An interesting letter--Mormon habits--Chinese prophecies--Proffered
hospitality declined--An armed train to proceed to Yangtsun--Shelling
of the Settlement by the Chinese--The enemy repulsed--Attack on the
Military College--A gratifying despatch.
At 3.30 +A.M.+ the alarm was given, and what happened afterwards is
told in the quaint and interesting letter here appended, written by a
Chinaman who had apparently been educated in Europe or America. His
education had evidently not included the suppression of Mormon customs.
The letter was found lying on the floor of a deserted house, and had
not been posted:
+Tientsin+, May 20 (Chinese).
“+My dear Wife+,
“If you were here last night you would have been scared to death.
At about eleven o’clock last night the Boxers set fire to several
different places, four of which are small chapels, and at the same
time they attacked the Tientsin railway station. Fortunately the
Russian troops went across the river opposite the Railway Station and
fought with them. Their fight caused the Boxers forty-five killed
and many wounded. The dead bodies are still lying about the Tientsin
Station. At about half-past one +A.M.+ this morning the Boxers gave
another fight to the foreign troops very near my house, but the
troops drove them off after firing several big guns at them. It is
said by the troops that more than four hundred Boxers had been killed
last night and this morning. Sixteen of the Boxers have been caught
alive and are now in the Russian camp opposite the railway yard. I
expect another fight to-night. All are frightened to-day, and nearly
all of my neighbours have moved to-day to ---- for safety, where
there are enough English soldiers for protection.
“My Canton wife has gone there too, with others. I do not know
whether they have space enough or not for sleeping, as I see the
rooms in ---- are already overcrowded. Our woman-servant went home at
two o’clock this afternoon, and ---- and myself are at home to look
after my things. Nearly all the natives have run away. All the shops
in Tze-Chu-Cin stopped business, and their doors are closed. Cooks
ran away, and many foreigners have to suffer hunger because no native
boys are willing to stay in the settlement. A tub of water costs ten
cents, and a rickshaw from here to the Railway Station costs half a
dollar!
“The Tientsin Station is safe, but only special trains run to Tong-ku
and back to-day. It makes one sorry to see the sudden change of
Tientsin. The market is totally stopped, and it is very hard to find
a coolie to carry things. I am glad I have not the least fear, as the
troops are fully prepared to fight with the Boxers. I do not know yet
how the change will be to-morrow, but I can almost assure you that
the foreign settlement is safe. I shall write you again to-morrow
night about what may happen. Don’t be anxious about me, as I am O.K.
here and will do what is safe. Some one tried to go down to Shanghai
to-day, but no train could take them down to Tong-ku, and there are
only steamers outside the bar, as all the merchant ships have been
ordered to leave the wharves. I shall do my best, and if possible go
to Shanghai; but I think the affairs will be quiet in a few days. Be
careful of your health, and do not worry about me.
[Sidenote: A REPAIRING PARTY]
“Your loving husband,
“+Y. F. Hg.+
“Written 8.40 +P.M.+, 20th May, 26th year of Kwang Su.”
(Corresponding to June 15, 1900.)[6]
[6] The dashes in the text represent names of places and people written
in Chinese characters in the original letter.
Our Mormon Chinese friend was not absolutely right in his prophecies,
although quite correct in his account of past events. Perhaps he
purposely understated the truth so as to avoid unnecessarily alarming
his unspecified wife.
As we have already seen, Mr. Carles, the British Consul in Tientsin,
had cabled to Lord Salisbury that the Viceroy’s conduct had been very
correct, and much telegraphing took place from London to offer shelter
on board a British man-of-war to the Viceroy in token of gratitude, if
he deemed his life in danger. Whether of his own will or by compulsion,
he abstained from accepting the proffered hospitality.
On the 17th, at six o’clock, an armed train with a repairing party,
unaware of Seymour’s plight, proceeded towards Yangtsun in order to
repair the line. They were first engaged by the Boxers, then fired
upon by Imperial troops, and eventually had to beat a retreat. In the
afternoon, at three o’clock, began the shelling of the Settlement by
the Chinese, who did considerable damage.
Attacks were made from different points, but the enemy was repulsed.
It may be noted that in the morning of the same day (at 2 +A.M.+) the
Taku and Tongku forts had been taken by the Allies.
An attack on the Military College was successfully carried out by 175
men (British, Germans, Italians, and Austrians), who made short work
of the defenders, and destroyed the premises, with its rich store of
ammunition, rifles, and guns.
[Illustration: THE SOUTH-EAST FORT, TIENTSIN]
It is most gratifying to find in Mr. Carles’ despatch to Lord Salisbury
of June 21 the following passage:
“The behaviour of the Russians, who were throughout the day engaged in
various quarters, was splendid, and their large force and heavy field
guns, of which they had four, saved the situation. During the day (June
17) all (nationalities) were engaged on their respective sections. The
following is the list of casualties: Russians, 7 killed, 5 wounded;
British, 1 killed, 5 wounded; Italians, 2 wounded; Germans, 1 killed.”
[Sidenote: A BOLD ATTACK]
In the evening the Chinese made another bold but unsuccessful attack,
with the object of seizing the pontoon bridge leading to the station.
They lost heavily. One of their Generals was reported killed in this
engagement.