THE END OF THE _FENG SHUI_--CAPTURED AND PRESSED
The tremendous excitement of the Chinese was due, as I then understood,
to a signal from the _Naniwa_, which we found out meant "Weigh; cut or
slip." This was rightly interpreted as a command to follow the warship
and surrender, and the Chinese absolutely declined. I wished we had
run away and beached the steamer.
We were on the bridge then. I mean the officers; and the captain
attempted to persuade the Chinese officers to be quiet. But the
trouble increased every minute. Soldiers loaded their rifles, and took
up their positions as sentries at the ladders, so that at the first
symptoms of surrender the British would be shot; and when the Asiatic
begins to kill he becomes a fiend.
Under these circumstances the captain made an appeal to the Japanese.
Goldheugh and the mate conferred with the German officer, who was a
"drill instructor" of the Chinese troops, and the cry went up--
"Send a boat. Must confer personally."
When this signal was perceived, and explained, the generals threatened
to shoot us all; the soldiers at once thronged the deck, and advanced
to the gangway, so that if the Japanese came on board again they ran a
great risk of being killed. The signal was replied to by "Send
immediately," and we waited amid a fearful uproar, and desperate
resolves upon the part of the Chinese to cut our heads off.
We were silent and expectant. The explanation was agreed on by all the
Europeans, and it was with great difficulty that the Chinese leaders
were at length induced to order the men from the gangway. The Japanese
did not come alongside at once. They perceived the difficulty and the
risk for us.
When the lieutenant did come up he was informed of the state of the
case. Captain Goldheugh and the German officer fully explained the
cause of the delay.
"We can do nothing," said the former. "You desire us to weigh anchor;
the Chinese will kill us all if we attempt to obey. Cannot your
captain permit us to return? _We_ had not heard of any declaration of
war before we sailed. We have not in any way broken the laws of
nations."
"The Europeans must quit the ship," said the Japanese. "That is my
suggestion."
"We cannot. You perceive the difficulty. What shall we do? You may
let us return to Taku. This is the Chinese demand."
The Jap shook his head doubtfully.
"I will inform my superior," he replied. "You must be ready to act
when the answer comes, whatever it may be."
He then returned to the boat, and the crew gave way rapidly. All these
arrangements had occupied quite three hours and a half, and it was then
nearly "one bell,"--half-past twelve,--for I remember the bell being
struck at the time the Japanese boat was proceeding to the cruiser,
which lay about half a mile away.
"Julius," said the captain, "tell the engineers and firemen to come on
deck; and hark ye, my lad, put on a life-belt."
"A life-belt! What for?" I exclaimed.
"Do as ye're bid," he said, descending from the bridge, and entering
the chart-room, and later, his cabin. Meantime I gave the order, and
the engineers and firemen came up, some went forward to wash.
We had not much time to spare. The Chinese sentries had left the
bridge before this, and the "calm that precedes a storm" had settled
upon us. The pause was broken by the expected reply from the cruiser--
"Leave the steamer at once."
The captain shrugged his shoulders, and called to me--
"Have you told the engineers? Signal, 'I am not allowed,' and ask for
a boat for us. Be ready all; there's mischief now."
When the captain had made this reply, he spoke to the mate, who quitted
the bridge, and made some preparations to depart. The next thing I
remarked was a red flag at the foremast of the cruiser, and a signal
abaft--"Can't send boat."
"Then we're done," said the chief engineer. "What's that red flag?"
"Looks like 'Fire,' but it can't be that," replied his mate, who had
retreated aft with the mate of the steamer.
"She's taking up position," said the mate. "See! What's that? By
thunder, it's a torpedo! That's another. Hurry, lads. Fly! Jump!
They intend to sink us with the Chinese fools!"
I stood irresolute, not from fear, because I could not realise the
extreme danger of the situation. "A torpedo," the engineer had said.
