Pittman’s boarding party took the Chinese junk as a prize. The three ships then completed the voyage to Shanghai. For their efforts, Swentzel was awarded the Navy Cross and Pittman a Silver Star.

Not only did he have boarding parties ready, he had a film crew standing by to capture the moment: the moment when the U.S. Navy captured its first enemy warship at sea since the War of 1812.

As a Red boarding party, more than 30 strong, clambered to the Takshing’s deck, her 300 Chinese passengers were seized by panic. One old woman knelt and chanted prayers to the Goddess of Mercy.