The 
 rain still decended in heavy showers, but the wind 
 had moderated to a considerable extent. Between nine 
 and ten o'clock In the morning, the English and American 
 war ships, lowered boats, and filling them with men, 
 armed with Gatling guns, howitzers, muskets, pistols, cut- 
 lasses etc., and well supplied with ammunition, despatched 
 them to Foochow settlement, the former to reinforce the 
 
12 
 
 crew of H.M.S. Merlin, and the latter that of the U.S.S. 
 Monocdcy. This certainly looked like business, and the 
 hurried departure of the men through the rain and mist 
 started many a theory about the decks. In the morning 
 the troop ship Soane left the river. Nothing again to- 
 day. Junks and sampans gliding along on their course, and 
 all around unchanged ; our compradore comes aboard in 
 the afternoon and wants a general settlement. ** French- 
 man he fight sure to-morrow." Yes, but he has told us 
 this so often. This time, however, he persists in wanting 
 his bills paid, as he is assured to-morrow may be too late, 
 and he wishes to be in the interior when the fighting 
 begins. So accounts are closed and he departs for his 
 place of security. It is evident from the arrangements 
 made by all, that the feeling is strengthening into convic- 
 tion that matters are assuming a more business-like aspect, 
 and that we shall not pass many more days of intense 
 expectation without a realisation of some sort, substan- 
 tial or otherwise. Night comes on dark and gloomy, a 
 fitting prelude to the morrow. Not a sound can be heard 
 on the river except perhaps the splash or creak of an oar in 
 an occasional passing sampan. The whole bay is enveloped 
 in blackness, only the indicating lights of the different 
 steamers and ships relieving the scene. At about eight 
 o'clock the French squadron illumines the prospect, by 
 flashing their electric and calcium lights about the 
 harbor. Everything peaceful except on shore, where 
 the Chinamen, with the quietness of the dead, are working 
 like beavers, especially at the fort on Pagoda point, near 
 the water front. Here an endless chain of men can be 
 seen running between fort and rear of the hill. What 
 they are carrying cannot be ascertained, but that black ram 
 in the stream is evidently interested for she keeps the 
 place flooded in a blaze of light, which is only occasion- 
 ally withdrawn, for a moment's gaze at some other 
 object on river or on shore, entitled to suspicion. 
 
 And so the light keeps moving, flashing now on 
 houses that shall be ruins ere the sun sets once more. 
 On men, that shall be torn part from part, beyond all 
 semblance of manhood. On ships, made to ride the sea, 
 that shall be perforated, battered, destroyed, and sunk 
 to the bottom of the element they were made to conquer ; 
 
13 
 
 and on hills that shall he plowed with instruments strange 
 to agriculture, and sown with seed too hard and solid 
 to fertilize. 
 
 At midnight all is silent. On these ships sleep 
 hrave strong men knowing they must fight, but for whose 
 honour or for what cause or principle, they, the most 
 interested, are ignorant. What pictures float through 
 the dreams of these Asiatic slumberers ? Who can tell ? 
 Of their humble home, perhaps, with visions of cherished 
 wife, and hsping babe clinging about their knees, the 
 hope of a future generation ; — for doubt not that these 
 are human and love their offspring. And now again his 
 wife in some familiar picture smiling lovingly upon him. 
 That smile to-morrow shall change to weeping moans 
 and tears of anguish. Sleep on then, man 1 To-morrow 
 thou shalt awake, but only to feel the pangs and tortures 
 of death, and enter upon a longer sleep, from which thou 
 shalt again awake and meet thine enemy in another 
 long promised field, where there shall be no combating 
 of opposing forces, no dissension, only Judgment. 
 
 Chapter III. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF MA-MOI. 
 
 The early dawn of Saturday the 23rd of August 
 foretold a day of surpassing loveliness and ineffable 
 calm. Cloudlessly the sun rose from behind the 
 eastern hills, tipping their lofty summits with gold, 
 and making the face of nature resplendent with his 
 bniliant rays. Serene, placid, unruffled, rolled on the 
 3wift current of the river Min, so soon to be the bearer 
 of the thrilling tidings and the silent witnesses that would 
 80 eloquently testify to the complete destruction of 
 China's fleet, ere the breaking day closed in slumbering 
 night. Early in the morning, the Consuls, foreign 
 residents, and the various men-of-war and other non- 
 combatant vessels in the harbor, received official notice 
 from Admiral Courbet, that he intended toopen fire 
 upon the Chinese fleet, and bombard the forts and 
 
14 
 
 government property on shore, at noon of that day. 
 The morning was passed on board the French vessels 
 in making the final preparations for the deadly struggle 
 so soon to be decided, bat the Chinese seemed unaware 
 of their approaching danger, and remaiaed entirely 
 inactive. The vertical rays of the blazing sun pouring 
 down from a cloudless sky, with not a breath of air 
 stirring, combined to make the suspense of the 
 forenoon thrilling to us, who were to be only 
 spectators of the tragedy about to be enacted. What 
 must it have been to those who stood at their guns, 
 without shade or protection of any kind from the torrid 
 heat, chafing with an intense desire approaching almost 
 to madness, to give utterance to their impacable hatred 
 in fire and smoke and deadly shell ? The morning hours 
 rolled slowly by. From eleven till noon was to many 
 present the longest hour ever experienced. It is said 
 that the hours pass all too rapidly, to the condemned one 
 waiting for certain death ; but the flight of time is slow 
 indeed ; the many revolving wheels of its progression 
 are clogged by some mysterious agency; the minutes 
 seem hours, the hours become days to the spectator 
 awaiting the signal to be made which shall bring a pro- 
 bable death to others. For some minutes previous to the 
 appointed hour of noon, so complete was the silence that 
 reigned over the harbor, that the faintest sound was 
 audible from the far off vessels and Navy Yard of the 
 Chinese. Every one stood gasping, starmg with interest 
 at some small object far up the river, the -centre of 
 the French fleet and cynosure of all eyes., the gunboat 
 Lyrix. 
 
 Eight bells were struck on board the merchant 
 vessels, on the English men-of-war, on the steamers and 
 sailing ships far up the river, on the Chinese men-of-war, 
 on went, the death knell. At last the harbinger of woe 
 was heard to chime from the bell of the Lynx. No gun 
 was fired, no tongue of flame, puff of smoke and qui-cker 
 report proclaimed the work of destruction begun. The 
 sighs of relief came down the river like a breeze! Respite 
 for a short while yet, — all too brief, poor celestials ! This 
 delay was unaccountable. 
 
 At fifty-two minutes .past one^ a large man-of- 
 
35 
 
 war was discovered standing up the river. No sooner 
 had she come plainly to view, and her name — the 
 Trmnphante — and nationality became apparent, than 
 we knew intuitively that the arrival of this vessel was 
 for some esoteric reason what the French had been wait- 
 ing for. Coming in sight of the Flagship, numbers were 
 rapidly exchanged, and signals made. A flash of fire, 
 a puff of smoke, and the ominous report of a Hotchkiss 
 gun from the maintop of the Lynx, boomed forth deatli 
 and destruction to the navy of the Flowery Land (Ih. 56m. 
 13 s. p.m.) So rapid was the reply from the Chinese sloop 
 Chinrj Wai, lying inshore abreast of the Custom House, 
 levelled at the hull of the D'Estaing, that the reports 
 reached us simultaneously. Instantly fire and smoke 
 belched forth from every iron mouth. The contend- 
 ing fleets were enveloped in a dense cloud, and the 
 report that came down the river was indescribably 
 terrific, making the hills reverberate and tremble 
 to their very foundations. Twenty-seven seconds. after 
 the firing of the signal gun, (Ih. 56m. 40s.) a tremendous 
 explosion was heard in the direction of the Navy Yard. 
 The smoke clearing away it was seen that the Yang-ivoo, 
 the Chinese flagship, had been blown up by a torpedo 
 boat of the enemy. Leaving the protecting sides of the 
 Volla at a preconcerted signal, rapidly darting in under 
 cover of the smoke occasioned by the firing of the guns 
 of the Yang-icoOy and laying the engine of destruction 
 under the stern of the ill-fated ship, which instantly 
 exploded, the Torpilleur, number 45, accomplished its 
 work and destroyed the largest and most imposing ship 
 of the Chinese. 
 
 The cannonading kept up on both sides was terrific. 
 The forts on shore, especially the water battery on 
 Pagoda island, doing excellent service, kept the French 
 vessels on the right busy, while the four Chinese ships 
 in front and above the Custom House engaged the 
 attention of the D'Estaing, Duguay Trouin and Villars 
 on the left. The Volta (flagship), followed by the Vipcre, 
 Aspic, and Lynx, moved up the river, engaging the 
 enemy in that direction and bombarding the Navy Yard 
 and Arsenal. Upon seeing the foe rounding the point, 
 bent upon blood and destruction, the crew of the Chinese 
 
16 
 
 brigantine Foo-Poo were so terrified that thej obtained 
 possession of the vessel and ran her upon the bank, 
 deserting immediately, and making all haste to seek 
 a shelter more secure among the hills. 
 