I had never seen one before; and was it possible that this black thing
which was rushing like a small porpoise at us was intended as a
destructive weapon against a friendly vessel? What would happen if it
struck the steamer?
Before it touched us, however, a fearful thunder of guns rang out at
one moment, and a curious sound of grinding or rattling.
"A broadside!" shouted the chief mate, rushing forward. "Leap, Julius;
jump overboard!"
He rushed at a belt, and disappeared as the steamer heeled over under
the fearful impact of the shot or shell, and I also dropped in the blue
sea behind him. The effect of the broadside was to depress the steamer
upon the starboard side.
The crash was fearful! Even as I fell into the water I felt the
concussion, and the roar of the discharge was terrific. Since then I
have heard "guns going off," and have been startled by them, but this
hurricane of shot was fearful. When I again rose, supported by my
belt, the air was enveloped in steam, and thick with dust, while the
sea was sprinkled with coal ashes.
The "quick-firing" guns were peppering the survivors on the doomed
ship, flashing from the _Naniwa_ like crackers. The Chinese kept
firing in reply at anyone in the water, and at the ship's boats, which
had been lowered, but not with the intention to save life at first.
The Japs fired without mercy at the wrecked and sinking steamer and the
Chinese troops.
Mechanically I swam in the direction of the island. I had no time to
fear the bullets, but perhaps I owe my life to the small ladder which
supported me, and beneath which I managed to float, and propel myself
at intervals, while the firing continued. The Chinese replied
aimlessly from the steamer, killing their own people on the principle
of the scorpion which attacks itself when in imminent danger of death.
Numbers of Chinese were swimming, and were slain in the water; a few
were saved, with three or four Europeans, by the Japanese and by a
French vessel which came upon the scene, but the vast majority perished.
I learned these details afterwards; at the time the noise and shouting,
the crackling of the machine-guns and the rifle fire, were most
bewildering, and how I managed to keep afloat and unharmed is to me,
even now, astonishing. Had I not been perfectly at home in the water I
think I must have drowned from sheer nervousness; the exertion itself
would have exhausted me before the boat came and rescued me. As it
proved, I kept my head and my life-belt.
Then I saw the unlucky _Feng Shui_ rise up a little, roll a bit, and
plunge down by the stern suddenly, carrying hundreds of living,
wounded, and dead Chinese into the vortex of the Yellow Sea. The
_Naniwa_ had struck a decisive blow in the war. Then my mind sprung
back to the evening on which I had been rescued by Captain Goldheugh
from the sinking yacht, in which I had dreamed of a sinking steamer
attacked by a man-of-war, amid steam and the roar of artillery. Was
this prophetic?
[Illustration: I SAW THE UNLUCKY _FENG SHUI_ PLUNGE DOWN BY THE STERN
SUDDENLY]
A murmur of strange voices aroused me for I swam mechanically, as I
ascertained later, in the direction of the Japanese cruiser. I raised
my head, and perceived a large boat closing upon me gently. A word of
command; I was seized and dragged on board the launch amid the Japanese
crew, and to my delight I perceived Mr. Rose, the mate of the steamer.
There were some other boats afloat with Japanese and Chinese occupants,
but the former fired upon the latter at every opportunity.
We were carried to the _Naniwa_ and, I am glad to say, well treated by
our captors, who supplied our wants, and those of the others rescued.
We received no apologies, however, though food and dry clothing were
supplied. The captain also was rescued by another boat, but we did not
"chum" with him; and we found that a sentry had been placed at the
doors of the cabins respectively, to avoid and prevent any comparisons
of our treatment.
During the evening we were asked separately many questions, and desired
to make a statement to the captain of the cruiser. At eight bells we
anchored for the night, and I slept thankfully till the morning.
* * * * *
Very early in the morning of the next day I was awakened by the noise
of a brief and sharp conversation outside the cabin wherein I was
lying. There was a sound of firearms, a clash of a sword, and in the
dawning light I perceived a young officer advancing from the door.
