_CABLES TO AMERICA DESCRIBING GROWTH OF BOXER MOVEMENT FROM JANUARY TO
JUNE, 1900_
[Illustration: CHUNG LI
Manchu Boxer Chief]
THE murder of the Church of England missionary, Brookes, in Chinanfu
prefecture, Shantung province, by the Boxers, was the beginning of
the explosion. On January 4, 1900, I cabled home the occurrence of
the murder. On January 5 I cabled that the Americans in Taianfu,
two days’ journey by cart south of the scene of the murder, were in
danger, and that the United States minister had requested that they be
protected; also that the Empress Dowager had expressed to Sir Claude
MacDonald, through the tsung-li-yamen, her horror at the deed, and from
thenceforth, under the respective dates given below, I sent cables
recording the Boxer progress.
January 13. Christians in Shantung are being constantly pillaged by
marauding parties of Boxers. The Taianfu district is especially
dangerous, as the prefect will not allow them to be interfered with.
Dr. Smith, of Pang Chuang, in northern Shantung, has also written and
telegraphed the United States legation that matters in his district are
in the same condition. Christians murdered, chapels burned and looted,
and no redress obtainable from the officials.
January 15. An imperial edict was issued yesterday which really
commends the Boxers, and is sure to cause trouble. Upon Baron von
Ketteler representing this to the tsung-li-yamen he was given no
satisfactory answer to account for it.
January 24. Boxer movement is rapidly spreading, and the situation
fills many with alarm. Prince Tuan’s son has been chosen as the
successor to the Emperor, which is an unfavorable omen.
January 25. An edict has been promulgated apparently from the Emperor,
but really from the Empress Dowager, stating that, because of his
childless condition and infirm health, he has decided for the good of
the state to appoint Pu Chun, son of Prince Tuan, as his successor.
February 5. Although the Boxer movement continues to increase in the
northern provinces, Peking remains quiet.
February 10. The anti-foreign crusade is proceeding apace. Jung Lu, Hsu
Tung and Kang Yi have assumed great power, and are constantly with
the Empress. The Boer successes in the Transvaal are being used to
show the masses that a very little country can defy a big government
if only the hearts of the people are in the struggle. British prestige
here declining rapidly as a consequence. A Boxer mob has attacked the
Germans building the railway in Shantung, and driven the foreigners
away from their work. As Baron von Ketteler insists upon their going on
with the work, the tsung-li-yamen finds it difficult to please both the
throne and the foreigners.
February 12. A letter received from a Presbyterian missionary in
Chinanfu states that over seventy families of Christians have been
mobbed and looted in his district, and that they can obtain no redress
from the local officials, and that the Boxers, knowing this, are
rapidly increasing and growing bolder.
February 15. Imperial edict orders the suspension of any native papers
showing reform tendency, and the editors to be imprisoned.
February 19. The annual audience with the foreign ministers took place
with most scant ceremony and in a shabby apartment. This was done with
the direct purpose of insulting them, but none remonstrated.
February 23. A French priest from Tientsin informs me that all that
district is pervaded by the Boxers, who openly avow they are drilling
to come to Peking and drive out and exterminate all foreigners.
February 25. Several thousand armed Boxers have possession of the
German railway building at Kaomi in Shantung, and state their purpose
is to drive out the foreigner.
February 28. Yuan Shih Kai, Governor of Shantung, has sent a private
messenger, an ex-drillmaster in his army corps, to Baron von Ketteler,
the German minister, to say he will disperse the Boxers at Kaomi and
restore quiet.
March 14. The man who obtained for the British syndicate the concession
known as the Peking syndicate’s Shansi concessions to mine and build
railways, was arrested for assisting foreigners to obtain concessions
in China. Upon Sir Claude MacDonald’s demanding his release, the
Empress promptly sentenced him to imprisonment for life. This will
deter others from helping foreigners in any capacity.