 Meanwhile the grandest scene of this most dire 
 tragedy was being enacted. The Triomphante, in all the 
 stately majesty of strength, was steaming slowly up the 
 river. Not a sound to be heard from the decks covered 
 with men standing at their quarters, eager to send des- 
 tructive heralds of iron shell into the enemy's vessels to 
 tell of their approach. When distant a little over a 
 mile from the scene of action, and nearly abreast the 
 U.S.S. Enterprise, those on board that vessel could 
 have distinctly heard the order given by the Captain 
 on the bridge of the Triomphante to clear away and 
 load tho long bow chaser. Without noise, without con- 
 fusion this was done. The gun sighted and fired. The 
 shell sped on its rapid flight toward the upper 
 forts on Pagoda Island. Now the Chinese realised 
 that they had to look out for an attack from the 
 enemy in the rear. The order was again given 
 from the bridge of the Triomphante, and the gun once 
 more loaded and fired, this time with a very different 
 result. The shot stricking the Ching-wai in the stern, 
 sweeping the decks and passing out under the bowsprit, 
 seemed to lift the unfortunate vessel almost entirely out 
 of the water, so great was the concussion occasioned by 
 the huge projectile. This was the signal for one of the 
 most disgraceful incidents that ever happened, even in 
 the annals of the Chinese Navy. The cowardly crew 
 deserted their guns, and jumping into the boats, lowered 
 them and pulled away from the ship. Those who were 
 unable to obtain seats in the boats, threw themselves 
 overboard, and swam to the shore. The captain, first 
 lieutenant, and the few loyal ones remaining on board, 
 continued to bravely work the guns ; and be it said 
 eternally to their credit found time to discharge their lee 
 broadside at the dastardly runaways, sinking two of the 
 boats freighted with these unnatural wretches. After 
 fighting for some few moments, with his remnant of a 
 crew, the courageous commander endeavoured to get his 
 now rapidly sinking vessel alongside his nearest anta- 
 
17 
 
 gonist, the D'Estaing, evidently with the intention of 
 blowing his own and the enemy's ship into limbo to- 
 gether ; his patriotic ardor (a quality very rare among 
 his nation) counting it small loss to sacrifice his own 
 life, so that he might be the cause of sending so many 
 of his hated foes to the region of kingdom come. This 
 was not to be ; a broadside from the Villars hulled the 
 Ching Wai so severely that it was now a matter of only 
 a few moments before she must go down. At the same 
 time fire broke out forward, and" several rapid explosions 
 were heard, as from small arm ammunition that had 
 been left around the decks. With all the characteristic 
 bravery that one would expect from such a noble resist- 
 ance, the captain reserved one loaded gun till the last 
 moment, and then as the battered and shot-rent ship 
 gave the last mournful roll, he pulled the lock-string 
 and sent hissing ou its errand of hate the last farewell 
 of the unfortunate Gking Wai, An episode such as the 
 foregoing is unprecedented in the records of the most 
 ancient navy of the world, both for the extreme cowardice 
 displayed on the one hand, and at the same time for the 
 superhuman efforts and extraordinary bravery manifested 
 on the other. 
 
 The valiant and plucky conduct of this commander 
 is in marked contrast to that of two others in command, 
 one of whom left his ship immediately after the tiring of 
 the first broadside, the crew setting fire to the vessel, 
 and following his example ; and the other, who fought 
 his ship for about fifteen minutes, till it caught fire 
 forward^ then deserting his post, had his gig lowered 
 and went ashore. The crew immediately availed them- 
 selves of this grand opportunity to obtain liberty, and in 
 the exuberance of their joy at having obtained this tacit 
 permission to visit the shore, they did not, like their 
 gallant commander, wait to lower the boats, but actually 
 jumped overboard and swam to the beach, leaving their 
 ship to drift down the stream in flames, soon to explode 
 and become a thing of the past ! Many of these faint- 
 hearted wretches suffered the ignominious death that 
 their dishonorable and cowardly conduct so richly 
 merited ; and it is to be hoped that those who escaped 
 from the shell of the enemy, and from drowning in the 
 
18 
 
 river, may have their deeds of this day pubHshed far 
 and wide, and that they may meet with the universal 
 reproach which they so richly deserve, and be handed 
 down to posterity covered with perpetual dishonor. 
 
 The Triomphantc steamed slowly, majestically on ; 
 not the least sign or hurry or confusion was visible 
 among those who crowded her decks, waiting and 
 anxious to take part in a few minutes in the general 
 engagement. There being no breeze to carry away the 
 dense smoke, the thickest of the action was hidden from 
 view of tlie spectators down the river, but for some thirty 
 minutes the firing was terrific. 
 
 At eight minutes after two o'clock, one of the small 
 Chinese gunboats came around Pagoda point, from the 
 direction of the Navy Yard. The large thirty -five ton 
 gun was fired once at the mammoth ram Duguay 
 Trouin ; the projectile missed its mark and buried itself 
 hissing and spluttering in the hills beyond. In response, 
 apparently every gun in the enemy's fleet was levelled 
 at the hull of their puny but audacious antagonist. 
 The shock of the volley of shells was so great that 
 it stopped the headway of the gunboat and seemed 
 to drive her backwards. For fully two minutes she 
 remained above the water, a helpless target for the 
 pitiless guns of the enemy. A shot entered her 
 magazine, a loud explosion was heard, and with one 
 headlong dive the gunboat disappeared from view, just 
 ahead of the s.s. Glcnfinlas, beneath the waters of 
 the river Min. At twenty-five minutes past two, the 
 mine laid by the Chinese under the docks at the Navy 
 Yard was exploded by the French ships. Twenty minutes 
 after a Chinese sloop of war, emerging from the smoke 
 of the action, drifted down the river in flames, sinking 
 with colors flying, about two miles below the Custom 
 House. Another sloop came down, a few minutes later, 
 also on fire, but with colors down, grounding on Flat 
 Island. Two hours later the fire reached the magazine, 
 and the vessel blew up into a thousand fragments. At 
 thirty minutes after three, another Chinese sloop, in 
 flames, with French colors hoisted half way up at the 
 mizzen, drifted slowly down, on her way fouling the s.s. 
 TakUi which, with the loss of an anchor, barely 
 
19 
 
 escaped being set on fire by the passing vessel. 
 This one shared the same fate as the others in 
 stranding and being ultimately blown up by 
 the ignition of the powder in her magazine. As this 
 mass of flame and heat was passing, we observed several 
 natives chnging to the rudder shaft under the stern. One 
 was terribly wounded, his thigh being shot close off. All 
 the assistance possible was rendered to these unfortunate 
 victims by the English and American steam launches, 
 but many perished from drowning before they could be 
 picked up. 
 
 About four o'clock the firing became less rapid and 
 spirited, but the French continued to keep up a slow and 
 regular fire at the forts on shore, which were still making 
 a feeble resistance. About this time fire rafts and junks 
 laden with explosive and inflammable material, such as 
 gunpowder, kerosene oil, sulphur, etc., began to come 
 down with the tide. One of these dangerous engines of 
 w^ar got athwart of the hawser of the barque Sin Kolga, but 
 was hauled off by the steam launches, without doing much 
 damage. At six o'clock, the French launches, armed 
 with machine guns, opened a brisk fire on a number of 
 junks anchored in a creek running between Losing Island 
 and the mainland. The men-of-war not engaged in 
 covering this party with their guns, were engaged in 
 destroying the fire rafts and burning junks which were 
 coming down the river three and four at a time. About 
 thirty minutes past seven, a Chinese gunboat came 
 around Pagoda point in flames. The French opened 
 fire with their Hotchkiss and great guns, endeavouring 
 to sink the dangerous craft, but the shell only caused 
 showers of sparks and tongues of flame to shoot up from 
 the burning vessel, which presently drifted down, and 
 broke in two across the bows of the Glcnfinlas. 
 
 From the hottest of the fight, through the densest 
 smoke, the French torpedo boat, number 45, came down 
 the river toward the U. S. S. Enterprise, and lay just off 
 to the port, and then to the starboard side of that vessel. 
 Those in the tops and I'igging of the Enterprise, who 
 found time to turn their eyes from the tragic spectacle up 
 the river, and to look down upon the grey mite of a 
 Torpilleur lying alongside, were surely surprised that so 
 
20 
 
 small an object could, when armed with its terrible 
 torpedoes, carry such complete destruction to the great 
 Leviathans of the deep. The monstrous ships of the 
 present age, the floating cities, carrying more souls from 
 shore to shore than many of the ancient Greek states con- 
 tained, are entirely at the mercy of these pigmy torpedo 
 boats. 
 
 It was evident that the boat had been in the 
 thickest of the fight. The crew of eight men, stripped to 
 the waist, were bespattered with blood from head to foot. 
 One man had his left arm bandaged to above the elbow, 
 and the officer in command was not to be seen. To 
 describe the physique of these men is beyond my power. 
 Swarthy black-bearded Sons of Collus and Terra, bleeding 
 and soul begrimmed, as if fresh from forging the thunder 
 bolts of Almighty Jove, in the depths below, panting 
 with rage and dissappointment, like bloodhounds torn 
 from their prey ; breathing forth words of fire, like the 
 condemned hurled into the infernal abyss ; preternatural 
 in appearance, superhuman in energy and strength, ready 
 at the slightest hint, at the most feeble gesture of their 
 disabled commander, to rush headlong into fire and 
 smoke, carnage, death, and eternity. One of this crew 
 of picked volunteers was a boy of scarce eighteen years of 
 age. The steam launch of the Enterprise was out render- 
 ing assistance to the wounded and drowning of both 
 sides, and the officer in charge, seeing that the torpedo 
 boat was evidently in distress, run the launch alongside 
 and enquired what was the matter. The boatswain, who 
 spoke good English, said that their commander had been 
 wounded, and was lying below in the pilot house. He 
 then went and carefully assisted the wounded man on 
 deck. Pale and bloodstained, with a bandage over his 
 eye, stood the hero of the day, the destroyer of the 
 largest ship of the enemy. The apothecary of the Enter- 
 prise went to him, examined and dressed his wound, and 
 gave him all the relief possible in such a place or under 
 such circumstances. He proposed that both wounded 
 men should be taken on board the American ship, but 
 the officer politely refused, saying that he could not leave 
 his command, and the sailor in stronger and more 
 expressive terms, assured his companion, the boatswain, 
 
21 
 
 who acted as interpeter, that be would never forsake his 
 commander, or boat, as long as the one Hved, or the 
 other floated. Sweet, yet strong, must be the power of 
 that chain which so fascinates mankind at times, that 
 they risk everything, and dearest Hfe itself, to obtain 
 ** the bubble reputation even in the cannon's mouth." 
 
