Mr. Le Gendre to Mr. Seward
No. 19.]
Consulate
of the United States of America, Amoy, China, May, 1867
.
Sir: Referring to my despatch No. 17, I beg to
state that I arrived at Foo-Chow-Foo on the 2d of April last. I
immediately secured an interview with his excellency the viceroy of the
Tohkien province, to whom I read the communication of Mr. McPhail, of
Formosa, (enclosure No. 1 in my despatch to your honor No. 17,) at the
same time respectfully calling his attention to articles XI and XIII of
the treaty of Tientsin, (18th June, 1858.) and finally requesting him to
order the civil and military authorities of Formosa to immediately
rescue, if possible, such of the survivors of the Rover’s crew that
might yet remain in the hands of the aborigines, and to inflict just
punishment, with the utmost rigor, on the perpetrators of the murder of
our citizens.
His excellency complied at once with my request. (Enclosure No. 1.)
Having been detained in Taensai, I reached Taiwanfoo, with the United
States steamer Ashuelot, Commander Febriger, on the 18th of April, when
I wrote to the authorities of the island. (Enclosure No. 2.)
In answer to my despatch, the following day I received joint
communications from the Taotai, general, and prefect, the highest
official of the island. (Enclosure No. 3.)
I secured an interview with those officers, whom I visited jointly with
Commander Febriger, on the 19th. We were received with the utmost
cordiality and the greatest distinction; but the general, although
promising to send a force to the seat of tragedy, declined to avail
himself of the presence of our forces to effect a landing of his troops.
He remarked with reason that, having the responsibility of the
operation, he should conduct it with perfect independence of action. I
observed that some of the unfortunate might then be yet in the hands of
the aborigines, and that no time should be lost in rescuing them. To
which the Taotai answered that he knew from
certain and official source that all of the wrecked crew of the Rover
had been murdered. I remarked to the Taotai and the general that, from
my own experience of war operations, I would judge the landing of a
force under cover of the Ashue-lot’s guns so safe that I would not
hesitate one instant to land with the Chinese troops if they were only
ordered to proceed at once to the seat of the tragedy. Captain Febriger
offered them to tow the junks carrying the troops. To which the general
said that his troops were not ready. I asked him when they would be
ready, that Captain Febriger and myself might wait a few days. The
general then very politely remarked that he would be happy to have our
company at any time, but that he desired to do whatever would have to be
done in this case alone; that the Chinese forces were adequate to the
task before them, and that, although much obliged to Captain Febriger
and myself for our offers, he would respectfully decline accepting them.
We then, left, thanking those officers for their reception, but
emphatically stating that the United States would insist upon the strict
observance of the treaty.
Just before we left the prefect wrote us that he had again called the
attention of the Taotai and of the general upon the importance of
immediately sending troops against the aborigines.
In Takao I visited her Britannic Majesty’s vice-consul, to whom I showed
a copy of his despatch (this copy left at Takao) to the Taotai of
Formosa, in which he claims the Rover as an English vessel. He promised
to rectify this error (of linguist) at an early date by writing to the
Taotai a letter that would explain how it happened. The vice-consul
kindly furnished me with a sketch of the bay where the Rover’s crew were
murdered, and which I immediately handed over to Captain Febriger. The
vice-consul also told me that the Chinese authorities of Formosa had so
far failed to take any steps towards rescuing the wrecked crew of the
Rover and punishing the murderers of such as were reported to have lost
their liyes by the hands of the aborigines, (22d of April.)
At Tang-Kaiow bay, the last Chinese village (24th) south of Takao,
Captain Febriger and myself examined the chief of the settlement in his
own house. The chief said that he had furnished Captain Broad, of her
Britannic Majesty’s sloop Cormorant, with pilots and interpreters when
he went on the 26th of March to the seat of the occurrence; that we
could have the same pilots, but not the interpreters; this interpreter
had returned some time since, confirming the murder of all and every one
of the crew of the bark Rover by the aborigines. He (the chief) said,
also, that so far the Chinese authorities had not sent forward any force
against the aborigines, or any one to inquire about the circumstances of
the murder, (24th April.)
Captain Febriger concluded to have the pilots offered to him, and we
proceeded south; we came to an anchor opposite the scene of the murder
without the least difficulty. A small junk that was at anchor was hauled
in, and four of her crew were examined by Captain Febriger and myself.