March 15. United States Minister Conger, having protested against
the Empress using Yu Hsien, ex-governor of Shantung, in any province
where American interests are great, is greatly displeased to learn
to-day that, so far from heeding, the Empress has actually appointed
him Governor of Shansi, in which are not only a number of American
missionary stations, but the interests of the Peking syndicate.
[Illustration: ANCIENT ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTS
These peculiar instruments, which are of great astronomical merit, were
made during the reign of Kublai Khan, A. D. 1264. An especial interest
attaches to this illustration, on account of the attempt of the Germans
to remove these instruments to Berlin, and the protest made against
it by General Chaffee, of the U. S. Army. The engraving shows the
instruments just as they were used for hundreds of years, before they
were taken apart for removal to Europe.]
April 24. Boxers aggregating nearly 10,000 have collected in one
place near Paotingfu, and are very disorderly. The outlook is very
threatening, not only there but at Tungchow, thirteen miles south of
Peking, and at Tsunhua, to the east of Peking. At all these places
there are large American missionary stations.
May 17. Boxer movement has now assumed definite shape and alarming
proportions. They have destroyed several Catholic villages east of
Paotingfu, and are moving on the property of the American Board’s
mission at Choochow at Kung Tsun. They have also looted the London
mission’s premises, and killed several Christians. Boxers are now daily
to be seen practicing in Peking and the suburbs. Situation is growing
serious here.
May 18. I have been warned by one of the princes that I should take my
family from Peking, as he states his own elder brother is a Boxer, and
that foreigners are no longer safe in Peking. Have fully informed the
United States minister of the situation, but he believes the official
promises that all is well.
May 21. Foreign ministers have held a meeting and discussed question of
bringing legation guards to Peking. The French minister favored this,
but Conger opposed, stating he believed the government resolutely means
to suppress the Boxers. No action was taken, it being decided to await
further developments.
May 24. The tsung-li-yamen has not yet replied to the joint note sent
them by the foreign ministers four days ago, requesting that the
Boxers be dealt with summarily. Unless an immediate and vigorous
foreign pressure is applied, a general uprising is sure.
May 25. General Yang was killed at Ting-hsing, Hsien, near Paotingfu,
either by his own soldiers or the Boxers. The soldiers then joined the
Boxers.
May 26. The tsung-li-yamen has sent a vague and temporizing reply to
the foreign ministers’ demand requiring the suppression of the Boxers.
They are now regularly enrolled at the residences of several of the
princes in this city.
May 28, A.M. The foreign ministers held another meeting to-day, but
still deferred any action looking toward defense, as the tsung-li-yamen
promises that it will shortly issue a strong edict that will suppress
the Boxers. Pichon distrusts the Chinese promises and again advocates
strong legation guards.
May 28, 4.10 P.M. Boxers have burned the bridge and destroyed the track
at Liuliho, forty-five miles west of Peking, on the Lu Han railway, and
are advancing toward Marco Polo bridge, twelve miles from here. The
foreigners employed on the railway have all fled. The Tientsin train is
overdue, and our communication with the coast threatened. The legations
are just beginning to wake up to the fact that the Boxer movement is a
perilous one.
[Illustration: FAMOUS ARCH OF THE MING TOMBS
A celebrated traveler has said that it was worth encircling the earth
to see this beautiful piece of architecture. Were it in the middle
of Paris or New York, it would arouse great admiration and wonder;
but, situated as it is in the midst of a wild and barren landscape,
with huge mountains for a background, and representing as it does,
the burial place of a mighty dynasty that for ages ruled a stupendous
nation, it fills the beholder not only with wonder and admiration, but
with awe.]
May 29. At last it has come to our very door. Not only Liuliho and
Changhsintien, on the Lu Han railroad, have been destroyed, but the
junction at Fengtai, only six miles from here, has been attacked,
looted, and burned, and all the foreign employes have fled to Tientsin.