 During and subsquent to the engagement, the 
 steam launches were kept busily engaged in rescuing 
 the Chinamen that came floating down, seven and eight 
 together, clinging to fragments of masts and spars, and 
 the wreckage that covered the surface of the water. 
 Among the victims that went floating down with the 
 tide, unresGued, a large black dog from the Yang-woo, 
 swimming bravely and making every effort to reach the 
 shore, and a rooster floating on a log of wood, the 
 most forlorn, dejected, and thoroughly disgusted looking 
 bh*d it is possible to imagine. 
 
 Chapter IV. 
 DAYS FOLLOWING. 
 
 After the bombardment on the water had ceased, 
 and the firing from the forts on shore become consi- 
 derably less spirited, numerous fires broke out in the 
 direction of the Navy Yard and Arsenal, spreading to an 
 alarming extent. Soon the tongues of flame lit up the 
 heavens with a lurid glare that was visible for miles in 
 every direction. The numerous and loud reports of 
 explosions, could be heard for a great distance, and kept 
 the many and anxious watchers at Foochow, both on 
 the ships and shore, on the qui vive, and gave rise to 
 manifold conjectures as to their cause. To add to the 
 glare from the burning Arsenal and villages, which made 
 the blackest hour of midnight as bright as day, a 
 Chinese gunboat drifted down the river in flames, and 
 presently blowing up scattered a shower of sparks far 
 and wide, giving the river the appearance of one mass 
 of fire. 
 
 The ever watchful victors kept up a desultory fire 
 
22 
 
 all night until four o'clock on the morning of the 24th 
 when, having discovered something suspicious with 
 their powerful search lights, they opened a brisk 
 fire with machine and great guns, upon Losing Island 
 and sent out steam launches to reconnoitre. The day- 
 dawn of Sunday presented a mournful spectacle. The 
 gallant ships of yesterday no longer floated on the 
 placid bosom of the Eiver Min ; the yellow ensign, with 
 sacred dragon, no more spread its folds to the breeze ; 
 death and destruction, the sad monuments alike of 
 human power and human frailty, alone were there on 
 that quiet Sabbath morning, to account for the loss of 
 the Chinese fleet. A little before eight o'clock, several 
 junks drifted down the river in flames. At thirty-five 
 minutes past ten, the Volte, Aspic and Lynx, moved up 
 the river towards the dockyard. Soon after heavy firing 
 occurred, and a party of armed men were sent from 
 the Duguay Trouin, to land at the mouth of a small creek 
 above the Custom House. 
 
 In the early part of the afternoon, the French performed 
 the last mournful ceremonies due to those who had perished 
 on the previous day, fighting for the beloved tricolor that 
 has so often waved victorious over scenes of blood and 
 carnage, both on land and sea. The colours of all vessels 
 in the harbour were half-masted while the hardy patriots 
 were being interred in foreign soil far, far away from the 
 vineclad hills and sunny slopes of La Belle France ! Seven 
 small mounds of earth, hastily thrown up, mark the last 
 resting places of a like number of French sailors, victims of 
 the world's necessity — war. During the afternoon the three 
 gunboats oif the dock-yard kept up a slow regular fire, and 
 five large and heavy explosions occurred in the direction of 
 the dropping shells. Heavy firing was heard down the river 
 about this time, from the guns of the French man-of-war. 
 La Galissoniere, bombarding the lower forts. Towards six 
 o'clock the firing ceased, the French ships came back to 
 their former anchorage, night came on apace, and threw 
 her dusky wings in folds of deepest black over the now peace- 
 ful scene, occasionally lit up by a lurid flicker from expiring 
 emhers of the afternoon fires. Save for the regular chimes 
 from the bells, and the hail passed by the watchful sentries 
 on post, as the hours rolled slowly on, the harbour was like 
 
23 
 
 the abode of the departed, so quiet, so peaceful, so sure were 
 the victors of the completeness of their conquest, that they 
 failed to keep their usual vigilant look-out with the calcium 
 lights. 
 
 During the engagement of Sunday afternoon, a spent 
 shell came on the hills, from the angular fire of the French 
 directed at the dock-yard, and passed whizzing and whist- 
 ling between the main and mizzen-masts of the Enterprise, 
 striking the water about a hundred yards on the opposite 
 side. The small crowd assembled on the poop for some 
 unaccountable reason ducked their heads and inhaled very 
 rapidly an immense quantity of the surrounding atmosphere, 
 exhaling it again in the form of a series of expressive inter- 
 jections culminating in expletives. The eloquent pause in 
 the conversation, caused by the rapid transit of the French 
 projectile, was first broken by the commander, who gave the 
 order to get underway. To discourse in a learned manner, 
 in scientific terms, upon the sudden exhaustion occasioned 
 by the rapid progression of a solid body through the atmos- 
 phere, would be out of place here, nor would it be appro- 
 priate to moralize on the indisputable fact that corporeal 
 absence is preferable to mental presence in episodes like the 
 above. 
 
 Monday, the 25th, was ushered in by long and 
 heavy firing from the machine guns of the French, in the 
 direction of the Custom House. At seven o'clock a large 
 landing party left the ships, covered by the guns of the fleet, 
 landing at the foot of the Pagoda on Losing Island. They 
 proceeded to raze the earth works and those portions of the 
 ibrts left standing, and returned to their vessels about 
 eleven. 
 
 At half-past twelve Admiral Courbet visited the 
 foreign men-ot-war in the harbour. Ten minutes later the 
 French fleet got underway and steamed down the river, the 
 Admiral joining his ship, now the msimmoih Duguay Trouin, 
 as she passed the U.S. 8. Enterprise. As it is possibly the 
 last time we shall see these heroes together we will review 
 them in passing. 
 
 First the stately and majestic Triomphanfe, the king 
 of ships. Conscious of unknown power, of untold strength, 
 sensible of great destruction efiected, victory achieved, of 
 laurels won. Plough on, brave ship, thy way to fresh 
 
24 
 
 glory and new honour ; may the Gods of War be seated ever 
 on thy prow. Duguay Trouin^ a giant among thy kind, a 
 mammoth ship. Thou and the pigmy Torpilleur thou hast 
 under thy protecting wing have become notorious indeed. 
 Thy work was well done Volta^ into the thickest of the 
 fight went the flag of chief command and victory at thy 
 fore-royal mast-head. The honour be all thine of bearing 
 the head that planned and directed the conquering heroes 
 of Saturday. D'Estaing, familiar form, as terrible in war 
 as friendly in peace. Fresh honour awaits thee ! The 
 *' Chinois " shall feel thy fangs yet again. Vipere and 
 Aspic, well named, sharp-stinging, snake-like, gliding. Let 
 thine enemies beware ! Villars, seen oft before in peaceful 
 times. Formosa knows thee well; Foochow has heard of 
 thee. Go on thy way and gather new laurels to thine already 
 crowded brow. Lynx ! never was one more aptly fitted with 
 a name. Prowling, sly, crafty, thy long lean body glides 
 stealthily into the very midst of the unsuspecting foe ; fire 
 flashes from thy mouth, and the signal of death to thousands 
 has gone forth from thy lips ! The two torpedo boats were 
 towing alongside the Duguay Trouin and D'Estaing. The 
 squadron came to anchor about three miles down the river. 
 
 Several times during the afternoon the reports of 
 heavy guns were heard toward the river mouth, from the 
 French vessels stationed there to guard the approaches. 
 The fleet on the way down passed the s.s. China, flying 
 the German flag and standing up the river towards the 
 Pagoda Anchorage. This vessel was laden with arms 
 and ammunition for the Chinese Government, and had 
 that morning landed seven hundred soldiers from Swatow, 
 at Sharp Peak, under cover of the friendly forts. 
 
 At five o'clock the squadron came to anchor just 
 below Spiteful Island, and commenced to casually bombard 
 the Mingan forts at the head of the pass. The Chinese 
 were unable to reply from the greater number of their 
 guns as they were set in solid masonry and trained to 
 fire down the river only. Such defenses as these can 
 be attained with impunity from either side, or the rear, 
 or in fact from any point outside of the fixed line of fire. 
 
