_DIARIES OF THE AUTHOR AND HIS SON FROM JUNE 20 TO END OF SIEGE_
[Illustration: HSII YUNG I
Beheaded for favoring moderation.
Member of Tsung-li-yamen]
AT FOUR o’clock on the afternoon of June 20, 1900, all the foreign
women and children, and nearly all of the civilians of Peking and
vicinity, including the customs staff and the missionary body, had
taken refuge in the British legation. It was surprising to every one
to find that, in the time that had elapsed since the arrival of the
British marines, May 31, no barricades had been erected, no trenches
dug, nor any attention paid whatever to rendering the place better able
to stand a siege.
In talking with one of the British sergeants, and commenting upon this
utter neglect, he informed me that Captain Halliday had, a few days
before, attempted to improvise some barriers by means of dry-goods
boxes filled with earth, but had been so laughed at and snubbed by
Captains Strouts and Wray, British officers, that he had given up the
attempt.
Sir Claude MacDonald, the British minister, who is an ex-major in the
army, and should have instructed in this very important duty, was,
equally with marine officers, culpably silent.
The American missionaries, however, no sooner arrived than they formed
committees on fortification, sanitation, food, etc., and set actively
to work; and to them belongs, as every one agrees, the credit of
placing the legation in a defensible condition.
To Mr. F. D. Gamewell, of the American Methodist mission, more than to
any other one man, is due the success which has attended our defense.
His energy was simply extraordinary. From morning until night he was
to be seen superintending the filling of sand-bags, the tearing down
of houses adjoining our walls that might serve as cover to the enemy,
the building of barricades and strengthening of walls from the timbers
and brick so obtained, making loopholes at the proper places for firing
through and doing, in fact, everything that could have been done by an
army engineer of experience; all the time, too, under a galling rifle
fire from the outside Chinese army, under the command of the Kansu
ruffian, General Tung Fu Hsiang.
All the Chinese coolies, servants, cooks, and retainers of the
foreigners, to the number of over 1,000, were enrolled, given a badge
sewed to their sleeves, declaring their identity, and hours fixed for
their employment on public works for general defense.
Latrines and garbage tanks were arranged, and the place put under
proper sanitary regulation, supervised by Drs. Coltman, Lowry, and
Inglis.
A hospital was equipped under Doctors Velde and Poole, and a trained
nurse corps installed, consisting of several lady physicians and three
trained nurses.
The Holland and Belgian legations, being outside of the line of defense
adopted by consultation of the military captains, were abandoned, but
it was decided by the military to hold the French, German, American,
Italian, and Russian legations, until absolutely untenable.
With the exception of the Italian legation, these premises are still
in our possession, although the French and German legations are but
shattered wrecks, every building being full of holes from shells and
round-shot of the Chinese cannon, often fired at only two hundred
yards’ distance.
[Illustration: BUILDING BARRICADES IN GERMAN LEGATION
Without the barricades the defense would never have been successful.
Some very hard fighting was done in the vicinity of this barricade. The
lower portion was built of brick, with sand-bags on top and loopholes
left for the purpose of rifle firing.]
On the afternoon of that first day of the siege, F. Huberty James,
professor of English in the Imperial University, noticed several
Chinese soldiers upon the bridge, a few hundred yards north of the
legation gate. Without stating his motive to any one, although it is
supposed he intended to converse with them, and, if possible, find out
their orders in regard to us, he walked from the gate up the street
along the canal to the bridge. He had no sooner arrived there than
several Chinese soldiers, concealed behind the wall of Prince Su’s
palace, fired upon him. The sentry at the legation gate saw him hold up
his hands, then heard a report and saw him fall. He was seen to partly
raise himself, when several of the ruffian soldiers hurriedly ran out,
picked him up, and carried him behind the corner of the wall and beyond
the reach of rescue. His fate was probably a hasty death at their
hands, if, indeed, he was not already mortally wounded.
When I heard of this sad affair, an hour after its occurrence, I could
scarcely believe that my friend who had welcomed me to China in 1885
had come to such a cruel end. He had not an enemy in the world, and was
uniformly gentle and considerate. His fate, following so closely upon
Baron von Ketteler’s, the first day of our siege, cast a deep gloom
over the entire community.
Promptly at 4 P.M. the Chinese soldiers opened fire upon all the
legations from behind the surrounding houses; but, very fortunately
for us, most of their bullets flew high and went entirely over the
legation district and must have injured Chinese residents in Peking at
a distance.
The British legation inside presented a scene of greatest confusion.
Eatables and tinned stores of every description had been hastily dumped
by coolies into all parts of the compound. Men, women, and children
were busy for some hours trying to identify and collect the little
stores they had brought or sent in, with the idea that a few days’
provision would be all that would be necessary, as no one believed
that Admiral Seymour, Colonel Wogack, and Captain McCalla would be
longer than a week at most in relieving us.
Little did we imagine that many weeks of siege under shot, shell, and
rifle-fire must be endured, with absolutely no word from the outside
world, before we, or at least such of us as survived, would again come
forth.
Many had left their homes hurriedly, taking with them nothing but the
clothes they wore. Having left my own house one week previous, and gone
to the United States legation as a guest with my family, I had been
requested not to bring in any supply of provisions, as it would alarm
people, and it was hoped quiet would be restored in a few days.
When obliged by the Chinese ultimatum to leave Peking or, as we decided
after Baron von Ketteler’s murder, to take refuge in the British
legation and await reinforcements, it was too late to visit my home
outside of the foreign lines and remove anything from my storeroom.
Fortunately for my little family, Mr. H. G. Squiers, as I have
mentioned, had laid in an abundant supply of rice, flour, and other
stores, and he offered, if I would undertake to move all his stores
safely to the British legation, to contribute to my needs. This I was
only too glad to do; so, taking two of his servants and the only two
of mine who, out of nine, had remained faithful, I worked from 9 A.M.
until 4 P.M. removing Squiers’ stores to the British legation.
[Illustration: VIEW FROM THE WALL OF PEKING SHOWING SCENE OF]
[Illustration: THE BLOCKADE AND OTHER POINTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST
1.—The prominent building at this point is the British Legation,
practically the headquarters of the defense. 2.—This high wall,
extending the entire length of the picture, marks the boundary of the
“Forbidden City”; at the point indicated, the Krupp guns, mentioned
in the narrative, were mounted, giving them a sweeping range of
Legation street. 3.—The residence of the author after the siege, his
own property having been so badly damaged by the mob as to make it
untenantable. 4.—The roof of the American Legation (in another picture
is shown a view of the Legation itself). 5.—The Russian Legation,
another of the most important points in the foreign field of defense.
6.—Bridge over the canal at Legation street. The foul and stagnant
water in the canal and the filth in its bed are plainly shown. 7.—The
roofs of the Emperor’s palace and “Forbidden City” and other portions
of some of the buildings appear above the wall that surrounds it. It
will be noticed that, while strictly barred out from the “Forbidden
City” and the palace of the Emperor, the foreign legations were
nevertheless within a comparatively short distance. 8.—The top of what
is known as the “Coal Hill,” in the Imperial grounds of the “Forbidden
City,” shows over the top of the wall. This hill is a vast supply of
coal, which has been accumulating for hundreds of years. It is entirely
without shelter, and there seems to be no authentic history to account
for its inception, nor any special reason for its continuance; but
here, in the most sacred place in the Chinese kingdom, right in the
magnificent palace grounds of the Emperor, this ugly, unsightly pile
of coal, covering several acres in extent and rising, as can be seen
by the picture, to a very considerable height, washed by the rains and
seamed by the upheavals of the frosts of winter, continues to exist, as
it has done from time immemorial.]
