Chapter XI The Action Off Sin Ling
The Action Commences—Casualties
The Report submitted by Commander Richard Hunter, R.N.,
Captain of the “Strong Arm”.
The report of the proceedings which Commander Richard Hunter, R.N., the Captain of the Strong Arm, subsequently submitted to Captain Helston, is so terse and yet so graphic, that it is inserted here.
“H.I.M.S. Strong Arm, “Hong-Kong, 9th Jan.
“SIR,
“I have the honour to report that, in accordance with your signal received at 8.30 A.M. on 8th Jan., I immediately raised steam in fifteen boilers. One hour later I was able to slip from the buoy, and proceeded southwards to the rendezvous indicated in your orders.
“By 10 A.M. I was making fourteen knots, and at 11 nearly nineteen, which speed was gradually increased to twenty as the remainder of my boilers raised steam.
“At 12.35 P.M. the island then being in sight, the mast-head look-out sighted a cruiser and three destroyers steaming towards it from the west, and almost immediately afterwards sighted destroyer ‘No. 1’ leaving the island.
“The cruiser was apparently heading to cut off ‘No. 1’, whilst the three destroyers disappeared under the land.
“We then saw ‘No. 1’ head straight for the cruiser, which thereupon opened a vigorous fire from her small guns. ‘No. 1’ disappeared behind her and apparently fouled her stern, for she came away steaming but slowly and steering in a very erratic manner.
“She was now under a very severe fire, and a considerable explosion occurred nearly amidships at 12.45.
“Being now 10,000 yards from the cruiser, I opened fire on her from my foremost guns, and in a couple of minutes caused her to cease firing on the crippled destroyer and steam off to the southward. At this range I did not hit her.
“I followed at my utmost speed, and was rapidly closing, but as ‘No. 1’ signalled that she was unable to keep afloat I stopped alongside her and removed her crew. I regret to report that she sank immediately afterwards.
“I also regret that five men of her crew are missing, including two wounded men who fell overboard, and that ten are injured—Sub-lieutenant Harrington, suffering from severe burns and scalds, Midshipman Glover, slightly wounded, and one man badly burnt (since dead).
“Having re-hoisted my boats, I renewed the pursuit, and at 2 was overhauling her fast. Meanwhile the three destroyers had scattered and I disregarded them.
“At 3.25 we made our distance 6000 yards by range-finder, and I again opened fire from my forecastle 6-inch and the two foremost upper deck 6-inch.
“The enemy replied vigorously from two or three guns and continued her flight.
“Though we made one or two hits at this range, it was not till we had drawn up to within 4000 yards that our shooting became good, and at 4.32—the island of Sin Ling being five miles to leeward—she caught fire astern, steered wildly, and exposed her broadside.
“We now hit her time after time, and her fire became slow and very inaccurate.
“At 4.56 she hauled down her flag (the Chinese imperial colours, with a black instead of a red dragon and ball) and ceased firing.
“I too ceased firing and lay to about 2000 yards distant, unwilling to go within torpedo range. I then ordered my First Lieutenant (C. W. Smith) to board her, and gave him sixty men to form a prize crew and navigate her to Hong-Kong.
“When my boats were half-way across she suddenly opened fire on them, gathered way, and steamed towards me with the evident intention of ramming, an evolution which I managed to avoid by going full steam astern.
“She also discharged a torpedo whilst passing, which struck me on the port bow, and, though failing to explode, stove in one plate. Some water entered through rivet holes.
“At the same time she opened a very rapid and sustained fire, which caused many casualties on the open deck, where the men had crowded to see her.
“Thereupon I renewed the action, and quickly cleared her upper works and subdued her fire, my 6-inch shells doing very evident destruction.
“She was repeatedly hulled, flames burst out in several places, and at 5.15 made for Sin Ling at full speed, beaching herself in a sinking condition at 5.42.
“Daylight was now failing.
“I took the Strong Arm as far inshore as I dared, after picking up my boats’ crews (they had been fired upon in the most wanton manner), and shelled her at point-blank range. In ten minutes I had the satisfaction of seeing a large explosion aft; a great gap was made in her side, she heeled to port till the water reached the base of her funnels, and half her deck was submerged. She was evidently too badly damaged to be floated.
“This being done, I returned to Hong-Kong and moored to my buoy at 9.25 P.M.
“Very little damage has been sustained by this ship, and it can be repaired without assistance from the shore.
“I regret, however, to report the following casualties:—
“Killed: One petty officer and five men.
“Wounded: Three officers, two petty officers, and thirty-five men.
“I have the honour to be, &c.,
“RICHARD HUNTER, Commander R.N., “Captain of H.I.M.S. Strong Arm.”