 Half an hour later, a detachment of men with 
 machine guns were landed on the left bank of the river, 
 and at the same time the Lijnx steamed down to cover 
 
25 
 
 them with her guns. After an hour's work on shore, 
 the landing party returned to their ships, and the 
 French ceased firing with the exception of an occasional 
 gun ; once more niglit came to the rescue, and wrapped 
 in her kindly embrace the aflErighted and dispersed 
 regiments of the ** Emperor of the Flower Land." 
 
 We will seize the present opportunity while the 
 French are still sleeping, to reckon up the losses in 
 killed, wounded, etc., sustained by them and their an- 
 tagonists, since the commencement of the engagement on 
 Saturday last. The first shot fired from the bow gun of 
 the Yang-woo, struck the pilot of the flagship Volta, Capt. 
 Thomas, of Shanghai, killing him instantly. Shortly 
 after, the vessel received a shot about three inches above 
 the water line, on the starboard side, which passed 
 through her, killing six powder passers on the berth deck. 
 A quarter- master of this vessel was killed, later on. The 
 Duguay Trotiin and Villars were both struck, but the 
 visible external damage sustained was so slight that 
 none of the crew could have been killed, and very few, if 
 any, injured. 
 
 Probably many were severely wounded and some 
 perhaps killed during the shore engagements of Sunday 
 and Monday, as the firing, expecially on the first day, 
 was very brisk and the enemy maintained their positions 
 for some time. 
 
 From all the information I can gather, I estimate 
 the French loss in killed at twelve men, and their 
 pecuniary losses at a merely nominal sum. The 
 Chinese have a very different account to show, their 
 casualties and losses in killed amounting to nearly 
 three thousand, and in money to fifteen millions 
 of dollars. There were two hundred and seventy 
 men on board the Yang-woo, at the time of the 
 explosion ; fifteen of them including Captain, Staff-com- 
 mander and Sub-Lieutenant, it is reported, were saved. 
 This is hardly likely, as the force of the explosion was so 
 great that from mutilated bodies which have since been 
 found on the roofs of the houses in the village of 
 Ma-moi, distant nearly a mile from where the Yang- woo 
 was anchored, and identified as the remains of men that 
 were stationed on the flagship at the time of the disaster. 
 
26 
 
 If the force imparted by the bursting of the torpedo 
 was so terrific, it is very probable that the only persons 
 who were saved from this unfortunate ship were the lucky 
 few, about six in number, who were made aware of their 
 danger, and jumped overboard, preferring to trust them- 
 selves to the mercy of the water, and chance escape 
 from the Hotchkiss shells, falling thick as hail around 
 them, than to making a rapid ascent in the air, and 
 descending with even increasing velocity to perhaps 
 alight on some hard substance. The alternative was not 
 pleasant. The complement of the Ching-Wai was 
 slightly over one hundred men ; some of these saved 
 themselves by flight, but more than half must have been 
 slain by the terrible hail from the enemy's machine 
 guns, and the final broadside from the Villars. The 
 brave commander and his second officer were killed. 
 One sloop carrying one hundred and fifty men, was blown 
 to pieces, and two gunboats, with thirty to forty men 
 each, were sunk before their crews had time to make 
 their escape. The greater part of these were sent in 
 sections to swell the ranks of " the great majority." 
 
 As we have already seen, the crew of the brigantine 
 FoO'Poo escaped in their successful endeavors to exem- 
 plity the axiom that ** discretion is the better part of 
 valor." Five other sloops, with crews ranging in number 
 from one hundred to one hundred and forty men each, 
 and thirteen junks having complements of not less than 
 forty, have yet to be accounted for, before the point of 
 complete destruction is reached. When the engagements 
 and explosions on shore and in the dockyard have been 
 taken into consideration, the loss in killed on the side 
 of the conquered could not have been much less than the 
 above estimate of three thousand. The native authorities 
 on shore, admit having lost more than half of the number. 
 So, allowing for Chinese artifice and their habit of 
 disguising the real facts, if they happen in any way to be 
 detrimental to the government, I consider the estimate as 
 being under rather than over the amount slain. 
 
 For many days after the action, dead bodies in 
 all stages of decomposition, and some mutilated and 
 contorted beyond human recognition, were thick upon 
 the river ; drifting up and down with the coming and 
 
27 
 
 out-goiug tides. The stench was uubearahle. We will 
 now close the chapter with a short review of what 
 remains to China after the engagement which began with 
 Saturday. 
 
 Coming down the river, from the Foochow settle- 
 ment, nothing is seen damaged until about half-way to 
 the anchorage, where we discover the Foo-Pooy with 
 broken back, brought up here and deserted by her crew 
 during the engagement. The Chinese authorities will 
 endeavour to get this ship from the beach for the pur- 
 poses of repair. When deserted she was left with her 
 head pointing down stream, but since then the tides 
 have changed her position, so that she rests forming an 
 angle with the small pagoda on the opposite bank. Just 
 below this pagoda is encamped a large party of soldiers. 
 Where the abandoned ship is the Chinese have erected 
 river barriers, with foundations of rock and stone, over- 
 laid by logs and various like material. From each side of 
 the river, junks laden with stone, and sand in bags, have 
 been sunk, and these, with the barriers, have effectually 
 prevented the passage of ships. At high water parts of 
 them are covered, but at low water the whole is distin- 
 guishable, and a narrow channel, fit only for the egress 
 of a small junk, or a steam launch, finishes the only 
 mode of communication between Foochow and the 
 Anchorage. Just below these barriers, near the camp 
 of the soldiers, another obstruction has been commenced 
 and is progressing with speed. From this down to the 
 Navy Yard, no destruction is visible, with the exception 
 of stray shot (mostly from Hotclikiss guns) having 
 struck in some of the villages. Approaching the yard one 
 would imagine the damage done hardly enough for such 
 a fire. A portion of the wall about the coal yard, and 
 the same at the dock, is the only visible evidence of battle, 
 but on landing a different scene presents itself to view. 
 Destruction is on every side. The coal -yard remains 
 about the same, with the above exception, although no 
 doubt a heavy weight of French iron is mingled with the 
 carbon and is visible in the shape of an occasional small 
 shot. The machine shops are perforated and batteied 
 in an extraordinary manner. The tall chimney which 
 marked their position, and was also a guide to the river 
 
28 
 
 pilots, withstood the conflagration of Saturday night and 
 Sunday morning, but in the afternoon it fell in ruins. The 
 machinery is twisted and bent out of shape, and probably 
 of no more use. The boiler shop is in the same condition. 
 The engine and pump houses were not struck by any 
 large shot, but the Hotchkiss balls perforated them and 
 damaged the interior to great extent. Along the front of 
 the yard is a quantity of wreckage. 
 
 Our readers may remember the two ships on the 
 stocks. Of these, the one nearest completion was totally 
 destroyed, while the other was left untouched; of the two 
 completed ships one was left intact with the exception of 
 small shot in her spars and masts, and the other was 
 burnt to the water's edge. Strewn along the beach are 
 rafters, masts, and other belongings of the numerous 
 junks that were destroyed, the larger part of their timbers 
 floating seaward. 
 
 At Pagoda point there is a considerable evidence of 
 severe fighting ; as is only natural, for here the larger 
 guns of the French were brought to play. Junks 
 smashed, and huddled together, form an incongruous 
 mass, though in some rotation, at a short distance from 
 the shore, and in their midst the smoke-stack of a gunboat 
 points to the sky. The fire on board this craft evidently 
 extended to her bunkers, for she blazed for twelve days 
 after the battle. On her stern may yet be seen a gun, 
 probably a sixty pounder. The hull of the unfortunate 
 Yang-woo is still visible. The damage sustained is not 
 so great as a spectator of the terrific explosion would 
 have been led to expect. 
 
 On the island many houses are perforated with shot — 
 mostly Hotchkiss. The part facing up the river did not 
 sustain much damage, but the other side, containing the 
 forts, looks as if a pickaxe and crowbar brigade had been 
 at work there. The lower fort was composed of seven 
 solid columns of masonry, of which only three remain, 
 the rest having crumbled to dust. Intending to give you an 
 example of the precision with which the French fired, this 
 fort may serve as an example. Of these columns one was 
 used as a tide-mark by the pilots, and although between two 
 others, not distant five feet from either, it was not injured 
 in the slightest manner, while the two spoken of as being 
 
29 
 
 on either side were levelled. The fort at the upper part of 
 the hill was battered beyond recognition. In each of 
 these forts remained two guns after the French had left 
 the river, which have since been removed by the Chinese, 
 although probably spiked by the French landing party 
 of Monday morning. Directly off the Pagoda, in the 
 direction of the Custom House, an Alphabetical gunboat 
 was sunk, but of her nothing can be seen. 
 
 On the Custom House side the building itself was 
 struck on the roof facing the river, by a large shot, and 
 the side looking down the river shows many marks of the 
 work of machine guns. Nothing else about here bears 
 signs of injury but the hills, whose sides present 
 numerous holes not in them before the bombardment. 
 
 Just below this the gallant Ghing Wai showed her 
 masts and spars above water for several days, but is 
 now completely hidden from sight. Considerably lower 
 down is visible the stern and mizzen-mast of a sloop, and 
 looters may be seen at work removing anything within 
 reach that is of value, even to the charred shrouds. 
 On Flat Island rests the bare hull of another of the 
 Chinese ships. The villages on the other side sustained 
 little damage, only a few spent shells having entered 
 them. 
 
 For a few days after the battle, the shores of the 
 islands hereabouts w^ere covered with wood, spars, 
 plaited cane shields and other work, wooden eyes from 
 the junks, straw hats and mats, pikes, everything in fact 
 to be found in a Chinese man-of-war or war junk. 
 