I purchased, also, from one of the foreign stores within the lines of
defense two dozen tins of condensed milk and four tins of baked beans,
a very inadequate provision to feed six children and two adults for two
months.
Many others were as poorly provided for as myself; but, providentially,
within the region we had adopted as our lines of defense, were several
large grain shops full of rice, wheat, and millet. Our carts were kept
busy for several days hauling these supplies into the English legation,
where they were placed in charge of a commissary officer and issued out
as needed.
We thus had sufficient grain, not only for all the foreigners, but also
for the two thousand odd refugees, coolies, and servants, who had, from
one motive or another, cast their lot with us. From the grain shops,
too, we brought in their millstones, and, as we had altogether over
one hundred and fifty mules and horses, we started up a ten-mule-power
mill, which ground out flour all day for the needs of the besieged.
Being occupied daily with the sanitary work and attendance on the sick,
I was unable to keep much of a diary, so I instructed my son Robert,
aged sixteen, to do so for me, and the following transcription of his
diary gives the events of our daily life until the end of the siege.
June 21. Most of the Chinese coolies and many foreigners were set right
at work filling sand-bags for fortifying all the weak places in the
legation, while the women, with needle and thread and the few sewing
machines inside the compound, manufactured the bags by the thousand.
This was kept up until 20,000 to 25,000 sand-bags were made.
The Belgian legation and the Methodist mission were set fire to and
completely burned. Tung Lu’s troops kept up a desultory fusillade upon
us all day, but scarcely any of the bullets took effect.
It was reported that Prince Ching’s troops were firing on the Boxers,
who were attacking the customs compound and Austrian legation. This
report was afterward proved false. The French were driven from their
barricade in the customs lane into the French legation compound.
The Chinese set fire to a native house just in the rear of Mr.
Cockburn’s house, hoping it would catch to the latter place. It was
very near, and, as the wind was strong, was only prevented with the
greatest difficulty from spreading into the legation. It was put out at
last, after two hours’ hard fighting.
Some of the marines stationed as watchmen on the roof of the Cockburn
house had seen Chinamen sneaking around with rags soaked in kerosene
and had fired on them, but had not succeeded in preventing the fire
being set.
The Austrians, Italians, Germans, and Japanese were forced by the heavy
firing to leave their legations and come here. The Americans also
started, but were sent back. The Austrians and Italians were never able
to retake their legations, but the Germans and Japanese returned very
shortly to theirs. The Germans found a Boxer prisoner missing on their
return on the 23d of June.
A fire was started just outside the north wall of the compound at
10 A.M., which was put out, or thought to have been put out; but it
broke out again in the afternoon, this time burning a part of the
Hanlin Library, adjoining the legation on the north. The conflagration
was separated from the legation by only one narrow court, so one of
the buildings in the court was pulled down to prevent its spreading.
Thousands of wooden printing blocks were thrown into the fire to get
rid of all combustible material in the immediate neighborhood. These
blocks represent days of labor each, and were used in printing valuable
(to the Chinese) books. Many valuable books also perished in the
flames. At night a guard was placed in the Hanlin yuan, or garden, to
watch the smoking remains, and, as this point is of greatest strategic
importance, barricades will be erected here and the position maintained.
June 22. The customs compound and Austrian legation were burned, the
Austrians remaining in the French legation to help them there. The back
part of the Russo-Chinese bank compound was burned, also a house in
the Japanese legation, which latter fire was soon subdued. A discharge
of shrapnel from a gun on the city wall struck the gate house of the
United States legation, and cut down the flag-pole, tearing a large
hole in the roof, but hurting no one.
At 7 P.M. a house near the Hotel de Pein was burned. In this house
two Boxers were captured. When seen, they threw down their swords and
attempted to escape, but were caught and brought into the British
legation to be locked up.
The fortifying operations are being pushed forward vigorously under the
excellent management of Mr. F. D. Gamewell. He is the one man competent
to take charge of affairs here, as the British., although in their
own legation, and knowing that the place was to be the last place of
refuge, had not done a stroke of work toward fortifying it, and seemed
to be as helpless as children.
[Illustration: PORTION OF CHINA’S GREAT WALL
Showing one of the towers or forts, which are built at intervals
throughout its entire length.]
June 24. At ten minutes past midnight the Chinese began a furious
fusillade from all quarters, and an alarm was rung from the bell-tower,
notifying all of a general attack. But after about twenty minutes
of prodigious noise, with almost no damage done, the firing ceased
as suddenly as it had commenced, and the rest of the night was
comparatively quiet. About 10 A.M. a fire was started outside and
adjoining the south stables, which, after heroic exertions upon the
part of nearly the entire garrison of men, women, and coolies, all of
whom formed into line and passed hundreds of buckets of water from
the two nearest wells to the scene of the fire, was subdued without
our stables catching fire. With every one of these fires that was
successfully put out, the danger from that source was lessened.
The German and American marines took possession of the city wall south
of their respective legations, to prevent the Chinese from bringing
their heavy guns too near and too directly able to bear upon the
legations. Thrice they were driven back by the heavy fire, but they
stuck to their task, and eventually obtained each a position on the
wall—the Germans to the east, the Americans to the west, the two
positions being about six hundred yards apart.
The second time they advanced, the Americans took the Colt machine
gun with them, and, advancing almost to the Chinese barricade, killed
several hundred Chinese. The third time, the Americans advanced several
hundred yards and then retreated suddenly, as though panic-stricken.
This brought the Chinese out from behind their barricades with a rush,
when the Colt gun was again turned loose on them and killed sixty more.
After this the shelling got so hot that the position became absolutely
untenable. A piece of shell struck the shoulder-piece of the Colt
gun, and another shell, striking the wall, knocked down the bricks so
thickly around the gun that Mitchell, the gunner, thought he might have
to abandon it; but, hastily taking it apart, he managed to get it down
the ramp, and brought it safely into the British legation.
The German officers claimed to have seen rockets to the southwest,
which they thought to be signals from the relief force. Heavy
cannonading was also heard, about 4 P.M., outside the city, which was
thought to come from the troops, but both proved false hopes.
Corporal King, United States Marine Corps, was killed by a Chinese
sniper in the Russo-Chinese bank. The United States barracks were set
on fire, but fortunately the fire did not spread to the legation.
Captain Halliday, Royal Navy Marine Corps, was severely wounded by a
stray bullet. Thirteen men are in the hospital.
June 25. During the night one of the captured Boxers tried to escape,
so in the morning they were both shot. There was about twenty minutes
of hot firing about the same time as last night.
At 5 P.M. the Chinese put up a poster on the north bridge ordering
the firing to stop, and to protect the ministers, stating also that
they would send us a message. This message was never sent, however,
and though the firing was stopped for a few hours, it soon started up
again, and the whole thing was believed to be a fraud by which the
Chinese wished to get some of the foreigners outside the legation to be
killed.
[Illustration: ENTRANCE THROUGH GREAT WALL INTO MONGOLIA—ROTATING GATE
This great wall extends in massive proportions over more than a
thousand miles of plain and mountain. It was built ages ago as a bar
against the incursions of the barbaric and warlike tribes, who were
destined in time, despite this tremendous obstacle, to overrun and
acquire the kingdom and place their own rulers upon its throne.]