The foreign ministers now want guards badly, but, as it is not yet
known whether the railroad is torn up at Fengtai, there is no
certainty of getting them quickly. The fate of a large party of French
and Belgian women and children, known to reside at Changhsintien, is
not known. Legation street is crowded with villainous-looking ruffians
congregating to loot if opportunity offers. Until troops arrive the
situation is precarious.
May 30. The tsung-li-yamen has requested the foreign ministers not to
bring troops, assuring them they are not necessary; but the situation
here has at last impressed them, and they have disregarded the yamen
and ordered up guards at once. The populace are quite excited, and only
need a slight cause to break out.
May 30, P.M. Viceroy of Chihli has forbidden guards taking train at
Tientsin. Fifteen warships are reported at Taku.
May 31. Viceroy of Chihli has been ordered by the yamen to allow guards
to take train for Peking, but requested ministers to bring only small
guards, as last year. Troops have arrived.
June 1. Populace seems cowed and sullen. Riots in the city may now
be prevented, but the problem of dealing with the movement is one
requiring active diplomatic effort.
June 2. Station buildings south of Paotingfu on the Lu Han railway
have been burned, and railroad destroyed. Party of thirty Belgians,
including women and children, attempted to escape to Tientsin, and
were attacked by Boxers. Several known to be killed; fate of remainder
unknown. Said to be surrounded when their native interpreter left to
obtain help. Native Christians of the American Board’s mission at
Choochow, and the American Presbyterian mission at Kuan-hsien, are
pouring steadily into Peking, to escape murder at the hands of the
Boxers. All their houses have been looted and burned.
June 2, 8 P.M. Serious dissension among Chinese ministers, Prince Ching
favoring moderation and suppression of the Boxers. He is said to be
secretly supported in this by Jung Lu and the tsung-li-yamen. Prince
Tuan, supported by Hsu Tung, Kang Yi, and other intensely anti-foreign
ministers, is favoring the Boxer movement. A crisis is imminent.
June 3. Church of England missionaries Robinson and Norman killed at
Yungching by Boxers, and their chapels looted and burned. Boxers now
have entire control of country from Tientsin to Paotingfu, and thence
northeastward to Peking; native troops make no effort to suppress them.
All religious and missionary work in North China is ended unless treaty
powers compel observance of treaty provisions, and demand indemnities
for each and every infringement.
June 4. Native converts from the west of Peking report that many
thousand Boxers are assembling at Choochow preparing to attack the
foreigners and converts in Peking. The missionaries are convinced
of the truth of this, and have informed their legations, who will
not believe it. Dr. Taylor, of the American Presbyterian mission at
Paotingfu, telegraphed to the American minister: “We are safe at
present, but prospects threatening.”
[Illustration: CHINESE LITTER
A typical method of Chinese conveyance. The litter is supported by
poles to the backs of two animals, one in front, the other behind; in
it the traveler can make himself comfortable. Beyond are the massive
tombs of the Ming Dynasty, the famous arches of which are shown
elsewhere.]
June 4 (afternoon). Morning train arrived from Tientsin four hours
late, owing to burning of bridge and destruction of station building
at Huangtsun by Boxers. Noon train now overdue, and, as the telegraph
wires have been cut, is unheard from. Unless foreign troops are
immediately placed to guard the railway we shall be cut off from help
by way of the sea.
June 5. The American missionaries in Paotingfu have been attacked, and
have wired for help. The tsung-li-yamen, when appealed to by United
States minister, said it would telegraph the local officials to do so.
But unless a relief party rescues them speedily their fate is certain
death.
June 5, P.M. American Methodist mission at Tsunhua, with twelve
children and four women, are beset and have wired for help. Trains from
Tientsin have ceased to arrive; we are sending a courier overland with
mails.
June 6. United States consul at Tientsin has wired the minister here
that the Tientsin native city is in great excitement, and the situation
is very serious; he advised that no women or children attempt to enter
Tientsin from Peking, as they could not get through. Fate of Paotingfu
missionaries unknown, as we can get no telegrams through.
June 6, P.M. United States consul wires from Tientsin that the
situation there is growing steadily worse; an attack is imminent.