 Chapi'er V. 
 
 MINGAN AND KIMPAI. 
 
 Before following the motions of the French fleet, 
 on its way down the river, we will attempt to describe 
 as graphically as possible the encounter of the Galissoniere 
 with the forts at Kimpai, on the afternoon of Sunday, 
 while the gunboats Volta, Vipere, Aspic y and Lynx were 
 bombarding the forts and arsenal above Ma-moi. 
 
30 
 
 One of the largest French ironclads on the China 
 station, the Galissoniere, had for some days previous to 
 the event I am about to relate, been anchored a short 
 distance from the outer bar. Divine service was held 
 under the shade of the awnings on the spar deck, when 
 midst all the terrific engines and munitions of war, the 
 hardy sailors bowed their uncovered heads, while the 
 chaplain, in reverential voice offered thanks to Him, 
 the Lord of Battles, for the victory achieved by their 
 comrades the day before, and implored His blessing on 
 the ship and crew so soon to be engaged in combat 
 with the enemy. Shortly after, the mighty ship was 
 seen to be underway and gradually approaching the 
 entrance to the Kimpai Pass. 
 
 Inside the forts, the gunners were ready, standing 
 match in hand, determined to give this bold intruder a 
 warm reception. On, slowly, carefully on, came the 
 great ship. Three hundred pair of eyes from her 
 bridge and decks were keenly scrutinising the hillsides, 
 and eagerly watching for the slightest sign of attack 
 from the enemy. When within about two miles and a 
 half from Kimpai, the full broadside of the huge vessel, 
 all bristling with guns ready loaded and run out, was 
 j)resented in defiance to the hidden fort. 
 
 Five minutes of suspense, then from the forts 
 a tongue of flame shot out, followed by a puff of 
 smoke and loud report. The projectile went wide of 
 the mark. This was followed by two more, with the 
 same result. Several more were fired in rapid suc- 
 cession, and then as if exasperated and entirely out 
 of patience, the sides of the huge monster belched forth 
 flame and smoke, and a shower of shell rained down 
 upon the fortifications. The duel went on in this way 
 some time, the shot from the forts falling all around the 
 ship, and those from-the ship encircling the forts with fiery 
 hail. At length, a well directed ball from shore struck the 
 Galissionere, followed by another, which also did execution. 
 Apparently satisfied with this, the assailant turned about 
 and steamed back to her anchorage off Sharp Peak, 
 having engaged the forts nearly an hour. The intention 
 of the captain of the Galissoniere was to run as close in as 
 possible, for the purpose of ascertaining the depth of the 
 
possible, for the purpase of ascei-tainic.!: ;)th of the 
 
31 
 
 water, and if the passage had heen interfered with in any 
 way ; and also to make himself thoroughly acquainted 
 with the strength and calibre of the enemy's guns ; the 
 precision of their fire ; and to form a rough estimate of 
 the probable resistance to be encountered when it should 
 please him to force his ship past the Kimpai forts. 
 
 The apparent retreat of one of the strongest vessels 
 of the enemy from before the guns of the Chinese elated 
 the defenders of the forts to such a degree that on the 
 following day when the Captain of the s.s. Namoa went 
 on shore to enquh'e why his vessel had been denied a 
 passage, the commander of the forces told him that 
 torpedoes were laid in the river, and that he was in hopes 
 of giving a very warm reception to the French, when 
 they should try to force the pass. The Namoa presently 
 left for Amoy. 
 
 On Tuesday morning the French opened a furious 
 bombardment on the Miugan forts. After heavy firing 
 on the part of the assailants, with but feeble response 
 from the defenders, the fortifications were all captured, 
 guns spiked and burst with gun cotton, the earthworks 
 levelled, and the hosts of His Imperial Majesty put to a 
 precipitate flight, within the short space of three hours. 
 It is reported that the Chinese warriors assembled on 
 Kimpai heights, upon seeing the forts so quickly crum- 
 bling away before the terrific fire from the enemy's guns, 
 took to flight instantly, and have not been seen in the 
 neighbourhood since. The following morning, from the 
 lofty peaks of the hills bordering the river Min, the 
 French squadron were seen coming slowly down the 
 stream, and to form themselves in battle array. When off 
 the village of Quantao, situated a little above the Kimpai 
 pass, out from the fleet came the great Duguay Troiiin, 
 slowly and cautiously feeling her way towards the 
 entrance to the passage. The even watchful de Faquax 
 discovered a small object just above the Kimpai point 
 that excited his suspicions. Fire was opened upon this 
 ill-fortified store-house of Chinese munitions of war. 
 The few soldiers left to protect it, made but a faint show 
 of resistance, and the guns were soon silenced. 
 
 As the tiny but trusty pilot fish goes before 
 its huge master the shark, so did the small steanl 
 
32 
 
 launch carefully probe the way for its mighty 
 Leviathan. In the bow a man with a long pole 
 in his hand sounded the channel for torpedoes and 
 other hidden dangers, while the great Duguaij Timiin 
 followed in the wake of her diminutive pilot. Chinese shot 
 and shell fell all about, but harmlessly, and the launch, 
 though exposed to a terrible fire, continued her dangerous 
 work. The Chang Men, or White Fort, is on the left 
 geographical bank of the river, and near the entrance to 
 the Kimpai Pass. It commands the pass towards the 
 sea, and is more than two hundred feet above the sea 
 level. A safe passage having been found, this important 
 stronghold became the objective point for the guns of 
 the JDuguaij Trouin, The battery of this fort, like 
 those lately destroyed on the Mingan heights, was set in 
 solid masonry and trained in such a manner as to com- 
 mand the lower reaches of the river only ; consequently 
 any attack made from above could not be repulsed with 
 fire from these guns. Entering the pass the Duguaxj 
 Trouin poured broadside after broadside into the sides 
 and rear of the Chang Men, at the same time the men 
 in the tops rained down showers of Hotchkiss' balls 
 upon the luckless soldiers in and around the fortifications. 
 No opposition was encountered for some time, but at 
 length a band of the scattered braves collected on the hill 
 above the White Fort, and commenced to fire upon the 
 ship with rifles. The firing was thoroughly charac- 
 teristic of the marksmen. In fairness it must be admitted 
 that a few stray bullets hit the water somewhere in the 
 vicinity of the object of attack ; but by far the greater 
 number of shots buried themselves in the hills beyond, 
 and many travelled, and perhaps are still travelling, 
 towards the region of the moon. Of course being armed 
 with a loaded musket, and having received the command 
 to fire, in strict obedience it is necessary to discharge the 
 piece ; but to aim at any particular object is superfluous, 
 and considered by the Chinese soldier as being outside 
 his instructions altogether. The Captain of the Duguay 
 Trouin, having satisfied himself both from the feeble fire 
 returned from the fortifications, and from the faint 
 attempts of the surrounding military to resist his 
 approach, that the forts were his whenever he chose to 
 
83 
 
 return and take them, turned bis ship up stream and 
 returned to the squadron. "While the Duguay Trouin 
 had been engaged as above related, another ship of the 
 fleet was shelling a large fortified camp situated a little 
 above the White Fort. Soon after the bombardment 
 commenced fire broke out among the tents, spreading 
 rapidly. Soon the whole encampment was in flames, 
 the fire having found ready material in the baggage and 
 inflammable huts of the soldiers. 
 
 At break of day on Thursday morning, the Diiguay 
 Trouin and Iriomphante got up anchor, and steamed down 
 the river to their stumping ground of the previous after- 
 noon. A terrific fire was opened immediately upon the 
 camps and fortifications on each side of the Kimpai 
 Pass. Not the slightest resistance was made by any of 
 these. The French guns continued to pour in a slow, 
 steady fire upon the forts, without receiving a single gun 
 in return. Towards noon, both ships, in farewell, threw 
 such a shower of shot and shell against the sides of these i 
 forts that they literally crumbled away before the terrific f 
 storm. The vessels now proceeded down the river, shel- 
 ling everything that looked like a camp or fortification | 
 on either hand. The defences below the Kimpai Pass 
 were now to be bombarded. The first shell fell into one 
 of these forts, the single occupant of which ran for bis 
 very life as the missile exploded. This statement will t 
 not convulse tlie world, as being the first recorded flight 
 of a celestial from before the enemy's fire. Down from 
 Mingan, now come the gunboats Lynx and Volta, run- 
 ing close inshore, and finishing the work of their larger, 
 companions. As evening came on, the firing ceased, and 
 when night closed upon Kimpai, it was unrecognizable 
 as the apparently impregnable tower of strength of the 
 previous evening. 
 
 The Chinese were reported to have sixty thousand 
 warriors behind the heights of Kimpai. Where were 
 they ? All that could be seen during the day were a 
 few very terrified military trying to hide themselves 
 behind everything available, and as opportunity offered, 
 to rapidly increase the distance between themselves and 
 the enemy. 
 