The Americans and Germans again took their positions on the wall,
and began building barricades in the face of the Chinese gun. As the
mutton began to get scarce, the first horse was killed. It was very
good eating, and I doubt not that we have had some of that kind of
beef before, in substitution for the genuine article. Three rockets,
probably Chinese, were seen during the night.
June 26. The night entertainment—“fireworks”—came at 3 A.M., instead
of midnight, as usual. Chinese troops were seen marching northwest,
supposedly to convey the Empress to the summer palace. By this time the
shells from the various guns close by us began to come nearer, several
exploding in the compound. “Bomb-proof” cellars were therefore started
in different parts of the compound, in which we might take refuge
if the shells actually began to do damage. These “bomb-proofs” were
trenches about six feet deep, covered with a roof of timbers, boards,
and from two to four feet of earth or sand-bags. These it was thought
would furnish efficient protection against fragments of shell. Sergeant
Fanning, United States Marine Corps, was killed by a sniper on the city
wall.
June 27. Very heavy firing, mostly from the imperial city wall. A crowd
of greenhorn Boxers started to attack the Americans on the wall from
below. The Americans turned the Colt on them, killing about fifty, and
the rest got away.
A Chinaman who arrived from near Tientsin reported Boxers very thick
around there, and that three divisions of troops had left Tientsin June
24 to come to Peking, one coming north, one west, and one east.
June 28. No news of importance.
June 29. In the morning there was an attack made by the Chinese on the
south stables, the weakest part of the whole legation compound. This
was repulsed after a short fight, and about twenty British marines
under Captain Strouts went out after the Chinese, killing a large
number of them, and capturing their rifles with about six hundred
rounds of ammunition. The guns were mostly Mauser rifles and carbines.
They were distributed among the unarmed men of the legation. Captain
Strouts was grazed in the neck by a bullet. Later fifty volunteers,
under Captain Wray, went out to capture a gun near the Su Wang Fu that
was making things unpleasant for the people there. They could not find
it, however, and had to return.
By this time nearly all the Chinese houses near the United States
legation had been burned in the various attempts to fire the legation,
and in the ruins of these houses a number of Chinese snipers installed
themselves, making it extremely dangerous for any one attempting to
cross Legation street.
June 30. At night there was a very heavy thunderstorm, the first of the
rainy season. Simultaneously with the thunder, the Chinese started a
terrific fusillade from all quarters. The hideous noise, with the vivid
flashes of lightning and the torrents of rain, produced an effect on
the minds of all who witnessed it that they will probably never forget.
July 1. The Americans and Germans were forced by heavy shell-fire
to leave the wall. Later in the day the Americans returned, but the
Germans did not. The Chinese were quiet at night, there being hardly
any firing at all. The reason for this was supposed to be temporary
shortness of ammunition. At night a good many people believed they
saw flashes from an electric search-light, which was supposed to be
with the troops at Tungchow. They claimed to have seen at first forty
flashes, then an interval, followed by eight more. This they supposed
to be some kind of a signal to us, but since it has all turned out to
be heat lightning. Ed. Wagner, one of the customs men, was struck and
killed in the French legation by a shell.
July 2. It rained at night, and no flashlights (?) were seen.
July 3. The Chinese on the wall had built up their barricade so high
during the night that it almost overlooked our own (the two were only
forty yards apart), and had they been able to build a little higher
they might easily have fired right down on our men, so that it became a
question of rushing the Chinese barricade or of leaving the wall. The
former course was adopted. At 3 A.M., fifteen United States marines,
fifteen Russian sailors, and twenty-five British marines, led by
Captain John Myers, in the blackest part of the night, crept silently
over the American barricade, and, dividing into two parties, each
keeping close to either side of the wall battlements, advanced rapidly
right up to the face of the Chinese barricade undiscovered. Arrived
here, as agreed, they gave a tremendous yell, and swarmed over and
around the barricade, yelling and firing volleys into the astonished
Celestials, who, taken entirely by surprise by the yelling foreign
devils, made very little resistance, and speedily fled to their second
line of defense, some distance westward toward the Chien Men.
Before starting, Captain Myers had briefly addressed his men, telling
them the vital necessity of capturing the barricade. “Men,” he said,
“we must take that place at all costs or be driven off the wall! Once
off the wall, the legations will lie at the mercy of the Chinese, and
we, with all the women and children, will be butchered. This is our
opportunity. I expect every man to do his duty. We cannot stop to pick
up any who may be wounded, but must press on and accomplish the work,
leaving the wounded until we return. If I fall, Sergeant Murphy of the
British marines succeeds to command; if he falls Corporal Hunt of the
American marines succeeds him. Now, when I give command, spring over
the barricade, and follow me.” He immediately gave the command: “Come
on!” The sortie was most successful, the barricade was gained and
held, but we lost two brave American boys, Privates Turner and Thomas.
Captain Myers was badly wounded by a spear-thrust in his knee, and
Corporal Gregory of the British marines was shot in the foot.
July 4. Independence day in America, but a day of red-hot fireworks for
us. Chinese butchers on the outside trying hard to get in and murder
us. Only celebration by Americans was a party given to the smaller
children by Mrs. Squiers.
July 5. Mr. David Oliphant, one of the English legation students,
was shot and mortally wounded, in the Hanlin Yuan. He died at 3, and
was buried in our little graveyard at 7 P.M. His death threw a deep
gloom over the whole legation, as he was a general favorite. Three
attacks were made on us last night at 10 and 12, and 2.30 this morning.
Cartridge ammunition of the enemy seems to be running low, as they are
firing now more of the old muzzle-loading Yingalls, and fewer of the
Mauser cartridges.
July 6. A sortie was made by the Japanese to try and capture a gun
that was making havoc on their barricades in the Su Wang Fu. Too
many Chinese houses, however, concealed the whereabouts of the gun,
and after having three men wounded they were obliged to return
unsuccessful. A shell fell in one of the rooms of Mr. Conger’s house,
doing considerable damage. Mrs. Conger had been in the room only a
short time before.
[Illustration: On the great wall, Kun Ming Hu]
A messenger was let down from the wall with ropes, to try and
communicate our desperate situation to Tientsin. He was offered one
thousand taels if he got safely through the enemy’s lines with his
dispatches. We have sent numerous runners out by the water-gate, and
several over the wall, but none have ever returned. Doubtless they have
been captured and killed.
During the day a number of three- and seven-pound solid iron shot have
been thrown into our midst by guns located on the wall of the imperial,
or yellow city, to the north of us. So far, beyond knocking a few
holes in the buildings, they have done no harm. The powder they are
using must be very inferior. One of the missiles passed through Lady
MacDonald’s dining room.
July 7. Two attacks were made on the French legation and were repulsed,
the Chinese loss being small, as they retired rapidly. The Austrian
commander, Captain von Thorneburg, was killed in one of these attacks,
being shot through the heart.
We are now really eating the horse-meat. A number of people who were
using it assured us it was very good, but our prejudices prevailed some
time. First we tried the liver, fried with a small scrap of bacon, and
were pleased to find it tasted just like beef-liver. Then we tried some
of the meat curried, and now we are having excellent sausages of the
meat, which helps the rice to be more palatable. We are allowed one
pound of horse-meat per adult individual each day.
