when the "general sherman" ran aground on a mud-bank near pyongyang, the koreans saw their opportunity and attacked. the crew held off the attackers for two days. eventually, the koreans launched a burning boat, which set the "general sherman" on fire. among the crew, 14 were shot and killed (including one who had been shot to death two days before), four were burnt to death, and two who had jumped to shore were beaten to death by angry civilians on the shore. one of these, apparently, was thomas.