 Friday morning opened with a desultory fire from the 
 
34 
 
 Tnompliante and Duguay Troidn, upon tlie already deserted 
 and battered forts. The keen-eyed Lijnx was there, ever 
 and anon darting in and leaving a terrible landmark of 
 solid iron. A deadly fire was kept up from her great 
 guns and the Hotchkiss in the tops till nearly three 
 o'clock in the afternoon, w^hen the firing ceased from 
 all the ships, and peace once more reigned over the 
 waters of the Min. An hour and a half later five French 
 ships left the river in the following order : — Villars, 
 Volta, B'Estaing, Chateau Renaucl, and Lynx. On the 
 following day, in the afternoon, the Duguay Trouiriy 
 La Galissoniere, Trlomphante, and Vipere, bound to 
 Matsou, bade farewell to Kimpai waters. 
 
 Many persons, authorities on naval and military 
 affairs, seem to have thought that the French would 
 have great difficulty in passing the Mingan, Kimpai and 
 White forts, but as I have shown, it was not so. These 
 forts could not possibly offer resistance when attacked 
 from the rear, for the obvious reason stated earher in 
 the chapter, that the jiefenders could not make use of the 
 guns. 
 
 The loss on the side of the French was four men 
 killed, one of these a Lieutenant, cousin of Capt. 
 Encrad of the Vipere, to which vessel the deceased was 
 attached at the time of his death. The unfortunate 
 lady, the widow of this gallant young officer, is the sister 
 of the great engineer Monsieur de Lesseps. May the 
 sad bereavement fall lightly, and the knowledge that her 
 husband meet a glorious death bravely defending his 
 country's flag, make some slight atonement for the great 
 loss. 
 
 We will now sail slowly down the river in our 
 literary argos, and in passing review the damage done 
 by the French forces. Starting from Spiteful Island we 
 note that the large villages on the mainland opposite 
 this island are still flourishing and the houses left 
 unharmed by French shells. 
 
 The first fort on the left bank, slightly below these 
 hamlets, did not fare so well, but has since been rebuilt; 
 fresh earth and stones having been piled against its face. 
 It is now apparently deserted. On the summit of a 
 small hill sloping down to the water's edge, is a much 
 
» » ,m' t 
 
 ..::'.•.•'• 
 
35 
 
 larger fortification tlian the kst. Here many people 
 were observed, some in a great state of bustle and 
 activity, repairing the damage done by the shells. At 
 the back of this, on a considerably higher eminence, 
 may be seen the remains of an ancient fortified castle ; 
 but these ruins have been strangers for many centuries 
 to the reports of guns within the walls. 
 
 We are now at the small fortified island. The 
 defenses are in ruins, and apparently have been in a 
 dilapidated condition for a number of years. Efforts 
 were evidently made to mount guns upon the battlements. 
 A cannon is lying at the base of the rock, near the water's 
 edge, and several more are visible within the fort. The 
 village on the mainland in the rear of this fort is very 
 much battered, especially at the lower end, which is 
 very close to a large water battery that is completely 
 disabled, and the walls in some places levelled to the 
 ground. The villages and forts on the left bank of the 
 Mingan pass, all bear signs of having encountered the 
 French shells. The villages were not bombarded pur- 
 posely, and it is evident that their close proximity to the 
 forts was the cause of the damage sustained on the right 
 bank of the river. At the lower entrance to the pass is a 
 very long water battery. Portions of this are razed to 
 the ground, the houses inside the fortifications are 
 battered down, and everything bears silent testimony to 
 the fact that it was here that the French squadron did 
 their heaviest firing. Three mounted guns can be seen 
 within the fort, and gorgeous flags are waving again 
 defiantly over the ruins ; on the extreme point is a 
 subterranean battery riddled by shell ; the embrasures 
 are enlarged to five times their original size. No signs of 
 life and no guns are visible here. As we leave the pass 
 the river widens considerably. Nothing worthy of 
 attention is to bo seen on either hand till in the distance 
 we can distinguish the White Fort, and the entrance to 
 the Kimpai Pass. Just before reaching the mouth of the 
 pass can be seen a sunken wreck tbat drifted down 
 from the engagement at Mamoi. There are also many 
 junks partially submerged. These are intended, with the 
 aid of more, to block the channel in case the enemy 
 return. The Chang Men is deserted. A solitary flag- 
 
86 
 
 staff marks its unadorned head. From the river nothing 
 else is visible save the battered walls. In a small bay at 
 the foot of the hill nestles a hamlet. Nine war junks, 
 carrying each five diminutive cannon, are anchored off 
 this place, having brought down soldiers a few days pre- 
 viously to reinforce the forts above. Many of the 
 military were seen down around this village, but none 
 near their quarters. On the opposite hillside of the 
 river is a large forts with red stone wall running down 
 the face of the hill to the water, culminating in a series of 
 smaller defences. These are very much shattered and 
 the guns in the upper part all burst. Two antique 
 canonades, blown off short at the trunnions, are still 
 standing on their carriages, defiant but' unoffensive near 
 the water front. The residences (or they might be called 
 walled citadels) of the mandarins, are striking objects on 
 the hillsides, and attract attention both by their impos- 
 ing appearance, and the number of banners that adorn 
 the walls. These mansions all seem to have escaped the 
 shells of the French. 
 
 As we leave the Kimpai Pass on our left hand we 
 see the ruins of several white-coloured forts on tbe hill 
 slopes, and at the very summit of one a large sandstone 
 fort apparently not damaged, with flagstaff in centre of 
 the wall, and on each side of it two guns, one mounted 
 on its carriage, the other lying on the masonry. No 
 sign of life was to be seen anywhere near this fortifica- 
 tion. Still on the left, a small island standing well out 
 in the bay, has on its not very lofty summit a large 
 yellow sandstone fort, some portions of it knocked away 
 and others more or less damaged. Flags were flying in 
 abundance and natives were seen passing in and out. 
 On the right a strong fortification similar in construction 
 crowns the highest point of a lofty hill. This stronghold 
 was but slightly damaged, and from all external appear- 
 ances has escaped the fate of so many of its companions, 
 that only a short while ago looked down frowning and 
 terrible from their commanding positions, upon the quiet 
 waters of the now rapidly widening river Min. In two lines 
 more we can tell about the sunken side-wheel steamer 
 and the junks that are under water, their masts 
 only being in sight. If we pass these the strong current 
 
37 
 
 Sweeping out of the broad estuary, will sweep us out to 
 sea. Nothing can he more terrible than this, to be at 
 sea in a literary sense. 
 
 It is evident that the French have disabled every 
 one of these forts. From behind the ruins of several still 
 peer forth the muzzles of field pieces placed in positio n 
 since the departure of the enemy ; but it will take a very 
 long time, and a great number of men must be employed, 
 and new material be expended, to restore these fortifica- 
 tions to anything like the former condition, or to maRe 
 them in any way reliable strongholds. As we pass on 
 towards the sea the only thing of interest to be seen is the 
 French fleet anchored under the friendy shadow of 
 Matsou. 
 
 Chapter VI. 
 RETROSPECT, COMPARISONS, AND OPINIONS. 
 
 We will now glance back at the memorable events that 
 occurred in Foochow and its vicinity, between the twenty- 
 third and thirtieth of August. A telegram arrived from 
 Paris instructing Admiral Courbet to bombard the Arsenal 
 at Foochow at sunrise of the twenty-second ; to land French 
 troops and destroy the war material and stores. As we 
 have seen this was postponed owing to the inclemency of 
 the weather, till noon of the twenty-third, when at fifty- 
 five minutes after one the shelling of the forts and vessels 
 at Pagoda Anchorage commenced. In twelve minutes the 
 fighting on the water may be said to have ceased. 
 
 The resistance of the forts and arsenal above Mamoi, 
 prolonged the bombardment for some three hours. 
 
 An exciting night was passed in witnessing conflagra- 
 tions and warding off* fire ships. The Sunday morning 
 brought more firing and bloodshed, and the evening closed 
 on a day of carnage. 
 
 Monday, the twenty-fourth, the French bade farewell 
 to the Pagoda, and commenced operations above Mirigan. 
 At Mamoi, the residence of the English Consul was 
 plundered. At tlie mouth of the river the mighty Galis- 
 
38 
 
 soniere tested the strength of the Kimpai forts. Tuesday 
 began the bombardment of Mingan in terrific earnest. All 
 quiet at Kimpai. Up towards Foochow, the lowest class of 
 natives recreated themselves by sending various obnoxious 
 members of a social grade to that bourne, whence, even 
 Mandarins, do not return. The argument was thus, — " Spose 
 mandarins no have got, Flenchman no come niakee bobbly." 
 This proved conclusive enough to the victims. 
 
 Wednesday, the twenty-seventh, a day of victory. 
 The White Fort and Kimpai fell. . The English Admiral 
 and American Captain while surveying the ruins of the 
 fight at Mamoi, in their respective steam launches, were 
 fired npon by persons pillaging on the Pagoda Island. 
 
 Thursday, the twenty-eighth, was aroused from its 
 slumbers by the heavy guns of the Bugucuj Troiiin^ and 
 Triomphante completing the destruction of the Kimpai 
 Forts. The captain of the Enterprise and a resident 
 citizen were again threatened by warlike demonstrations from 
 armed natives on the crest of Pagoda hill. 
 
 Friday, twenty-ninth, slowfiring onthecamps at Kimpai. 
 Departure of Vtllars, Volta, D'Estaing, Chateau llenaud 
 and Lynx At Mamoi all quiet. At Foochow a crowd 
 threatened the British Consul while he was standing reading 
 various proclamations, promulgating the curious desire of 
 the authorities to possess at any price the head pieces of 
 their French enemies, and even those of their own poor 
 defeated braves. Flight of the intimidated to the Viceroy's 
 Yamen. Rapid change of garb; donning of queue; exit in 
 sedan chairs, disguised and guarded. Fortunate escape, 
 thanks to native cunning and Chinese blindness. 
 