When the Russians came up the first time, they brought along with them
sixty shells, leaving the gun in Tientsin to be brought up by the next
force that came. As no other could get in, the ammunition was of no
use. It was thought that if some kind of a cannon could be made, many
of our shells might be utilized in destroying the Chinese barricades.
So Mitchell, the United States gunner, started to work on two sections
of a fire-engine pump. Meanwhile, two Chinese coolies found an old
cannon, a muzzle-loader of about 1860, in a junkshop, and dragged it
in. As this cannon fitted the shells it was used instead of the pump.
It was mounted on a pair of wheels taken from the Italian ammunition
truck. It has been nicknamed the “International.” The gun itself was an
old British one, mounted on an Italian carriage, and fired with Russian
ammunition by an American gunner. Hence the nickname.
The ammunition for the Italian one-pound gun having run short, pewter
vessels from the Chinese houses around were brought in, melted, and run
into molds to make the shot for the gun. With these the used cartridges
were reloaded, and, there being no primers for them, revolver
cartridges were readily used instead. When tried in the bore they
worked very well, though it was feared that the harder metal of which
they were made would be ruinous to the rifling of the gun.
The Chinese broke two holes in the top of the imperial city wall and
built a platform just over the water-gate, where it was expected they
would mount guns the next night. At 10 P.M. they started a fusillade,
which lasted for a few minutes, but the rest of the night was fairly
quiet.
The French and Austrians claimed to have heard cannonading about ten
kilometers (six miles) to the southeast. But this has also proved a
false hope, and the general opinion is now that the relief has not
started from Tientsin at all, though why, no one can say.
July 8. Sunday. The Chinese on the wall moved up their arms and opened
fire on our barricade. The third shot they fired was badly aimed and
struck their own barricade, carrying most of it away, when they were
forced to retreat in a hurry. There was a fire at the Su Wang Fu of
the main pavilion buildings, but it was not very serious. Two shells
from a gun to the west struck the wall, and one the top of Mr. Coburn’s
house, showing that the Chinese are getting the range. The evening
fusillade started at 9:45 and lasted about twenty minutes.
July 9. In the morning Mr. Squiers sent out a man into the city to see
what was going on there. He returned in the afternoon reporting, first,
that Hatamen has been closed for many days; second, that there are no
Chinese troops in the southern city; third, that Rung Lu’s troops are
guarding the Chihaumen, but there are many Kansu men on the Hatamen
streets and in the imperial city; fourth, that at the ssupailou (four
arches) the shops are open and doing business as usual; fifth, that
the Emperor and Empress Dowager are still in the city; sixth, that
the Peking “Gazette” is published daily. The day was quiet except for
occasional firing.
July 10. In the morning several of the Chinese shells came very close,
breaking right over the tennis court, and making it unsafe for any one
to cross.
July 11. A messenger sent out with a letter tried to get through the
water-gate, but was immediately fired on by the Chinese sentries and
forced to fly. He got in without being hurt.
The Chinese were extremely quiet all night, but the cause was not known
until the next morning, when it was discovered that they had built two
new big walls, one in the Hanlin Yuan, and another in the imperial
carriage park.
[Illustration: Part of Author’s Diary]
July 12. The Chinese kept up a heavy cannonade all day, mostly from
the guns on the imperial city wall, but did very little damage to us.
A flag, white ground and black characters, was captured by the French
in the morning, and in the afternoon Mitchell captured a big black one
in the Hanlin Yuan. He got up on a Chinese barrier and wrested the flag
from a Chinese soldier by pounding him with sand-bags until he let go,
while five or six volleys were fired at him. He secured the flag and
got down without a scratch.
July 13. A Chinese prisoner taken by the French marines this morning
states that the Emperor and Empress Dowager are still in the palace
here. Prince Tuan, Jung Lee and General Tung are in control of public
affairs. Prince Ching takes no part in them. Many Boxers are still in
the city. Their principal patron is Prince Tuan. In his palace they are
registered, fed, and paid.
These Boxers are ridiculed by the soldiers because they dare not
go under fire at the front, in spite of their pretensions to be
bullet-proof.
General Tung’s troops are facing us on the wall and along our lines on
the south. Jung Lu’s troops are behind the French legation. Several of
them are killed or wounded every day. The prisoner declares that he was
one of several coolies (hired at twenty-five cents a body) to carry off
and bury the dead. There are about three thousand of Tung Fu Hsinang’s
troops in the city.
The Empress has forbidden the use of guns of large caliber against us,
because of the harm they might do to her loyal people and their houses.
Direct attack having failed, and our rifles being better than theirs,
it has been decided to starve us out. Two weeks ago news came that
foreign troops from one hundred warships at Taku had captured the Taku
forts, and occupied “East Taku,” opposite Tangku railway station.
Tientsin city was in a panic on this account.
Ammunition is being brought here from the Hunting park. Imperial edicts
are issued as usual. Business is going on in the north part of the
city, and market supplies are coming in. The four “chief banks” are
closed. The soldiers believe that we have several thousand troops under
arms here. The prisoner thought we had at least two thousand.
Of course, this information is not official, and there may be much
that is not strictly accurate. It simply represents the gossip of the
tea-shops and restaurants.
One reason the Chinese have for thinking we have so many men here is
that a number of them are killed by their own bullets, which are aimed
high and pass over our heads and drop among their own people. This
shooting they attribute to our men, and so think we have a large force
here.
Same date, 6.30 P.M. The Chinese exploded a mine under the French
legation wall, destroying part of the wall and also part of their own
fortifications. Four men were buried by the first explosion, one of
whom was dug out, and another blown up again by a second explosion.
Having done this, the Chinese made a desperate assault, but were beaten
off after having killed three and wounded three French marines and lost
about twenty of their number.
[Illustration: VIEW IN LEGATION STREET
The entrance to French legation is on the left. The lions shown on
either side of the entrance are such as can be found nowhere outside
of China. The street is in somewhat better condition, since it is
presumably under foreign control, or at least is modified by foreign
influences.]
The minister’s and first secretary’s houses were fired, the minister
destroying all his official papers himself, to prevent their falling
into the hands of the Chinese.
Simultaneously with this attack came a tremendous fusillade from all
sides, which lasted forty-five minutes, by far the longest we have had
yet.
The Su Wang Fu was the scene of the hottest firing, and once it was
thought it would have to be given up.
At the same time a body of Chinese, numbering about two hundred,
charged down the wall street and got past the German legation without
being stopped. When they got to the bridge, one of the United States
marines was just coming down from the wall and saw them as they were
coming up over the bridge. He gave the alarm to four men stationed in
the barricade on the street, who fired about a dozen volleys on them,
killing thirty of them. The natives then turned and fled; on the way
back the Germans fired on them, driving them into the club tennis
courts, where they killed eighteen more. The officer in command of the
Chinese was shot by E. von Strauch, captain of the customs volunteers.
In the fray two Germans were seriously, and two slightly, wounded. The
Chinese kept up a desultory firing all night.
July 14. A large supply of wheat was brought over to the British
legation from a grain store near the south bridge, and distributed in
several storerooms throughout the compound. This was done as there had
been some burning near there, and it was feared it would be destroyed.
A messenger sent out by Mr. Tewksbury on the 10th instant returned,
bringing a message supposed to have been written by Prince Ching. It
was soon known to be an invitation to leave the legations and go to the
tsung-li-yamen for protection, though the full translation was not put
upon the bulletin board till the next day.
