The situation in Pekin critical--Boxer placard posted
in the West City Pekin--Boxer altars--Drilling of
Boxers--Foreigners mobbed--Cataleptic subjects exhibited by
Buddhist priests--Vice-Admiral Seymour in command of Relief
Expedition--Rear-Admiral Bruce in command of British Squadron--An
alarming message--Force landed.
The situation in Pekin and the surrounding country was critical. In
the city the Boxers assembled undisturbed in the streets, and official
placards for the protection of foreigners were torn down by the mob the
moment they were put up, while Boxer placards, such as the one here
reproduced, were left on the walls, circulated, and eagerly read by
thousands of people.
+Placard posted in West City, Pekin.+
[_Translation_]:
“In a certain street in Pekin some worshippers of the Ih-hwo-Ch’uan
at midnight suddenly saw a spirit descend in their midst. The spirit
was silent for a long time, and all the congregation fell upon their
knees and prayed. Then a terrible voice was heard saying:
“‘I am none other than the Great Yü Ti [god of the unseen world]
come down in person. Well knowing that you are all of devout mind, I
have just now descended to make known to you that these are times
of trouble in the world, and that it is impossible to set aside the
decrees of fate. Disturbances are to be dreaded from the foreign
devils; everywhere they are starting missions, erecting telegraphs,
and building railways; they do not believe in the sacred doctrine,
and they speak evil of the gods. Their sins are numberless as the
hairs of the head. Therefore am I wroth, and my thunders have pealed
forth. By night and by day have I thought of these things. Should I
command my generals to come down to earth, even they would not have
strength to change the course of fate. For this reason I have given
forth my decree that I shall descend to earth at the head of all the
saints and spirits, and that wherever the Ih-hwo Ch’uan are gathered
together, there shall the gods be in the midst of them. I have also
to make known to all the righteous in the three worlds that they must
be of one mind, and all practise the Ih-hwo-Ch’uan, that so the wrath
of Heaven may be appeased.
“‘So soon as the practice of the Ih-hwo-Ch’uan has been brought to
perfection--wait for three times three or nine times nine, nine times
nine or three times three[5]--then shall the devils meet their doom.
The will of Heaven is that the telegraph wires be first cut, then the
railways torn up, and then shall the foreign devils be decapitated.
In that day shall the hour of their calamities come. The time for
rain to fall is yet afar off, and all on account of the devils.
[5] Meaning obscure.
“‘I hereby make known these commands to all you righteous folk, that
you may strive with one accord to exterminate all foreign devils, and
so turn aside the wrath of Heaven. This shall be accounted unto you
for well doing; and on the day when it is done, the wind and rain
shall be according to your desire.
[Sidenote: A UNANIMOUS APPOINTMENT]
“‘Therefore I expressly command you make this known in every place.’
“This I saw with my own eyes, and therefore I make bold to take my
pen and write what happened. They who believe it shall have merit;
they who do not believe it shall have guilt. The wrath of the spirit
was because of the destruction of the Temple of Yu Ti. He sees that
the men of the Ih-hwo-Ch’uan are devout worshippers and pray to him.
“If my tidings are false, may I be destroyed by the five thunderbolts.
“_4th moon, 1st day_ [_April 29, 1900_].”
Boxer altars had been erected in the streets and in nearly every house.
Drilling of the Ih-hwo-Ch’uan’s members went on even in the houses of
Chinese officials, and young boys in a cataleptic state were exhibited
by Buddhist priests in various parts of the town as a palpable example
of the “white devils’” infamy. Foreigners and native Christians were
threatened and mobbed in the streets. It was unsafe for Europeans to
venture out of their houses.
It was evident that the continuance of communication with the capital
was only a matter of days, possibly only of hours, and the question
now arose who, in case of a relief expedition being sent to the aid
of the Legations, should take command of the International force.
The unanimous appointment to this honoured post of Vice-Admiral Sir
Edward Seymour not only received the approval of Lord Salisbury and
the Admiralty, but was pleasing to the whole British nation. It was
gratifying to see that he had for Chief of Staff a Russian colonel. The
command of the British squadron off Taku, at the mouth of the Pei-ho,
was left to Rear-Admiral Bruce.
In order to avoid unduly depleting the ships of men, Sir Edward
requested, and obtained, that troops from Hong-Kong and Singapore
should be kept at his disposal.
On June 10 the following alarming message was received by the Admiral
from Sir Claude MacDonald:
“Situation extremely grave. Unless arrangements are made for immediate
advance on Pekin, it will be too late.”
A force of all available men was landed at once, and officers of all
nationalities present at Taku co-operated in getting together as many
men as possible to be despatched to the relief of the Legations.
The Chinese Government informed the various Legations in Pekin that
should the force not exceed 1200 men their march to the capital would
not be opposed.