 Saturday, thirtieth, all hail! joyful day to the people 
 of Fo-kien. The dreaded enemy has left their shores, to 
 return in anger not yet awhile, perhaps never. In peace 
 and goodwill, it is to be hoped that the French tricolor will 
 soon be borne up the Eiver Min, to the heart of tea-scented 
 Fo-kien. ♦ 
 
 At Pagoda Anchorage and Foochow, all is quiet, and 
 trade gradually resuming its former busy proportions. 
 
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41 
 
 A glance at the foregoing tables is sufficient to show 
 the great superiority of the French fleet over that of 
 their enemies, though not in the actual number of ves- 
 sels. It is nevertheless at once apparant that the great 
 advantage in tonnage and armament of the French 
 ships, more than compensated for the great disparity in 
 numerical strength. The Chinese had a larger number 
 of vessels by three times than then* antagonists ; but 
 of what class were these so-called war ships ? We 
 will now compare with each other the largest vessels on 
 both sides that were engaged in the action of the 2ord 
 of August. 
 
 The Triomphante, the vessel of greatest tonnage on 
 the side of the French, is a second rate sea-going iron- 
 clad of 4,127 tons, ship-rigged, compound engines of 
 2,400 indicated horse power, full sail power and a 
 maximum speed of thirteen knots, having an armored 
 belt and casemate varying from six inches in its greatest 
 to four inches in its least thickness, over a wooden 
 backing of twenty-six inches. The iron belt encircles 
 the water line to the height of the main deck beams, the 
 casemate carrying the armour to the spar deck from some 
 distance forward of the smoke-stack to a few feet abaft 
 the mainmast, thus protecting the most vulnerable part 
 of the ship, the engines and boilers. Two barbette 
 turrets are over the forward corners of the casemate, 
 and contain each a 5J inch breech-loading rifle, under 
 the forecastle 7^ inch breech-loading rifle, working 
 in a single port. Six 9^- inch breech-loading rifles act as 
 broadside guns on the main deck. An extra strong bow, 
 armed with a bronze ram, completes the armament of 
 this formidable vessel. The Galissoniere and Bayard 
 are of this class. 
 
 The Yang-woo was the largest and considered by 
 native naval authorities to be the most reliable vessel 
 in the Foochow division. A second class cruiser of 
 1,400 tons displacement, composite hull, non-compound 
 engines of 250 indicated horse power, ship-rigged, full 
 Bailing power, and an average speed of eight knots. A 
 battery of six muzzle-loading Whitworth guns 3^^ tons 
 each, acted as broadside on the spar deck ; two of the 
 same weight and calibre on the forecastle as bow-chasera, 
 
42 
 
 and another of tlie same dimensions and cliaracter 
 occupying a similar position astern. One Whitworth 
 pivot gun of six tons, abaft the foremast, completes the 
 armament of this vessel. 
 
 The vessel next in size to the Triomphante 
 is the Buguaif Trouin, of 3,198 tons displacement, 
 ship-rigged with compound engines of 3,740 in- 
 dicated H.P., full sail power and a maximum speed 
 of 16 knots. This corvette has an iron hull sheathed 
 with wood and copper, a strengthened bow for ram- 
 ming, armed with a heavy bronze ram. Four half 
 turrets or platforms on each side of the spar deck, 
 projecting out from the side of the ship so as to give a 
 clear fore and aft fire. The turrets each contain a 
 breech loading rifle of 7| inches calibre, and a bow-chaser 
 of the same character works under the forecastle in a 
 single port. A B.L.K. 5 J inches calibre, mounted in 
 barbette on a centre-pivot carriage, performs the same 
 duties astern. Four rifles of this class are placed as 
 broadsides on the spar deck. Tlie battery is carried on 
 the spar deck, thus leaving a clear roomy main deck. 
 
 It is difficult to decide on the next in order to the 
 Yang-ivoo, in the Chinese fleet. The three, Foo-poOy 
 Chi-an and Fei-ijuen, gunboat sloops all of similar size 
 and armament, must be placed after the flagship for 
 want of an intermediate grade. 
 
 Wooden hulls, brig and brigantine rigged, and non- 
 compound engines of 150 H.P. The first carrying 
 a battery of six breech-loading forty-five pounders, 
 (Vavaseur's) and one muzzle-loading Armstrong pivot of 
 about ten inches calibre. The second the same broadside 
 and a 4 ton Armstrong pivot. The third (the Fci-yuen) six 
 Vavaseur broadside guns, but no pivot. 
 
 This comparison carried to a greater length would 
 become invidious, when such ships as the Villars and 
 D'Estaing are ])laced side by side with the Ching-Wai and 
 Fuh-shing, fourth rate gunboat sloops. 
 
 The vast superiority of a ship like the Triomphante 
 Over the Yang-woo is so evident, that even were both 
 vessels manned with crews of equal strength, intrepidity, 
 and discipline, a duel between the two, no matter how 
 much circumstances favored the smaller one, could not 
 
43 
 
 last more than a few nnnutes, or perhaps seconds. Afc 
 close quarters within a confined area, the guns of the 
 Yang-ivoo could not be loaded again after the first broad- 
 side had been fired. Riflemen in the enemy's tops, and 
 sharpshooters from the decks, stationed for the purpose 
 could pick off the spongers and loaders as fast as they 
 made their appearance, and a great many of the gun's 
 crew that would have to expose themselves inboard. The 
 men on the decks of the French ship need not be exposed 
 to a like treatment from the enemy, owing to the shelter 
 obtained in the barbettes and underneath the forecastle. 
 
 The spar deck broadside battery is uncovered, but the 
 guns are breech loaders and the bulwarks ball proof. 
 
 To draw comparison, however light, between a vessel 
 like the Duguay Trouin and the i^oo -Poo would be absurd. 
 
 Setting aside the fact that the French had machine 
 guns and that their antagonists had not, and supposing 
 that the vessels on both sides had had crews of equd 
 valor and numerical strength, and been well officered, it 
 is improbable, nay almost impossible, that the result 
 could have been anything but a disastrous defeat to the 
 squadron of smaller vessels, though outnumbering the 
 enemy by three to one. 
 
 Giving the French the advantage of machine guns 
 and a superior torpedo service, the issue of the contest 
 became a certainty, and it only remained to be seen what 
 revelations would be made in the science of modern war- 
 fare. In this engagement, the potency of machine guns and 
 their incalculable value in naval combat, and the efficacy 
 of a well trained and thoroughly capable torpedo service, 
 was made manifest to the world. The continued hail of 
 shell from Hotchkiss cannon in the tops of the French 
 men-of-war upon their antagonists, swept them down 
 like wheat before the mower. Relays of men could not 
 be brought up from below fast enough to fill up the gaps 
 in the gun's crews. The diminutive shell came crashing 
 through the sides and bulwarks of the ship. Splinters 
 flying in every direction killed many more. So destruc- 
 tive were the torrents of iron poured upon these vessels, 
 that it is estimated eight hundred of the thousand com- 
 puted to have been on the Chinese ships were killed. 
 Vast numbers of men — every French ship having more 
 
44 
 
 than one half its complement in excess — were able to work 
 both broadsides at once and batter everything to pieces 
 on each hand with their heavy guns, and at the same time 
 rain down showers of bullets from their light artillery in 
 the tops, which were completely destructive to all 
 life on the decks of the Chinese vessel. They had 
 nothing to resist the like of this. Their ships were but 
 half manned, and with ci-devant crews of soldiers and rice 
 coolies at that. The men could not be brought to be work 
 the batteries in the face of the destructive hail from the 
 French machine guns, and, to crown all, the majority 
 of officers were absent from their posts, and those 
 who were at their stations, with a few notable 
 exceptions, exemplified the aphorism that discretion 
 is the better part of valor. The damage done 
 by the machine guns to the government property 
 at the Arsenal, is almost incredible. The walls are 
 literally riddled. The Chinese had Gatling guns on 
 hand in the Arsenal, and application had been made for 
 them by the Captains of the Yang-Woo and other vessels, 
 but the request was refused by the higher naval officials. 
 
 The machine gun used principally by the French 
 in the late engagement was Hotchkiss Revolving Can- 
 non, an American invention *' introduced into naval 
 services with the especial objects of, first, repelling 
 torpedo and boarding attacks ; second, for use against 
 light merchant vessels, where a light, long artillery fire 
 is most efiective. The gun has five barrels and can be 
 fired at a rate of from sixty to eighty shots a minute ; its 
 ammunition is shell and case-shot, the weight of pro- 
 jectiles ranging from one and a half pounds in the light 
 calibre, to six pounds in the heavy one." The only 
 rival of this gun at present is the Nordenfeft, which is 
 extensively used in some navies in preference to the 
 Hotchkiss. 
 