July 15. The following bulletin was posted at 1 P.M.:
A messenger sent out on July 10 by Mr. Tewksbury, with a letter for
the troops, returned yesterday. He is the gate-keeper at the Nan
Vang (south cathedral) and a Roman Catholic. He says he was arrested
outside the Hatamen and taken to the Wofursu (temple?), his letter
was taken from him, and he was beaten with eighty blows. He was then
taken to Jung Lu’s headquarters in the imperial city. Here he found
a man named Yu who formerly knew him as gate-keeper. He was there
given a letter, purporting to be written by Prince Ching and others,
addressed to the British minister, and told that men would wait at
the water-gate to-night for an answer. A translation of the letter is
annexed:
* * * * *
“For the last ten days the soldiers and militia have been fighting,
and there has been no communication between us, to our great anxiety.
Some time ago we hung up a board (referring to June 25) expressing
our intentions, but no answer has been received, and, contrary to
expectation, the foreign soldiers made renewed attacks, causing alarm
and suspicion among people and soldiers.
“Yesterday the troops captured a convert named Chin Ssu Hai,
and learned from him that the foreign ministers were all well,
which caused us great satisfaction. But it is the unexpected that
happens—the reinforcements of foreign troops were ever so long ago
stopped and turned back by the Boxers, and if, in accordance with
the previous agreement, we were to guard your excellencies out of
the city, there are so many Boxers on the Tientsin-Taku road that we
should be very apprehensive of misadventure.
“We now request your excellencies to first take your families and
the various members of your staff, and leave your legations in
detachments. You should select trustworthy officers to give close
and strict protection, and you should temporarily reside in the
tsung-li-yamen, pending future arrangements for your return home in
order to preserve friendly relations intact from beginning to end. But
at the time of leaving the legations there must on no account whatever
be any single armed foreign soldier, in order to prevent doubt and
fear on the part of the troops and people, leading to untoward
incidents.
“If your excellency is willing to show this confidence, we beg you
to communicate with all the foreign ministers in Peking, to-morrow
at noon being the limit of time, and to let the original messenger
deliver your reply, in order that we may settle in advance the day
for leaving the legations. This is the single way of preserving
relations that we have been able to devise in the face of innumerable
difficulties. If no reply is received by the hour fixed, even our
affection will not enable us to help you. Compliments.
PRINCE CHING AND OTHERS.”
“6th moon, 18th day [July 13, 1900].”
A reply has been sent to-day declining, on the part of the foreign
representatives, the invitation to proceed to the tsung-li-yamen,
and pointing out that no attacks have been made by our troops, who
are only defending the lives and property of foreigners against the
attacks of Chinese government troops. The reply concludes with a
statement that if the Chinese government wishes to negotiate, they
should send a responsible official with a white flag.
CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.
This message is thought by every one to be a rank fraud. It is supposed
to come not from Prince Ching, but from the leader of the Kansu troops,
and is probably intended to lure some of the foreigners outside the
legation and then to shoot them.
Same date, 3 P.M. Twenty Russians and four Americans made an attack on
a house to the west of the Russian legation, where there were about
sixty Chinese snipers. On arriving at the wall they found there was no
way to get into the yard. So each man took a brick, and, at a given
signal, heaved them all together into the yard, shouting and reviling
the Chinamen.
Alarmed by this they fled, and the men took the building without a shot
being fired on either side. At this time the Chinese at other points
started up a brisk fire, lasting about ten minutes.
July 16, 7 A.M. While on a tour of inspection in the Su Wang Fu, in
company with Dr. Morrison and Colonel Shiba, Captain B. M. Strouts, R.
M. L. I., was shot and mortally wounded by a sniper. Dr. Morrison was
shot in the leg, though not seriously. Captain Strouts died at 11 A.M.
and was buried at 6 P.M. yesterday. One of the United States marines,
Private Fisher, was killed the same day.
It is indeed a pitiable plight that we are in now. Neither the
Americans nor the British have any leader. Captain Meyers is disabled
by the spear wound he received in the sortie of July 3. Captain Strouts
is dead; Captain Halliday, the only other able British captain, is
crippled by a wound received three weeks ago. Sir Claude MacDonald,
though he assumes charge, is no man for the situation, and the French
and Germans deny his authority.
[Illustration: GENERAL SUNG CHING
Commander-in-Chief, who fought the battle of Tientsin against the
allied international armies.]
Same date, 5 P.M. The messenger sent yesterday returned with four
others, who waited for him at the bridge. He brought a letter from
Jung Lu to Sir Claude MacDonald, and a telegram from Washington to Mr.
Conger. The letter to Sir Claude contained nothing of any importance.
The telegram, Mr. Conger recognized as being in the State Department
cipher, but could not determine its meaning, as it had evidently been
tampered with in some way by the Chinese. So the messenger was sent
back with a request that the full original telegram be sent.
July 17. The messenger returned again bringing a telegram from Wu
Ting Fang, the Chinese minister at Washington, enclosing one from the
Secretary of State. This read: “Communicate tidings to bearer.” To this
the minister sent in reply: “One month in the British legation under
shot and shell. Will all be massacred unless help comes soon.”
One of Jung Lu’s soldiers came in the morning and gave himself up at
the German legation, and asked for some medicine for a wound in the
ear. He said that Jung Lu had ordered the soldiers to stop firing,
but to hold their positions, and that he was very desirous that the
foreigners should be protected.
Not a shot has been fired since early morning. This is probably due to
a fear that the foreign troops are near, and the government wishes to
protect itself by saying they were unable to control the Boxers and the
Kansu soldiers. Several other Chinese soldiers gave themselves up as
prisoners at the different legations, though with what purpose no one
can say.
[Illustration: GENERAL MA YU KUN
Major-General under Sung Ching; also engaged in the battle of Tientsin
with the allied international armies.]
July 18. As Jung Lu had expressed a willingness to assist the
foreigners, a messenger was sent to him requesting that supplies of
fresh vegetables, eggs, meat, etc., might be sent to the legation for
the women and children. This was promised, and watermelons and peaches
have already been sent to the Japanese in the Su Wang Fu and to the
Americans on the wall. The soldiers on the wall go on each other’s
barriers and chat in the most friendly manner. There are great numbers
of Boxers in the city, especially in the south city, but the troops are
no longer in league with these.
A messenger sent out by the Japanese minister on the 30th ult. returned
to-day from Tientsin, bringing word that a mixed force of 33,300 would
start from there for the relief of Peking about the 20th inst. The
force is to consist of 24,000 Japanese, 4,000 Russian, 2,000 British,
1,500 American, 1,500 French, and 300 German troops.
He reports that he left by the Ch’ihuamen (east gate) on June 30,
proceeding to Tientsin by boat. He arrived at Tientsin on July 5, but
was unable to enter the city, as it was surrounded by Chinese troops.
He walked round the city gates, and found a force of Chinese, under
General Chang, posted north of the railway station, cannonading a force
of Japanese holding the ground south of the station.
On July 9 General Chang was defeated, and he (the messenger) managed to
get through the Japanese lines on July 12, and delivered the Japanese
minister’s letter to the Japanese consul.
While in Tientsin he gleaned the following news: That General Nieh was
dead, that all the missionaries in Tientsin and outlying stations had
left for home, and that the Taku forts were taken without difficulty
by the foreigners on June 17. On July 14 the foreign troops took the
native city of Tientsin, after a two days’ attack. On July 15 the
messenger left Tientsin for Peking, being escorted by the Japanese to
the “second bridge.” He returned to Peking by road.