(Enclosure No. 4.)
Evidently those men were not sincere, and belong to a class of Chinese
living on the coast in various Chinese villages, from Takao to the
extreme south of the island, and who furnish shot, powder, and guns to
the aborigines, who pay them back in wood. Yet, as the Chinese
government might have afterwards claimed them to be their spies, sent
there in view of future military operations connected with the wreck of
the Rover, I did not judge it advisable to arrest, but, in conjunction
with Captain Febriger, I requested them to communicate with
[Page 492]
the aborigines for the purpose
of securing the burial of the remains of our unfortunate countrymen, and
the purchase of such as might remain of their effects or valuables, and
for which I promised to pay a liberal price, if ever forwarded to me or
handed over when I would return. They promised that they would do their
best to comply with my desire, but they emphatically refused to send me
to shore, when I had the strongest desire to venture as a peaceful
negotiator with one capable of acting as an interpreter. They repeatedly
answered that, should they make such an attempt, they would be murdered
by the aborigines.
The bay at this point is navigable for any boat, but chiefly to steamers
of light draught, like the Ashuelot; but very few rocks were noticeable,
if we except reefs that outcrop at low water here and there near the
shore. Under cover of guns even a very small party of men could land at
any point, and to the westward of the bay a force might be thrown on
shore at any time and independently of the ship’s protection, the ground
there being bare and having commanding heights near at hand, which,
extending all along the banks of the bay, could afford a commanding road
to the shore, at the centre of the bay. Then the exact position of the
aborigines’ village being ascertained, the landed force might advance,
without fear of any serious obstacle, towards the settlements that would
undoubtedly be the object of the expedition.
From my actual observation, I am prepared to say that the shore of the
bay is settled by a mixed race, a cross-breed of aborigines and Chinese,
most of whom wear tails, as the Chinese themselves do, and my impression
is that the various settlements which that race have made along the
coast, and which appear to the eye to be a few huts scattered on the
flats and on the low grounds, form a mere veil to conceal the presence
of the aborigines at that point. Although this mixed race affects to be
in a state of constant warfare with the aborigines, I am satisfied that
they kept closely connected with them, by taking each other’s women for
wives, by trading with them, and assisting them in their plunder and
crimes, appearing afterwards as mere victims and witnesses to the
strength and power of their would-be enemies, and bring it as a sort of
bugbear to the Chinese or other nations that might propose to land with
a view of their total extermination.
It is universally admitted that the bay at the southern coast of the
island of Formosa is a point that should be kept clear from such horde;
for it is the only point, with few others situated on the western shore,
extending 10 miles toward the north to Loo-choo bay, that offers a sort
of natural refuge on that inhospitable coast. The eastern coast of
Formosa is extremely high, and falls down abruptly like a sort of
rampart into the waters of the ocean, and that extends to the north as
the backbone of the island.
How many unfortunate that left Hong Kong and were never heard of, being
reported to have been lost at sea, were murdered on that shore; and how
many more will be, until prompt and efficient measures are taken to stop
the evil?
On the 24th of April we weighed our anchors, arriving in Amoy on the 26th
at 9 a. m. I received there a copy of the examination of Teh-Kwang, the
only known survivor of the crew of the bark Rover, sent to me by the
United States consul at Swatow, (enclosure No. 5.) I had already left
Amoy when Teh-Kwang arrived there, on board of her Britannic Majesty’s
Cormorant, and Mr. E. M. Smith, the deputy consul, had neglected to
examine the man.
In connection with the foregoing, I beg to offer to your excellency the
following conclusion :
1st. That so far, in concert with Captain Febriger, acting under the
orders of Rear-Admiral Bell, I have simply urged upon the Chinese
authorities at Foo-Chow and Formosa to rescue such of the survivors of
the Rover’s crew that might yet be in the hands of the aborigines,
according to articles XI and XIII of the treaty of Tientsin, and to do
something that could be considered by the United States as sufficient
punishment of these wild tribes for the past, and an efficient warning
for the future.
2d. No other efforts were made by Captain Febriger and myself to secure
the prompt action of the Chinese government in that direction, for we
feared by interfering in the least way with the movements of the Chinese
officials, they might claim as a redeeming point of their inaction our
own intervention, and as a sequence prevent your excellency from
hereafter claiming indemnities for the families of such of the Rover’s
crew that might have been saved, if the Chinese had been more prompt in
allowing them the relief they were entitled by treaty to receive from
the Formosa authorities.