Impulsively I arose, bracing myself for an encounter, but the
ambassador was on peace intent. He was my young friend the midshipman
to whom I had been of some assistance at Shanghai. He began directly,
without any preface.
"How are you feeling, Mr. Julius? I have been thinking about you, and
have ventured to see you. What are your plans?"
"I have no plans. My captain and mate are prisoners, and I am in
custody," I replied. "Why ask a prisoner what his plans are?"
He put up his hand deprecatingly, and shook his head.
"You are not a captive," he replied; "at least only until we can
restore you and your officers to the British ships. Your captain will
return to Nagasaki, I believe, and thence to Hong Kong, perhaps. But
if you have liberty to remain, why not stay with this ship?"
"Enlist in the Japanese navy?" I exclaimed.
"Not enlist; join us. My uncle is commander here now, and he is
already pleased with you, and grateful for your assistance to me. He
himself has suggested your joining the ship. You were intended for the
English navy, you said; and you may do us the honour of accepting the
offer."
I made no immediate reply. The suggestion was pleasant to my ears.
Perhaps I might volunteer if Captain Goldheugh had no objection.
"Well?" asked the young Japanese. "I must request a reply, as my watch
will be called at eight bells."
"Yes; I will volunteer if my captain will permit me. But must I
actually join your service?"
"I presume not. The idea is merely one to enable you to see some
service, and I am certain you will be a credit to the _Naniwa_."
He bowed and smiled. I jumped up and responded.
"You are too kind, Tomi," I said. "Please tell your most honourable
uncle that I will, if permitted, be most happy to join his ship, though
he nearly drowned us in the _Feng Shui_."
"That would have been a misfortune," said Tomi.
"The steamer was always unlucky," I replied. "Her very name is a
reproach, and the captain changed it to _Kowshing_."
"Which was even a greater ill-luck. But I am on duty. We weigh at
four o'clock this morning. I will tell the commander of you."
He retired quickly. The time was passing, and the hands were about to
weigh anchor. Before I had finished dressing in the sailor's clothes,
with which home-made (Japanese) attire we had all been supplied, a
message came for me, and I was released politely from the surveillance
to that time observed. At this point I may say that all the officers
and men, and later the Japanese ashore, treated us all most kindly.
But all the same I think that in war they would be most formidable
antagonists, because they "go" for their aim at once, risking all for
country; even killing themselves if they do not succeed as they intend
to do, and they spare neither themselves nor their opponents, not even
to the farther verge of cruelty, if aroused.
But I did not know so much of the Japanese character then, and I admire
it still. In all my dealings with them--and I have met many
influential Japanese and others--I have found them polite and
courteous, with a fine tendency to business, and to "take the turn of
the market" for themselves.
Soon after eight bells the warship weighed anchor, and I was permitted
to go on deck amidships, or forward of the bridge, and while I was
gazing alongside my midshipman friend accosted me.
"Your captain is aft," he said. "Perhaps you would like to see him."
"Is he a prisoner?" I asked, as I gazed at a Chinese gunboat close by,
which had been captured when conveying despatches. "What's that
vessel?"
"She's a Chinese boat, _Tsaokiang_," replied my friend Tomi. "We have
caught her, and shall send her captain and crew with your officers in
the transport. You can visit your captain if you wish."
This was my desire, and accordingly I proceeded astern, under escort
and by permission, to the cabin in which Captain Goldheugh was
interned. He welcomed me gladly from his cot.
"Ah! my son, so ye've got free of the Japs, have ye? Sure I'm still in
limbo, though I must say the fellows are civil enough. We're steaming
to the rendezvous, I'm told."
"Yes, sir. I came to ask your permission to stay on board here."
I rushed at my fence, you see, and yet in trepidation when I realised
the obstacles.
"What!" exclaimed the captain. "Remain on board the Jap's cruiser with
the fellows who smashed us into smithereens, and made a 'holy show' of
the _Feng Shui_? Bedad, a March hare isn't in the same run with ye.