[Illustration: GORDON HALL
In the cellar of this building all the women and children remained
during the shelling of Tientsin by the Chinese troops. It is one of the
most beautiful and attractive buildings in Tientsin, and in strange
contrast with its Chinese surroundings.]
Among other things he mentioned was that the Tunchou taotai had been
lodged in the board of punishments, and that prior to his own arrival
in Tientsin. No news of Peking had reached that place since about the
end of June.
We look for the troops about the 30th inst., if they have no fighting
to do on the way. This explains why the government is so anxious to
have peace in the capital at present. They are awaiting the issue of a
contest between the relief force and the Chinese troops between here
and Tientsin.
If our troops are victorious, as of course they will be, unless
outnumbered overwhelmingly, the government will say they have done all
in their power to stop the fighting, but have not been able to control
their troops until now. If our troops are defeated they will turn on us
and slaughter us. In the meantime we have a resting spell of a few days.
* * * * *
Bulletin: Précis of further correspondence between the British minister
and “Prince Ching and others.”
[Illustration: STREET VENDERS OF TIENTSIN
A vast amount of business is transacted by these merchants, whose
stock in trade is of the smallest, and whose transactions are so
insignificant as to be incredible according to western ideas.]
On July 16 the Chinese sent a reply to Sir Claude’s letter of the 15th,
in which they explain that the reason for suggesting the removal of the
legation staffs to the tsung-li-yamen was that the Chinese government
could afford more efficient protection to them if concentrated there
than if scattered, as at present. As the foreign ministers, however,
do not agree, the Chinese will, as in duty bound, do their utmost to
protect the legations where they are. They will bring reinforcements,
and continue their efforts to prevent the Boxers from firing, and they
trust the foreign ministers on their part will restrain their troops
also from firing.
July 17, A.M. Sir Claude replied to the effect that the foreign troops
had all along acted entirely in self-defense and would continue to do
so. But the Chinese must understand that previous events had led to a
want of confidence, and that if barricades were erected or troops moved
in the vicinity of the legations, the foreign guards would be obliged
to fire on them.
July 17 P.M. The Chinese replied, reviewing the situation and ascribing
the present hostilities to the attacks previously made by the legation
guards. They noted with satisfaction that a cessation of firing is
agreed to on both sides, but suggest that as foreign soldiers here have
been firing from the city wall east of the Chien Men, they should be
removed from that position.
[Illustration: Scene at a street corner in Tientsin]
July 18 (noon). Sir Claude replied with a review of the situation from
the foreign point of view. On June 19 the yamen had given the legations
notice to quit Peking, and the foreign representatives had replied,
pointing out that there were no facilities of transportation. The yamen
had then replied, extending the time; but, in spite of this, fire was
opened on the legations on the following day, and they had been under
constant fire from Chinese government troops ever since, a condition of
things unparalleled in the world’s history. He alluded to the incident
of the board displayed on June 25, the free moving of troops during
the cessation of hostilities thus caused, and the renewed attacks made
after the completion of the preparations thus facilitated. He hoped
that mutual confidence would gradually be restored, but meanwhile he
again pointed out that cessation of hostile preparations, as well as
of actual firing, was necessary on the part of the Chinese forces
to secure that the foreign troops should cease shooting. As for the
suggestion that the foreign troops should leave the city wall, it was
impossible to accede to it, because a great part of the attacks on the
legation had been made from the wall. He concluded by suggesting that
sellers of fruit or ice should be allowed to come in.
In a letter addressed the same day to Jung Lu, the substance of Sir
Claude’s previous letters was repeated, and a suggestion was made
that communications would be facilitated if a responsible official
were sent to the legation. In response to this suggestion, a yamen
secretary arrived this afternoon with a card from Jung Lu. He had no
special message, but promised to see whether Peking “Gazettes” could be
procured and a market established for ice, fruit, eggs, etc., and also
to ascertain whether telegrams could be transmitted on behalf of the
foreign ministers to their governments. He mentioned that telegraphic
communication was interrupted. He expressed the concern of the Chinese
government at the deeds of the Boxers, who had caused the whole
difficulty between China and the foreign powers.
* * * * *
July 19. A very quiet day. No firing on either side. About two hundred
and fifty eggs and a few vegetables were brought in by Chinese soldiers
for sale. The yamen sent another message asking that the ministers
leave here for Tientsin.
July 20. Several copies of the Peking “Gazette” of the past month
were procured from the Chinese. Translations of a number of edicts
contained therein are given in another chapter. The ministers replied
to the yamen’s request of yesterday, saying that, as the Boxers were so
numerous outside the city, they would not dare to trust themselves on
the road. Four cart-loads of watermelons and vegetables were sent to
the ministers by the yamen as a sign of good feeling (?). No firing all
day, except for a few shots fired by Boxers in the south city against
our men on the wall.
July 24. Mr. Narahara, second secretary of the Japanese legation, died
in the early morning, of lockjaw from a wound.
Same date, 7 P.M. The following was received from Colonel Shiba: “A
Chinaman who came to our barricade this afternoon says that on the
17th of this month Yangtsun was occupied by the foreign troops, and on
the 19th a battle took place around the same place. About one hundred
and fifty wounded of Tung Fu Hsiang’s troops have just been brought to
Peking; the foreign troops were about forty li this side of Yangtsun
when the wounded men started.”
July 26. Colonel Shiba reports: “A Chinaman states that about 11
o’clock on the 24th instant the Chinese troops under General Chang were
attacked by foreign troops thirty li south of Hoshiwu (half-way between
Tientsin and here by road) and driven back at midnight to the latter
place. At 10 A.M. yesterday Hoshiwu was attacked, and the Chinese
troops driven back with heavy loss to ten li north of the latter place.
The force of 4,800 men who came from the west with nine guns left
Peking at 6 o’clock yesterday morning for Hoshiwu.”
Since the beginning of the truce, on July 18, the soldiers of Jung Lu
have observed the truce and refrained from firing; but those fronting
us on the north wall and on the west of the legation have started
sniping again. The latter are Tung Fu Hsiang’s troops.
July 25. Chin Tsu-hsi, a messenger who left our lines eight days ago
carrying an official letter to Jung Lu, returned to-day. He says that
he delivered the letter at Jung Lu’s headquarters, and was locked up
there seven days. Jung Lu goes to court every day. The Emperor and
Empress Dowager are still in the city. Boxers patrol the streets in
small bands.
Four days ago a ragged, dirty foreigner, hatless and coatless, of
general disreputable appearance, was captured by Tung Fu Hsiang’s men
and brought to Jung Lu. He was of medium height, blonde mustache and
beard, and spoke Chinese. (This referred to a Swede named Nestergaard,
who, on some slight offense, left the legation and went over to the
Chinese.) He said he went out to find food. Meanwhile Boxers assembled
around Jung Lu’s house, and demanded the foreigner, but Jung Lu sent
him off under guard to the yamen of the Shun Tien Fu for safe keeping.
A messenger sent out on July 4 to go to Tientsin with our letter
returned to-day, bringing the following note from the British consul at
Tientsin:
Your letter of July 4 received. There are now 24,000 troops landed
and 10,000 here. General Gaselee expected at Taku to-morrow. Russian
troops are at Peitsang. Tientsin city is under foreign government,
and Boxer power here is exploded. There are plenty of troops on the
way if you can keep yourselves in food. Almost all ladies have left
Tientsin.