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,
CHARLES W. LE GENDRE, United States
Consul.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
The Taotai and Prefect of
Foo-chow to the Prefect of
Formosa
I beg to inform you that on the 5th day of the 3d moon (9th April)
the United States consul general, General Le Gendre, called on our
Excellency the governor and viceroy, stating that the winds blew to
the port of Takoa, and the wild people killed more than 14 men,
Americans. The consul, Le Gendre, takes a man-of-war there to manage
this case,
[Page 493]
and he requests
him, the viceroy, to give orders to the local authorities of Formosa
to assist the consul to conduct these negotiations.
The viceroy says that in consequence of the consul not writing an
official letter he cannot write officially. The viceroy orders us to
write you, when the consul goes to Formosa you will try to
investigate this case immediately. Find out all the truth to report
to the Taotai, and let the Taotai order the civil and military
officers to search and seize every one, and report to them, and to
carry out the government law, so that we keep friendly with other
nations.
If the consul takes measures to manage the case himself, please
invite him not to do so, for those savages might give, him more
trouble than he thinks.
Full respects to you and regards. I hope you will give a satisfactory
answer.
Your young brother,
NUG-SEA-MUIG, Lee-Kmg Lin.
United States Consulate, Amoy, May 10, 1667.
A true copy of the original, word for word.
CHARLES W. LE GENDRE, United States
Consul.
[Untitled]
Consulate of the United States
at Amoy, On board the United
States Steamer Ashuelot, , 13th of the 3d Moon
April 19, 1867.
Sirs: I have been informed that the
American bark Rover, on the 12th March, 1867, (2d moon, 7th day,)
ran upon a rock upon the southern coast of Formosa, and was so much
injured that to save their lives the crew were obliged to take to
the boats.
The master, his wife, the second mate, and three sailors escaped in
the first boat and landed on the southwest point of the island,
about 50 miles south of Takao, where they are reported to have all
been murdered, with the exception of one Chinese sailor, who
escaped.
The second boat, with first mate and seven sailors, is supposed to
have landed in the same locality, and to have met with the same
fate.
The Chinese who escaped from the first boat came to Amoy, at the
consulate, and gave intelligence of the tragedy. I have sent him to
his home, Swatow, at the expense of the United States. I now come to
request that immediate investigation be made of this case, and if
any of the crew of the bark Rover are in the hands of the natives
that they be immediately recovered and delivered over into my hands;
also that all persons implicated in the outrage be seized and
punished in accordance with your laws as prescribed by articles XI
and XIII of the last treaty concluded between the United States and
the empire of China. Captain Febriger, commander of the United
States steamer Ashuelot, informs me that in case you require any
assistance he will be glad to join you in the efforts you make
towards this end. I shall be very glad to hear that you have
accepted his offer.
Respectfully submitted.
CHARLES W. LE GENDRE, Consul of the United
States for Amoy and Dependencies.
Their Honors the General Prefect and
the Taotai of Taiwanfoo, Island of
Formosa.
[Untitled]
His excellency the viceroy and governor of the Fohkien province
requested me to hand over to you a letter from the high authorities
of Foo-Chow, relating to this affair. I shall be happy to deliver it
when I have the honor of meeting you.
The General Lin, Taotai
Wee, and the Prefect of Taiwanfoo to
General Le Gendre, United States
Consul.
Taiwanfoo,
April 19, 1867.
Sir: We received your letter of the
18th April, stating—[here follows copy of consul’s letter of
17th April, see enclosure No. 2.]
The Taotai states that on the 23d ultimo he received a despatch
from her Britannic Majesty’s consul, Mr. Carroll, stating that a
British vessel on her way to Lan-chio had struck on a rock near
“Red Head” island, and that 14 men were obliged to take a boat
to Xoong-chiao bay, called by the natives Ku-wah-lu Peh Suau;
that on landing 13 men were killed and one escaped; that the
latter on reaching Mian-a-Kau was assisted by an official with a
cargo boat to proceed to Takao, when he visited the British
consulate.