He's mad this time, anyway," concluded the captain. "Stark and
staring! Are those straws in your hair?"
"No," I replied, smiling, yet nervously. "The fact is the captain of
this ship has offered me a berth, and"--
"By the powers o' Moll Kelly this beats the world!" cried the captain,
relapsing into native idiom. "The Jap captain offers ye a berth. Ah,
go out o' that! He wants ye to take the cruiser into action, so he
does! That's what he means. Well, well," he sighed resignedly, "look
at that!"
He nodded his head up and down three times, as if perfectly, but
unwillingly, resigned. I felt smaller by degrees.
"All right, _admiral_," he said suddenly. "By all manner o' means.
Won't I make them proud at home when I tell them that the young runaway
is the admiral of the _Naniwa_--what's that mean? In Ireland 'Nanny'
is an old _nurse_--and she here is your wet-nurse, bedad! Oh, it's
grand entirely, _your honour_!"
This affectation of manner puzzled me. The captain was "putting on"
this, I perceived.
"If you object, sir," I began.
"Is it me object! Not at all! Go and leave your ship--she's left
ye--and your friends. What for?" he asked suddenly and almost
fiercely. "What d'ye want to do?"
"To serve in the Japanese navy," I said, "as a volunteer, and see some
service for a while. The captain here has told his nephew, who asked
me to tell you too."
"The dog began to bite the pig, the pig began to go, and the old woman
(that's me) begins to get over the stile. I see! Well, do as ye like,
Julius, my boy, I'll not stop ye."
"Really? Oh, you are kind, captain! Still, if you order me"--
"Ah! go on! Ye won't stay long I expect. But if ye _do_ it will do ye
good. I don't understand why the captain of the ship has made ye the
offer, but as he _has_, and ye are already dressed up in Japanese
clothes, maybe he wants to see whether ye're worth your salt! All
right, Admiral Julius, 'Go where Glory waits ye,' as Tommy Moore says,
and 'when Fame elates thee, then remember me,' that's all. Here's the
lieutenant."
The officer came in, we saluted, and the captain accepted the polite
invitation to breakfast by and by, and the lieutenant retired.
"Now, admiral, quit, if ye please, as I'm going to 'draw on my
stockings,' and--dress myself. I suppose _ye'll_ breakfast in the
cabin, while _I_ am pigging in the ward-room. Be off, I tell ye!
Don't stand there staring like a stuck pig. Hurry, now!"
I obeyed, feeling that the captain was annoyed, but my feelings of
adventure rose in me, and as he had consented, however unwillingly, I
decided to assume his acquiescence in the matter, but he apparently
feared the future.
There was another interview with my captain afterwards, and a chat with
the mate and others, who subsequently were transferred to the transport
_Yayayama_ with the Danish gentleman,--also a captive from the despatch
boat,--the Chinese crews of it, and the surviving soldiers of the _Feng
Shui_. I need not dwell upon the parting. I felt sorry to leave my
messmates, but against this feeling came the knowledge that I was
adrift already, and must go to Nagasaki first, then find conveyance to
China and perhaps to Europe. I had no money, and no chance of finding
any then. My parents, particularly my dear mother, would be much more
pleased to receive a telegram announcing my entry into the Japanese
service, than a wire for money and announcing shipwreck! The captain
(Goldheugh) had promised to write about me, and I found out afterwards
that not only had he done so, but had spoken well of me to Captain Toyo
of the _Naniwa_.
The _Tsaokiang_, which had appeared before the sinking of the steamer,
was a prize to the _Maya_; and all her officers and crew having been
transferred as indicated above, the _Yayayama_ steamed away for Japan.
I remained in the cruiser while she sent boats to search for the
fugitive Chinese vessel, which had fled away ashore. She was found and
destroyed by the Japanese boats' crews as she lay beached.
Then the cruisers joined the fleet, and war was declared on the 1st
August 1894, "after the ball" at Phungdo.