(Signed) W. R. CARLES.
Dated July 22.
(The letter of July 4 gave details of the siege up to that date,
numbers of killed and wounded, and stated that Chinese troops had fired
into the legation quarter continuously since June 20, and that we were
hard pressed.)
This answer of the British consul aroused great indignation among all
the besieged. It had been impossible up to that time to get any word
from the outside world, though many messengers were sent out, and then
when one did succeed in getting through the Chinese lines, to receive
a letter (and that from an official, too) which gave no information of
any attempt to relieve us!
Following is the story of the runner’s trip to Tientsin and back: Lin
Wu Yuan, sixteen years old, a messenger, native of Shantung, living
in Peking, arrived this morning, from Tientsin. He left Peking with
letters on the night of July 4, disguised as a beggar. He was let down
over the wall by a rope, crept along the moat to the Chien Men, slept
under the gate, and in the morning walked to the Yungting Men, passed
through, and went to Machiapu station without being molested.
Hearing nothing there, he went to Tungchow and worked his way along the
main road to Tientsin. At a village near Hoshiwu he was stopped by the
villagers and made to work eight days. He reached Tientsin July 18,
first met Russian, then Japanese, and on July 21 met the British troops
at Peiving Men, the entrance through the defense wall, half a mile from
Tientsin city, on the Peking road.
He delivered his letters to a foreigner in citizen, dress, who spoke
Chinese. On July 22 he was taken to the British consulate; there the
consul gave him a letter. He was then sent to the foreign outpost at
Hungchian (Red Bridge over the Paotingfu river, a half mile west of
Tientsin city).
On July 23 he left Hungch’iao, and soon met the Chinese troops. That
night he slept at Yangtsun in a locomotive boiler near the bridge. The
bridge there was not destroyed. That day he saw only Chinese infantry,
the main body of which was at Peitsang; he saw no Boxers. The night
of July 24 he slept near Hoshiwu; saw few soldiers and no Boxers. The
night of July 25 he slept at Mat’ou. That day he saw a few parties of
Boxers in villages, but none on the road.
At Mat’ou and elsewhere he saw that the river was in high flood;
few boats moving, but many moored to the banks. On July 26 had no
adventures; he spent the night at Yuchiawei, twenty li from Peking.
[Illustration: APPROACH TO HATAMEN GATE IN WALL DESTROYED BY THE
RUSSIANS
Elsewhere in this work is presented a view of the top of this wall,
indicating its great width. The view above shows its height and form.
To the left is the encircling canal, with its stagnant water and
accumulations of filth; under a corner of the wall near the bend of the
canal may be seen a caravan. A block house or fortification is shown on
top of the wall. At the right the larger building upon the top of the
wall indicates where one of the city gates is placed. The foundation
of the wall is of great blocks of hewn stone, above which are tiers of
sun-dried brick.]
On July 27 he reached the Sha Kuo gate, the east gate of the south
city, at 10 A.M. He found the roads good; telegraph poles and wire
along the river all gone; railway torn up everywhere, rails buried, or
used for making Boxer swords.
He was not stopped at the gate, though there were many Boxers and Tung
Fu Hsiang’s men there. He made his way without trouble to the Hatamen,
which he found closed, and to the water-gate, which was too closely
guarded to pass by day. The man slept last night near the Chien Men,
crawled along the moat, and entered the water-gate without challenge
before daylight this morning.
He said the high road to Tientsin is in good condition. Crops
everywhere look well. Villagers are attending to their farms, but there
is a Boxer organization in every village. When he left Tientsin, the
foreign troops had not advanced beyond the defense wall, San Ko Hin
Sin’s “Folly,” built by that general against the British and French in
1860 but never defended (hence the name “folly”) surrounding Tientsin
city at a distance of one-half to one mile. All the yamens in Tientsin
are occupied by foreign troops, chiefly Japanese. All Boxers have
left the front at Tientsin because badly punished in the battle, so
the Chinese soldiers despise them. Chinese army was concentrating on
Peitsang, eight miles northwest of Tientsin. The messenger had a dollar
in his pocket when he met the foreign pickets at Tientsin, and they
relieved him of it, “lest he might lose it”!
Colonel Shiba’s informant gives the following dates of battles:
Battle at Tsaitsun, July 24, 1 to 12 P.M.
Battle at Hoshiwu, July 25, 10 A.M. to 3 P.M.
Battle at Auping, July 26, 6 to 9 P.M.
Chinese troops retired to Mat’ou on the 27th inst.
July 29. Reports from various sources, etc.: Foreign troops advance on
the 26th from Auping toward Mat’ou, from 3 A.M. to 12 A.M., and were
driven back to Auping by the Chinese at daylight on the 27th.
Foreign troops of three nationalities at Auping. Chinese ammunition
short; southern rice boats in the hand of the foreign army. Russian
troops are advancing toward Kalgan (from a man from Changpingchou,
eighteen miles south of the Great Wall).
July 29 P.M. Reported Yangtsun completely destroyed by foreign troops
two or three days ago, and foreign army in steady advance. The Empress
Dowager desires Tung Fu Hsiang and Jung Lu to send her with an army to
Hsianfu, the capital of Shansi. They do not consent, and suggest Li
Ping Heng to help conquer us. He is ordered up, has arrived, and is now
attacking the Peit’ang. During the night a strong barricade was built
on the north bridge; two hundred Boxers took up a position on it and
commenced firing.
July 30, 10 A.M. The Chinese army messenger left Changchiawan at 8
o’clock yesterday evening. He reports desultory fighting from 3 A.M. to
8 P.M. yesterday. Many Chinese were killed. The foreign army advanced
to Mat’ou yesterday at 8 A.M. Chinese retreated on Changchiawan. They
have about 10,000 men. Three cannon have been taken from the Chien Men
to the front. Fighting at Peit’ang is continued by Boxers. The firing
from the north bridge is by a company of two hundred Boxers having only
thirteen rifles. The Empress has three hundred carts and Tung Fu Hsiang
one hundred, ready to start west; the date is a secret. Tung’s fourth
son, with five hundred men, has reached Lianghsiang on the way west.
(This news was brought in by a soldier of Tung Fu Hsiang’s body-guard,
who brings us regularly the report of the army messenger.)
Same date, 7:30 P.M. Yesterday morning Mr. Sugi sent two outside
coolies to Tungchow to inquire in regard to the foreign army, etc. They
returned this evening. They report that men in Tungchow affirm that the
foreign army had fought the Chinese yesterday just south of Mat’ou.
They also report having seen a man from Chiachiatuan (eight miles east
of Tungchow) who says foreign troops have come to relieve the Catholics
there, and are distant but a mile or so from the intrenchments, letters
having already been exchanged.
The Peking gates, except the Chihua Men and the Pingtzu Men, are ready
to be closed, with stone and sand-bags at their sides. Many Boxers have
been killed at the Peit’ang; twelve regiments of General Ma’s troops
are to go to Changchiawan.
We have given each of these coolies a small letter to the commander of
the troops and offered a reward for a return to-morrow night with an
answer. The troops must be pretty near us, and we may hope to see them
in two days.