The Taotai states that on receiving this despatch he immediately
requested Colonel Lin and the district magistrate to accompany
soldiers to the spot indicated and to inquire into the matter,
ordering that none of the people be allowed to visit the natives
(aborigines) and cause trouble. On the 3d instant these two
officers report that they went to Get-bu to examine
[Page 494]
and take action in the
case, and also to see the British consul, Carroll, and the
commissioner of customs, White, who agreed in stating that the
aborigines resembled wild beasts, and Cannot comprehend the
usages of civilized society. Further, that the savages conceal
themselves in the forest and country, open fire upon those who
approach, thus making it exceedingly difficult to employ troops,
&c., &c. Again Mr. Carroll wrote a letter of thanks, a
copy of which we now send for your information.
On receipt of information relative to the massacre of the master
and crew of the Rover by the savages prior to your arrival, we
issued directions to the civil and military authorities to adopt
measures for the management of the affair; but the savages live
in a wild state in the hills, and it is difficult to employ
soldiers against them, as the British consul and all others well
know, and as they are like apes, and their country is
unsurveyed. They are not subject to the Chinese government;
hence the Chinese government has from early times forbidden
commercial intercourse with them, or to enter their country, and
on the borders at the passes are placed guards to prevent these
fierce savages from passing to and fro. Now, in the case of this
vessel, which unsuspectedly entered the place, and whose crew
suffered from ignorance, if any execution of zeal can do it, no
endeavor will be spared to bring the offenders to immediate and
condign punishment, in order that terms of good fellowship and
harmony may exist between China and the foreign powers. We
cannot dare to trouble you for the military (or naval)
assistance in the matter, since in the event of any accident we
should feel more than ever grievous. We have again directed the
civil and military authorities to despatch troops and
constabulary to carry on operations. We would not request the
presence of your your man-of-war to assist us in these
operations.
We have, &c.,
Statement of four Chinamen, examined by both
Captain Febriger and the United States consul of
Amoy.
There are four men in the junk; the junk is from Taiwanfoo; left
Taiwanfoo ten days ago; anchored below Tacao, place named
Pang-Leoir; is a Chinese village; was there eight days ago. When he
left Taiwanfoo had cottoti goods, which they disposed of at Lun-Kein
to Chiend, [who] gave them a letter to buy wood; the letter was
addressed to the interpreter of the Indians named Moõe; he is a
Canton man; lives a mile away; the boat belongs to Nougo-Kantinlinig
in Taiwanfoo. The junk can go into the jetty. The order of Chiend on
Nougo paid for the wood. They are now waiting here for the wind to
cease; they have two guns. The half-breed brought the wood to the
boat; [the name of the captain] cannot talk savage; talks Amoy; Gho
Khwan is his name.
SECOND MAN.
Naugh-Poo; belongs to the Pescadores; is from Taiwanfoo; has been to
Pang-Leoir; anchored at Lun-Kein harbor; a few pieces of goods was
his cargo; sold the goods to Chiend; he (Chiend) told him to get the
wood through Moõe; Moõe brought the wood to the boats; does not know
if all the men were understood or not. Tung-Tung is the captain of
the boat; has been near Amoy, and also to Taiwanfoo. There are
Chinese living here; cannot correspond with them; they are going to
bring their load to Taiwahhfoo; they hire the boat from
Noug-Kan-Tin. The captain pays them $3 50 for pilots, and $2 50 per
month for mariners.
THIRD MAN.
Lee-Tung; is from Taiwanfoo; he got some money to buy some wood; had
no cargo; Chiend gave him the money; Chiend lives in Taiwanfoo; [the
owner of the boat,] Noug-Kan-Tin; Moõe sold the wood to him for
18,000 cash; he saw Moõe on the land; does not know if Moõe is a
Chinaman or not; he looks like a Canton man. He [Lee-Tung] took the
wood on shore partially, and part was brought to him on bamboo
lampans; did not know anything about Moõe; saw him on shore, and
offered him the wood for sale; he bought the wood yesterday; had no
cotton goods; stopped at Pang-Leoir to get water and rice; it is
customary to get wood here.
FOURTH MAN.
Koo-Pang; belongs to the boat; gets $2 per month as wages; is from
Taiwanfoo; has nothing on board, no goods; stopped at Hong-Kong
below Pang Leoir; arrived here eight days ago; bought wood from
Kau-Soo-Moõe, a Canton man. Moõe will sell wood at 5 cash one
bundle; that is the price; three bundles weigh about seven pounds. A
true copy:
CHARLES W. LE GENDRE, United States
Consul.