Here in Peking we are all collecting in the legations, but have
insufficient arms and ammunition. Nevertheless we will make a
determined stand.
June 7. I have overwhelming evidence that government officials are
the real causes of the Boxer movement, acting under the direction of
the Empress. Therefore the tsung-li-yamen and cabinet are supporting
this movement, which is intended to exterminate all foreigners and
Christian converts. The senile cabinet has persuaded the Empress this
is possible, and they are quite willing to face the inevitable foreign
war that their policy entails. The imbecility of this idea does not in
any way interfere with the facts. The foreign powers should all prepare
for war at once, or entrust the work to those powers nearest and best
fitted to successfully undertake it. The sooner this is done the less
will be the loss of life and property. The tsung-li-yamen yesterday
promised Sir Claude MacDonald, through the secretary of Prince Ching,
that if the foreign ministers would not press for a personal audience
with the Empress, as they intended doing, Prince Ching would guarantee
the restoration of the interrupted railway in two days, and a general
amelioration of the condition of affairs. Another useless edict was put
out to-day mildly enjoining officials to distinguish between good and
bad Boxers, and punish only the bad.
June 7, P.M. Twenty converts have been murdered at Huangtsun, thirteen
miles south. Missionaries at Tungchow have decided to abandon their
valuable compound, and have telegraphed the United States minister
to send them a guard of marines to escort the women and children to
Peking. This compound contains a valuable college, and will inevitably
be burned.
[Illustration:
Hsü Yung I Wang Chao Shu Conger Yü Keng
Beheaded Wen Chiao U. S. Minister to
Aug. 9, 1900. Shao. Boxer Chief. Minister. Paris.
A group in front of the American Legation]
June 8. Tungchow missionaries have arrived safely in Peking. Two other
stations on the Tientsin railway, Lofa and Langfang, have been burned,
as well as the college compound at Tungchow. Tsung-li-yamen has refused
to allow a reinforcement of the legation guards now in Peking. Although
thirty warships of all nationalities are at Taku, Peking is completely
isolated. Why America, after Secretary Hay’s much vaunted open-door
policy, should allow her representative to be denied sufficient guard
for the safety of himself and his countrymen is something one cannot
comprehend, unless the representative has not kept his government well
informed.
June 8, P.M. Most alarming situation. Missionaries from all compounds
in this city compelled to abandon their homes and seek refuge in the
Methodist mission, which is nearer the legations, being a half mile
east of the United States legation. They have a few shotguns and very
little ammunition, and are surrounded by their terrified converts,
who have fled with them. Prince Ching’s promise of restored railway
has proved false. The foreign ministers now realize they have been
fooled again, and have lost two days’ valuable time. We call upon our
government to make haste and rescue our wives and families quickly or
it will be too late.
June 9. Emperor and Empress return to-day to the city from the summer
palace. Another futile edict has been put out to further delude the
foreign ministers. It is known that Prince Ching has expostulated with
the cabinet, but to no purpose.
June 9, P.M. United States Minister Conger has sent in all twenty
marines to assist the Methodist mission compound in their defense.
Still no word from Paotingfu missionaries.
June 10. Five hundred marines and sailors left Tientsin to relieve us.
They can get as far as Anting, twenty miles south of here, by train,
and will then have to march the remainder of the distance. If prompt
they should arrive to-morrow. Methodist mission is fortifying the place
with strong brick walls and barbed wire.
* * * * *
After this telegram I was notified that the wires south were cut, and
sent only one message more, on July 12, by way of Kiachta, relating the
murder of the Japanese secretary and urging prompt government action
looking to our rescue.
The history of the growth of the Boxer movement seems to me to have
been clearly shown by these telegrams, so that any one of ordinary
understanding could have been, by June 1, if in possession of this
series of dispatches, fully acquainted with the situation.
The United States minister, the British minister, and the French
minister were each acquainted with all the above major facts and much
more minor detail.