Mr. Sill to Mr. Gresham.
Seoul, July 26, 1894.
Sir: Referring to my dispatch of July 24, I have the honor to inform you that I could not communicate to you by cable, as intended, the facts regarding the taking of the palace by Japanese. I have, however, written Mr. Dun and asked him to inform you by cable of the substance of my letter.
I also wish to inform you that on yesterday Captain Day, of the, U. S. S. Baltimore, at Chemulpo, sent me a guard of 50 men under command of Captain of Marines George F. Elliott.
The arrival of this guard is very timely, as Japanese soldiers and disorderly Koreans in the garb of Japanese have been looting houses in the immediate vicinity of their legation as well as in other parts of the city. Our own lives were in danger. Also the apparent friendliness of the foreigners with the Japanese has aroused a very dangerous antiforeign feeling, and as more than half of the population of the city, including mostly the women and the better classes, have fled to the country, the city is in a very lawless condition.
The British consulate has a marine guard, and the Russian legation will receive one to-day.
We have reports of a naval engagement 30 miles south of Chemulpo, in which the Japanese sunk three Chinese vessels. A land engagement is also reported, but these are not yet authenticated. We know that a large Japanese force has gone south to meet the Chinese.
Meantime the King is acceding to the demands of Japan, as he must under the circumstances. His father is said to be now virtually regent of Korea, and a number of pro-Japanese officials have been appointed to positions of great importance.
I have, etc.,