15
-12-
Menzies Leslie in 72, and Smith, Tanyard, 600 yards off. Finding herself discovered Larke and Super respectively in 2nd class the Koi Shui opened fire at the Torpedo torpedo boats Nos. 33, 34, 35 and 36, pro- boat from his fore turret, at the same time ceeded West down the Harbour. The 9-slipping she sheered to port, blazing away pounder boat's gun from the Plover had from the after turret also as soon as it bore. been put in the bows of the launch Kam Smith returned the fire with two rifles Ling, in charge of Gunner's Mate Robert and went ahead full speed; the Kam Ling Adams, of the Victor Emanuel.
also pursued, firing the boat's gun. The Torpedo boats 71 and 72, two cables apart third shot struck the stern of the Kow in line abreast, led, followed by 34, 35, Shut, smashing the rudder hond, and and 36. 34 one cable astern of 71 and 36, damaging the starboard screw, she swung the same distance astern of 72,-35 one
round to starboard. Almost at the same cable from 34 and 36. The Wivern follow.instant 33 had her funnel knocked away ed a cable astorn of 35, and the Tweed one
by the Kow Shwi. cable on her starboad quarter. Torpedo) boat No. 33 was sent alisad about three ca- bles on the starboard bow of 72, with the Kam Ling in support, on her port quarter.
36 Tweed
N
Greenp Id
33 42.35°Wivern
34
K
·Sulphur Channel,
5
Feikoo
Reveb Borgo
0.
M+
The flames came roaring up, roasting Smith's back, but be clung to the helm, and headed straight for the Kow Shut's funnel as she crossed his course under her port screw only, blazing at hin from both turrets. The rifleman---Thomp- son-on the port bow, jumped ovor board, and was the only survivor. Within 100 feet Smith pulled the lanyard and fired his torpedo. At the same mo- ¿Davis. ment 33 must have been struck by shell from both guns of the Kow Shui, the shell passing through the boiler from forward, for she blew up about two seconds before the Kow Shui struck fair amidships by the torpedo, broke in two and sank. The Kam Ling, coming up about two minutes after- wards, picked up Thompson, the man who had jumped overboard,
Sandy] 10 Bay
10c2bles: 1milo
1 Chop Sing.
2 Kow Shui.
K. Kam Ling.
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Russian torpedo boats. Naylor steered for the Sulphur Channel, being much delayed by the slow speed and wild steering of the Tweed.
Naylor, coming through Sulphur Chan- nel, did not make out the Chop Sing till after the action had commenced on the North side of the island, when his search light dropped on her. The Chop Sing on discovery dashed straight forward close along the shore, and the Wivern's first shots from her quick-frers went over her; as she ran along blazing away from both her turrets she struck No. 34 repeatedly (one shell, exploding the torpedo in the tube, killed every soul on board) before
Closing Sulphur Island, 33 and the Kam Ling passed North of the Island, and just then the search light from Stonecutters she was sunk by the fire of the Wizern and showed Smith (in 33), the Kong Shui about the three-pounders of 71 and 72.
--13--
Our small squadron now made out the the Feikoo on the port beam. The vessels Feihoo and the Destroyers, all three of had been approaching one another nearly whom began blazing away when the two stem on; directly, however, Flamer ported Russian torpedo boats under Mount Davis his helm he discovered a torpedo bost darted out. The Northern and leading on his starboard bow, and recognized boat fired her torpedo at 71, just missing that any attempt to circle round (in her astern; so close was she and with so the Tweed) meant destruction. He much way did she shoot out that before was equally aware that in his badly- she could turn, Larke in 35 rainmed him steering 8-knot flat-iron he conid not get abaft the funnol, and in his excitement round to the starboard side of the Feihoo (or else it was the result of the jar) dis- either, before the little hornet would have charged his torpedo, and they sank to-stung and sunk him. Starboarding again gether.
he plunged smash into the port how of the The second Russian was about 100 feet Custons Cruiser, firing his bow 64-pounder astern, and on the port quarter of the first, as he did so. The mere weight of the two -aseing her consort miss 71 he discharged vessels appeared to bring them both up ali his torpedo with fatal effect into Cellair's standing for a second or two after the first boat as she was turning towards him on crash--the fore-mast of the Fethoo falling starboard helm, and ripped the whole port forward over the Tweed. Then there was side out of him. 71 turned over to port a rearing of steam from the burst pipes, and blew up as she sank. Before the Ras- where the huge shell had smashed through, sian could turn she was sunk by the shrieks, yells, oaths and the rattle of
Wivern's fire.
musketry from the Fethoe, The Tweed had her bows stove in, and was slowly forcing the Feikoo (whose engines had ceased to work) astern. There was no need for it, for both vessels were bound to go to the
Tho Tweed had by this time been left a long way astern. The Wivera, 72, and 36 were heading up to the S. E., with the Borgo, Revel, and three torpedo boats steering to
eat them off. Recoguising that for him there button together; but the lust for blood was no manoeuvring, Flumer ploughed on in was strong on them. Twice in that bell of the Tweed, for the Feihos, accompanied by steam and sinoke, under the little forecastle the Kum Ling on the port bow. The launch of the Tweed, with both ships sinking un- was outstripping the Tweed fast, making der them, did the gun's crew load and fire excellent practice, plugging shot after shot the 64-pounder with extreme depression into the bows of the Feihoo, who at last in right down through the fast-settling Feihoo, desperation turned all her fire on the bost, the Russians replying bravely with muske. sinking her about 700 yards off. Four of try. Neither was there any need for it, her men were saved in the dinghy, and had they known, for the torpedo boat to rush Thompson, the man from 33. The Tweed up under the stern of the Tiered, and fire meanwhile paid strict attention to business, her torpedo within 30 feet, only to be blown knocking away the funnel, and main and to picces herself by the after 64-pounder. nizen masts of the Feihoo. It now became Tearing herself clear, the Feihoo rolled over evident that she was in difficulties; she to starboard and sank. The Tweed went obeyed her helm but sluggishly and her down bodily, the rush of water from for- screw appeared to be fouling the wreckage ward and aft, literally filling her in a few towing astern and alongside. Flumer, seconds, the steam blowing up the decks as therefore, thought that turning to star-she settled. Two of her crew were after- board he would circle round, and hammerį wards picked up by the Belle, the Asbestos
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