22
26-
shelter them. Before any one landed, how-rived from Macao, but was afterwards scen ever, Robinson was off to the Vancouver în in Mire Bay, she had been captured in the Picnic Bay, and arriving in Victoria shortly morning at Chung Chow. Mesars Drewin after 11 a.m., made his report to General and Huckle, two Government officers, White.
volunteered to try to get to Canton over- Tristful made his preparations in a man- land, disguised as Chinamen, to com- ner that startled the civilians and showed wonnicate with the British Consul there, more clearly even than the fearful gaps in but the disguises must have been detected, our ranks the desperate straits we were in. as they were never heard of again. The He burnt Yaumati (which his wild Pathans allies had their prizes the Honam, Futshan, appeared thoroughly to enjoy), the Briquette L'asig, Ti On, and Heungshan anchored in Factory and his own barracks, leaving no S. E. bay, Lama Island.
THE FINAL ASSAULTS.
cover north or round the western forts of Kowloon, completing the destruction and
About 2 p.m. the look-outs reported the scaling bis guns with a few shell amongst the ruins-levelling the walls. The Ad-departure of the Dordogne and Heunyshun miralty dock was empty; he blew in the escorted by the Seaborg (which had re- walls and the head of it. The Pacific mail turned with the French fleet) by the ship Rio de Janeiro (Capt. Ward) was in Shingshimoon Pass, round D'Aguilar and the other dock, and was destroyed with the thence North, past the Ninepins, evidently dock. The ship was ruined. The Cosmo- bound to Mirs Bay. At 4 p.m. the three politan dock was also demolished. Colonel men-of-war assembled off Tytam Head, the Yardhill ordered the destruction about Eclaireur escorting her prizes, the Verona aud Sungkiung, the two latter being sent noon of the Aberdeen docks. The survey hill, midway between Hung Hom and Kew off to S.E. Bay, Lama Island. The Triom loon West, Tristful fortified, planting the phante and Descartes proceeded slowly bulk of his quick-firers on the N. E. apur. Generous supplies of ammunition, provi- sions and liquor were sent to him, and 150 of the Home Guard, 50 Portuguese and 100
British.
was
Westwards. The Eclaireur entered Tytam
Bay, preceded by two torpedo boats, the first about three-quarters of a mile and the second about half-a-mile aboad of her, The Eclaireur stopped about three-quarters of a mile from the entrance to the Inner Harbour. The Swifts had been watching the enemy from the rodoubt on the hill,
If they had contented themselves wit
About 2 p.m. the Hankow and Canton were seen to come out of the Capsuimoon pass, flying the British Ang, and shape, the usual course as if for Hongkong, and directly the loading boat rounded the Huzzard, however, not deceived point, going dead slow, she was blown to were pieces by the fire of the Swift and Rattler. by the ruse,
they but when S. W., distant 2 miles, sunk them both with a couple of 10' shell from Stone-that, they would have done well, but un- cutter's West. The Tommy Atkins, a fortunately opening fire with their Norden- military launch, was sent to where the folts on the hill, though they sank the wreckage floated and fortunately rescued other boat, they unmasked their bat- both Captains Lloyd and Spencer Wilde, tery. The Eclaireur at once rained a Some dozen of the prizes crews and a few shower of shell on them, knocking the re- Chinese were also picked up. The Han-doubt and the Nordenfelts to pieces, and kow's passengers had been landed at killing half the men before they had timo
to run down the kill. Capsuinoon. The Heungshin never sr-
27
Col. Yardhill was, however, so much in- Guard-and 40 men, gunners and Home pressed with the value of the redoubt on Guard. Wounded, 4 officers of the Home the hill that he sent De Horsey out another Guard, amongst them poor Cæsar Rawkins, Nordonfelt in the evening, with orders to and 27 men Regulars and Home Quard. plant it just below the crest, on the West It had a very depressing effect on the face, where it commanded the Shankiwan Defenders, there was no element of Road,
The Triomphante and Descartes, personal strife, it was simply an Artil. steaming showly West, stopped between lery duel in which we were hopelessly Round Irland and Aplichan, and, firing at overmatched. Our losses were before our the new earthworks on the crests of the eyes, and the smell of blood in our nostrils. hills above Deep Water Bay, had their fire We could not see how, or if the energy promptly returned by the 40-pounders in suffered, to cheer us up. That evening position, the saine fatal mistake as was was pretty wretched; there were some at- made at Tytam. Our guns were no match tempts at jollity here and there; as you for those of the ironclad and cruiser. In know the average Hongkong man of our half an hour four of our guns were dis-day was cheery in the jaws of death-- mounted, and the labour of the day-as far through which most of us passed in the next as the battery was concerned-wasted. few hours--still we were so intermingled, Beyond knocking away some of the spars the married men with the single, that for of the ironclad no material damage was done the most part the light-hearted were to hor. The Descartes contined her atten- swamped by the heavy-hearted. Not that tion to the guns at the Hacienda dis- the latter fought one whit the worse next mounting both-but suffered somewhat day-possibly better, though that could herself from the plunging fire until the guns not be said either, where all did so well. were silenced, part of her upper works It is impossible to deny, however, that the and port bulwarks being knocked away, man whose hat covers his family can, and and damage was done to her quick-firers. in some cases does, face inevitable death Fernside, Genora, Kellett's Spur, and the more cheerfully, than the man who leaves houses on the East side of Mount Kellett, behind to what may be worse than death, were kuocked into shapeless ruins.
those that are dearer than life. The General White ordered the guns above soldiers, whose duty 'tis to die,' and some Deep Water Bay to be retired, otherwise youngsters, got up a few songs; but on the every one would have been dismounted. whole the waiting was pretty wretched. The battery further East, commanding the There was plenty of room in the Hos- Tytam Road, was sheltered from sea fire.pitals; already many of the cots and Proceeding West outside Aplichau, the mattrasses had been vacated, and a tem- ships disabled three of the guns at Pokfo-porary cemetery established in the West Jum Gap and demolished the stone wall Borks parade ground, along the retaining across the road. One gun at Victoria Gap wall of the Cathedral compound and below was dismounted, and the Tram station, Beaconsfield House. As soon as it was which had escaped the Harbaroesk's fire, dark we set to work repairing our earth- destroyed. It must be confessed that the works, and taught by experience throw an ships made excellent practice, whilst great embankment across the Pokfolum Road, in part of our fire was wasted. Our casualties lieu of the stone wall destroyed, the splin- amounted to six officers killed-of the Re- ters from which had been most destructive. gulars two, both R.A. (Capt. Rawford and Sungahs, or small redonhta, wore thrown Lt. Hatthews), and four of the Home up on spurs, (below the batteries on the