[Page 495]
Statement of the Chinaman Tek-Kwang, belonging to
Mee-O, in the Kittyang district, taken by the United States
consul at Swalow, with the assistance of Rev. William Ashmore as
interpreter.
I shipped at the United States consulate February 28, 1867, on the
bark Rover. Sailed from the port Saturday morning, March 9th. Had
stiff winds and were under close-reefed top-sails. At about 11
o’clock on the night of Tuesday, March 12, we struck a rock on the
larboard side. Had seen Formosa the evening before, and were keeping
off. When we struck we at once backed the sails, after which she
sild off the rock, went a little distance, and then struck on the
other side. The captain shifted the helm and then she began to move.
The captain then set the men to the pumps, but no water came; they
would not draw. I think the pumps were injured by the blow; they
were in good order before. The captain sent the first mate down with
a light into the hold; he found that the water was already over the
ballast. The captain ordered the boats; we all got into two boats;
the captain’s had six in it, himself, his wife, the second mate,
myself, another sailor, and the cook. There was taken in the boat a
bed-quilt and some clothing, some water, a little food, a small
quantity of spirit, a compass, and sextant; Mrs. Hunt took a small
box. The second boat had in it the first mate, the cabin boy, five
sailors, and the sailors’ cook. We pushed off about one o’clock; we
kept in company, rowing until daylight. We staid on board as long as
we could; the water was getting so high that we were afraid to stay
any longer. At daylight we saw Formosa; we rowed in until about 4
o’clock p.m., the tide also setting us in. When we landed we saw no
one. The captain told us that he thought we need not fear, but we
must get ashore to save our lives. About 10 o’clock we lost sight of
the second boat. We pulled the boat up to the shore; we took on
shore all there was in the boat; our clothes were wet; we took them
off, wrung out the water and laid them out to dry. The captain sent
me to find some fresh water; I found it and brought some back, a
bucket full. The place where we landed was a sand beach at the foot
of a mountain, very densely wooded. While we were drying our clothes
the savages came out of the jungles to the number of 15 or 16; they
were one or two women among them, with long dresses and earrings;
the men had no clothing but the breech-cloth. When they came out of
the bushes they were armed; some had guns, some had knives, some had
bows and arrows; the captain called out to take to the bush. At once
some of the natives ran to where our things were; others pursued us
into the bushes.* I hid myself into the bushes; I heard them
pursuing; the savages made a great noise calling out; I heard
several guns fired; I do not know certainly whether they got any one
or not; after a while I saw them come back and divide the plunder;
then they went back the way they came. After all was still I came
out; I called several times the names of the captain and others; no
answer came. Then I found some biscuit, which the savages had
rejected, which I took. When night came on I started off, making my
way westward; I had a moon until 10 o’clock. The next morning at
daylight I went to where some Chinese were. The Chinese settlement
was not more than 9 or 12 miles (English) away. I got to this
Chinese settlement and told what had happened, and got a man to go
and beg the savages not to kill them, but let them be ransomed. I
had no money to hire this man, but the kind people contributed about
$3 to hire him. The man was a Chinaman, the only one that ventures
among them; this man is a Chinaman’s son by one of their women. The
man went and came back the next afternoon, with word that five of
the captain’s boat were murdered the afternoon of the attack. He
also brought word that the other boat had arrived in the night, and
the next morning two of them were killed. After three days I came to
Taikoo; I went to the English consul; he sent a man to make
inquiries about the other six men. The man came back with a report
that two more men had been killed. The English consul sent a steamer
and I went along with it. The boat was still there, but all
destroyed; the bottom was knocked out. Three boats went ashore from
the steamer with 30 or 40 men. While they were making a landing for
the officers, I having gone on shore first, was fired upon; there
were 30 or 40 shots fired, all in quick succession; the captain
ordered the men back; one man was slightly wounded in his stomach.
There were no arms in the Rover’s boats. The man-of-war brought me
to Amoy. I arrived in Amoy the 31st day of March.
A true copy :
T. C. A. HINYORTS, United States
Consul.
Amoy, May 11, 1867.
A true copy :
CHARLES W. LE GENDRE, United States
Consul.
