Page:American Diplomacy in the Orient - Foster (1903).djvu/335

 this event. The Korean government reported that the crew provoked an altercation with the people of the vicinity which resulted in the death of the crew and destruction of the vessel. Another account was that the crew were taken prisoners by the governor of the province and decapitated by order of the king. Two American naval vessels, dispatched in 1866 and 1867 to the vicinity, brought back the same conflicting reports.

The vessel was engaged in an illicit trade, as all intercourse with foreigners was forbidden by Korean law. A most unfavorable time was selected for the voyage, following the massacre of the foreign missionaries and the Christians, and when the French government was in active preparation for its warlike expedition. It was currently reported that one object of the voyage was to plunder the tombs of the kings at Ping An, and the fact that the schooner was heavily armed lent color to this report. This latter fact, in the opinion of Mr. Burlingame, may have led the Koreans to confound them with the French.

Two months before the destruction of the General Sherman, another American ship, the Surprise, was wrecked on the Korean coast. The crew were kindly treated by the authorities, transported on horseback and with all necessary comforts to the northern frontier, and delivered to the Chinese officials. By the latter they were harshly received and they secured their release only through the intervention of a Catholic priest, who was presented by Congress with a gold watch for his kindness, accompanied by the thanks of the President.

Minister Burlingame reported the case of the General