The 'Zhiyuan' warship is a household name among Chinese people, largely because of its captain's desperate bid to salvage glory as he went to his death. The vessel was only recently discovered beneath the Yellow Sea, serving as a reminder of his heroic act. Now, a second round of underwater excavation has begun, with more intriguing finds coming to the surface.

Since the excavation began in 2013, more than 100 items have been salvaged, mostly ship parts and weapons, including a complete cannonball weighing almost 50 kilograms.

No mistaking the ship's identity this time: a second shattered porcelain plate has been found with the Chinese characters for "Zhiyuan" and the ship's emblem imprinted on the back.

This confirms what searchers had dared to hope - that this was the ship - severely crippled, on fire, and sinking - from which, on the 17th of September, 1894, Captain Deng Shichang attempted a full-speed charge at the enemy's flagship.

"According to the Japanese record, no-one could stand on deck in its last spurt to ram the Japanese flagship. The ship was tilting 30 degrees to the right, and the propeller on this side could be seen above the water," said Chen Yue, Chinese Naval Historical Institute.

Since the excavation began in 2013, more than 100 items have been salvaged, mostly ship parts and weapons, including a complete cannonball weighing almost 50 kilograms. It was not an explosive shell, but designed to penetrate the armour of enemy battleships. Some day-to-day items have also been found, including a private seal and silver coins.

But the excavation team put their search on hold to conduct a small ceremony commemorating the crew members who lost their lives.

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)