 Before closing this essay we will glance at the 
 two gunboats, Chin-shing and Fuh-sing of the Chinese 
 squadron, as being really for their size the most 
 reliable vessels engaged at Foochow. Iron twin- 
 screw gunboats of 440 tons displacement, of 389 
 indicated horse power, and a maximum speed of ten 
 knots, carrying each a heavy sixteen ton gun, firing 
 
45 
 
 through a musket proof bow port. An hydraulic 
 loading apparatus underneath the covered forecastle, 
 magazines and shell rooms under the gun with side 
 hatches and railway for transporting ammunition to the 
 muzzle. These gunboats had they been properly 
 manned and well officered could have caused much 
 trouble to the enemy, at a comparatively safe distance to 
 themselves. At a long range they would have a far 
 better chance of hitting than of being hit. China has 
 many of this class of river boats, and two, English built 
 attached to the northern division, that rank second to 
 none of their kind. The shore defences at Mamoi were 
 wretched in the extreme. The water batteries at the 
 foot of the Pagoda hill were considered by the natives as 
 almost impregnable. Six antique cannonades, eight small 
 cannon, firing a ball averaging from eight to ten pounds, 
 and three antediluvian field pieces, completed the arma- 
 ments of these loosely piled up fortifications. The 
 Mingan and Kimpai forts were defended with Armstrong 
 and Krupp guns. 
 
 A short sketch of the constitution of the naval and 
 military service of H.I.M. the Emperor of China, will 
 close this chapter. 
 
 The Chinese army and navy have degenerated sadly 
 since the early days of the present dynasty, when the 
 Manchoo Emperors had to maintain their power by arms. 
 These were palmy days for the garrisons stationed 
 throughout the kingdom and kept in an effective state. 
 Guns were cast and placed in battery and on the walls 
 of the large cities, and the troops were well supplied 
 with arms and all necessaries. Strict obedience to the 
 laws, civil and mihtary, was enforced, and swift was the 
 punishment inflicted on the head of the poUtical agitator. 
 But as centuries rolled on, decay crept in. The dynasty 
 found itself seated firmly on the Imperial throne, with 
 the laws of government well in hand. Internal troubles 
 were no longer to be apprehended, and China was at 
 peace with the outside world. 
 
 The secret of thorough mihtary organization and 
 effective administration has been lost, and at present there 
 do not exist in the world more wretched troops, worse 
 
46 
 
 equipped, more undisciplined, more insensible to honor, 
 or in a word more aburd. 
 
 The principal causes of inefficiency are as follows. 
 First, a protracted peace of some centuries ; second, the 
 Manchoo policy, which seeks to perpetuate an unwar- 
 like spirit and general feebleness on the natives, that 
 still prevent them from ever attempting to shake off the 
 Tartar yoke ; third, the undiscerning pertinacity of the 
 government, which has until recently refused to sanction 
 any reform in the tactics and weapons of ancient times ; 
 and lastly the great importance attached to literary 
 pursuits, which permeates the whole poHtical system, 
 and the consequent reproach thrown upon the profession 
 of arms, which is entered solely by physical qualifications. 
 
 Both the army and navy are recruited from among 
 the inferior classes of society, and the fact that officers 
 and men are alike liable to corporal punishment may in 
 some measure account for the very low morale which they 
 possess. 
 
 Yet the Chinese are not without bravery. In the 
 last affair at Canton, the troops distinguished them- 
 selves in fighting against the EngUsh, and also up the 
 Peiho in 1859, and it is highly probable that if they 
 were properly drilled, disciplined, and officered, and 
 supplied with the munitions of war, they would make 
 soldiers superior to most Asiatics. 
 
 Very little distinction is made between the regula- 
 tions for the naval and military forces which both come 
 under the Ping-Poo, or Board of "War, the central 
 administration at Pekin. The general administration is 
 divided amongst coast districts, at each of which is a 
 dockyard for construction and repair. These districts have 
 each a distinct corresponding fleet division. First, Canton 
 squadron, second Foochow squadron, third Nanking 
 squadron, and fourth the squadron of Li Hung-chang in 
 the north. At Foochow are the principal machine shops 
 and building yard ; Shanghai, Nanking and Tientsin has a 
 powder factory and Arsenal ; and at Canton there are the 
 naval school ships. For centuries China made but little 
 advance in naval affairs. The long period of isolation to 
 which the country subjected itself, the vast inland territory 
 acknowledging the sway of the Emperor, and the fact that 
 
47 
 
 the Chinese people are entirely unsuited to naval entei*prise, 
 will in some manner account for the state of the service. 
 
 The progress made within the last forty years is 
 remarkable for China ; but still propositions for the 
 further improvement of this important branch of the pro- 
 tective service, do not meet with that ready acceptance and 
 advancement at Pekin, which foreigners are led to expect 
 from a country professedly anxious to shake off the 
 lethargy of centuries and take its place in the foremost 
 rank of nations. 
 
 "' Each province in China is antonomous, or nearly 
 so, and the supreme authorities, whether Viceroys or 
 Governors, are practically independent so long as they act 
 in accordance with the very minute details laid down for 
 their guidance. The principal functions of the Pekin 
 Government are to see that these regulations are carried 
 out, and in case they should not be, to call the offending 
 Viceroy or Governor to account. Each Viceroy raises 
 his own army, and navy, which he pays, or unfortunately 
 sometimes does not pay, out of the revenues of his 
 government. He levies his own taxes, and except in 
 particular cases, is the final court of appeal in all judicial 
 matters within the limits of his rule. Official purity 
 and justice must be treated as comparative terms in 
 China/' 
 
 The long period of official oppression that the 
 Chinese have undergone, has made them essentially an 
 unwarlike people; not peace-living but fright-fear- 
 ing; and the act of tyranny must be severe indeed, 
 to arouse them from their torpor. The manner of 
 conscription on the very lowest class, the inde- 
 finite term of service; the practice of transferring 
 men from the army to the navy, and vice versa ; the 
 purchase system; the unscrupulous conduct and 
 general incapacity of the officers; and the extreme 
 indifference manifested at Pekin, all combine to make 
 the army and navy of H.I.M. a very doubtful protective 
 force. With affairs in this state can the government be 
 surprised at the feeble resistance offered and the total 
 destruction of a naval division and arsenal ? 
 
 China has few sympathizers in her present difficulty. 
 In the hour of prosperity, instead of opening up her 
 
48 
 
 resources and welcoming other nations to her ports, an 
 overbearing pride and haughty isolation have been her 
 chief characteristics. 
 
 Should the present trouble be decided by force of 
 arms alone, it is at once obvious that France would be 
 victorious. But should Chinese cunning and artifice 
 get the upper hand, and gain a victory over French 
 diplomacy, the position of all foreigners would be unbear- 
 able. *' China cannot be trusted with victory." Until 
 the government adopts a more liberal policy both at 
 home and abroad, and shows signs of progressing, the 
 arrogance of China must be held in check by the forces 
 single or combined of European powers. But China 
 must first look to herself. The government has far 
 more to fear from its own subjects, than from the 
 enemy at present destroying its navies, bombarding its 
 Arsenals, and demolishing its property. 
 
 Events are daily showing us that the Chinese peo- 
 ple are ready for revolt ; to. rise against their hated 
 oppressors and petty tyrants — the mandarins, and strive 
 to shake off the yoke that has for centuries been grinding 
 them down, till at last they dare no longer call their 
 lives their own. 
 
 The doctrine inculcated from time immemorial by 
 the highest constitutional authorities, and the learned 
 Confucius among others, has been almost forgotten, 
 that the duties existing between the Emperor and his 
 people are reciprocal and that so long as the rule of 
 the sovereign is just and beneficent, it is the duty of 
 the people to render strict and willing obedience ; but 
 should he depart from the paths of rectitude and virtue, 
 it is equally incumbent on their part to resist his 
 authority to the utmost. The Chinese people cannot see 
 as far as this. They can only Jeel the hand of the nearer 
 oppressor. 
 
 It is a difficult matter to estimate the power 
 of the Emperor. " The outside world sees only the 
 Imperial bolts, but how they are forged, or whose is the 
 hand that shoots them no one can tell." The throne 
 is so hedged with ceremonies that unless the occupant be 
 a man of supreme ability he cannot fail to fall under the 
 guidance of his ministers and favorites. What the 
 
49 
 
 Chinese people want, what they must do, before they 
 can find a potent means of protection against the oppres- 
 sion of the subordinate officials of the government, is to 
 break down the barriers around the throne ! The 
 French have unknowingly given the initiative, and the 
 natives in some districts have already seized upon it. 
 
 China is like a large pie. For many years covetous 
 nations have been nibbling at the edge of the crust. 
 Now a crack is made a new and strange agency is at 
 work more towards the centre, beyond the extreme border. 
 This will gradually spread over the rich-rounded surface 
 of the interior in a series of convulsions till it finds the 
 apex, the summit, where all the leaf-like ornamentations 
 are, and hidden away in these, almost covered, will be 
 found a young boy I The sudden influx of light will 
 cause to crumble away all the ancient surroundings, 
 and over the ruins and ceremonies of centuries 
 will step out before the world, free and untrammelled 
 H.I.M. the Emperor of the Flowery Land ! 
 
 Do not suppose for an instant that we anticipate in 
 China a revolution like that in France — total overthrow 
 and destruction of the monarchy. Not this, but merely 
 that a trembling of the pie crust, brought about by coolie 
 wrongs, will cause the downfall of many ancient struc- 
 tures and monuments of antiquity ; and that in the crack 
 occasioned by this pie-quake, mandarin oppression and 
 bigotry, despotism and coolie slavery, may find a grave, 
 and European and American enterprise a virgin soil, in 
 which the roots of trade may take such firm hold that 
 convulsions, however great, may never again retard the 
 growth of the flourishing tree. 
 
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