July 31, 11 A.M. The regular Chinese army courier arrived from the
field of battle this morning at 4:30. He reports, in the hearing of
one of Tung Fu Hsiang’s body-guard, the same man who has brought us
the reports of the movements of the foreign army from Yangtsun, the
foreign army advanced from Mat’ou, fighting from 8 P.M. on the 29th,
and arrived at Changchiawan at 5 P.M. yesterday. The Chinese army is
five miles south of Tungchow.
August 1. The following letter received to-day by Colonel Shiba, dated
Tientsin, the 26th ult.:
“Your letter of the 22d received. Departure of troops from Tientsin
delayed by difficulties of transportation, but advance will be made
in two or three days. Will write again as soon as estimated date of
arrival at Peking is fixed.”
[Illustration: TEA CARAVAN RESTING OUTSIDE OF CITY WALL
One might imagine this picture to illustrate a scene in Bible
times, in Palestine or Egypt; but time does not make any changes in
China; nothing changes there, save through the influence of outside
aggression. Here is a caravan from the interior of Asia, halted outside
the city wall for entrance in the morning. The burdens have been taken
from the camels and the beasts have settled for rest.]
A somewhat mangled but authentic telegram has been received from
London. The telegram is undated, but was sent off probably between
the 21st and 24th ult. It refers to a letter written by the Japanese
minister about June 29, and to a telegram from the United States
minister, dated July 18, from which it may be inferred that the state
of affairs here on the latter date was everywhere known. It also says
that the Chinese troops, after severe fighting, were finally routed
from Tientsin on the 15th ult., and that arrangements for our relief
were being hastened. It further asks if the Chinese government is
protecting us and supplying provisions, etc.!
Very few provisions have been sent in to-day. A desultory firing has
been kept up all the time from the north bridge and the Mongol market.
The messenger, who has been bringing in the previous rumors of the
progress of the troops, said that they had been driven back from
Changchiawan to Auping. As the letter from Tientsin has proved him an
arrant liar, in future no more attention will be paid to his stories.
It is a great disappointment, after being told that the relief were
within two days of us, to hear that they have not yet started and have
not yet fixed a date for starting.
The messenger’s story has been well arranged all along, and has agreed
very well with the letter received by the Japanese minister on July
18. As we have had no later information (the British consul’s letter
gave none) as to the movements of the army, we have believed just what
the Chinaman told us, and as long as he was getting paid for it he
would give us any kind of rumors.
August 2. Extracts from various letters received from Tientsin: Mr. E.
B. Drew to Sir Robert Hart, July 28. “Yours of 21st wired home. Keep
heart; aid coming early. Troops pouring in. Enemy is at Peits’ang. Japs
and Russians in his front. Very little rain. Yangtzu valley agitated.
Lu and Chang trying to keep order. Li Hung Chang at Shanghai; doubtful
if he is coming to Chihli. Tientsin is governed by a joint foreign
commission. Manchuria rising against foreigners. Russians, hands full
there. Newchwang much disturbed. Germany and America each sending
15,000 men, Italy 5,000—Canton, west river. Ichang threatening.
Earnestly hope rescue of you all.”
Mr. E. K. Lowry to Mrs. Lowry, July 30. “Bearer arrived last Friday
evening, with news from Peking.... The 9th and 14th regiments, United
States, already at Tientsin; 6th cavalry at Taku on its way up. There
was fighting at Piets’ang this morning. Everything quiet here now.
Word came to-day that the Boxers are killing Christians at Tsunhua,
Shanhaikuan, and many other places. Russians and imperial troops have
fought at Chinhau. Tientsin is full of foreign soldiers and more are
coming all the time. Railroad open between here and Tangku. Many ladies
and children were taken to the United States by the transport Logan.
All property at Peitaiho has been destroyed”.
[Illustration: BALED TEA READY FOR SHIPMENT TO RUSSIA
Some idea of the great quantities of tea produced, and of the method of
packing, may be gathered from this picture.]
Consul Ragsdale to Mr. Conger, July 28. “Had lost all hope of ever
seeing you again. Prospect now brighter. We had thirty days’ shelling
here, nine days’ siege—thought that bad enough. Scarcely a house
escaped damage. Excitement at home intense, of course. Our prayers and
hope are for your speedy rescue. Advance of troops to-morrow probable.”
From J. S. Mallory, Lieutenant-colonel 41st U. S. Infantry. “A relief
column of 10,000 is on the point of starting for Peking; more to
follow. God grant they may be in time.”
Colonel Warren to Captain Myers. “Have been trying to reach you ever
since June 21. Relieved the foreign settlement June 23. Seymour,
June 24. Captured east arsenal June 26; captured west arsenal July
10; captured Tientsin city July 14. Will advance in two days. Column
10,000 strong,—English, American and Japanese; 40,000 more following
in a few days. Hold on by all means. First column will support you and
divert enemy from you. There will be eight regiments of United States
infantry, three of cavalry and two batteries of artillery; also five
hundred marines. Infantry will be in the first column. Enemy strongly
intrenched seventeen miles north of here (Yangtsun), and at two points
farther on.”
The Customs volunteers took up a new position on the Mongol market, on
the southwest of the British legation.
August 3. Another message was received from the yamen requesting us
to leave the legation and go to Tientsin. The Chinese are extremely
anxious to get us out of Peking, as they think that with us out of the
way the armies will have no particular reason to come to Peking and
will be content to settle up matters at Tientsin.
August 4. A great deal of firing all night. Two Russians were wounded
while building a barricade, one of whom died during the night.
August 6. A sharp fusillade at 1 A.M., otherwise a quiet day. The
firing, which throughout the first few days after the truce amounted
only to a few scattering shots, has come to be nearly as hot as before
the truce, and attacks are being made again every night.
August 8. The ministers received an official message from the
tsung-li-yamen saying: “By an imperial edict dated August 7, full power
has been granted to Li Hung Chang to discuss and arrange all matters by
telegraph with the foreign offices of all the powers.”
Colonel Shiba reported that a Chinese outside coolie came in to say
that all the troops in Peking, with the exception of five battalions of
Jung Lu’s, have been, or are going to be, dispatched in great haste to
meet the foreign troops; he does not know where the latter are. He adds
that another 50,000 foreign troops have been landed at Taku.
[Illustration: LI HUNG CHANG
China’s greatest Viceroy]
August 9. Sniper firing all day from Tung Fu Hsiang’s troops,
especially at the customs position in the Mongol market. The latter
were several times silenced by volleys from the Nordenfeldt machine gun
mounted on a parapet built against the west wall of the legation. No
firing from Jung Lu’s troops at all.
August 10. Very heavy rifle-fire from all sides about 3 A.M. A
messenger sent out to meet the troops returned, bringing a letter from
General Gaselee, the British general in command, also one from General
Fukushima. General Gaselee’s letter is dated south of Tsaitsun, August
8: “Strong forces of allies advancing. Twice defeated enemy. Keep up
your spirits.”
The following letter from General Fukushima to Colonel Shiba was
received: “Camp at Changchiang, two kilometers north of Nantsaitsun,
August 8, 1900—Japanese and American troops defeated the enemy on
the 5th instant near Pietsang, and occupied Yangtsun on the 6th. The
allied forces, consisting of American, British, Russian, and Japanese,
left Yangtsun this morning, and while marching north I received
your letter at 8 A.M. at a village called Nantsaitsun. It is very
gratifying to learn from you that the foreign community at Peking are
holding on, and believe me it is the earnest and unanimous desire of
the lieutenant-general and all of us to arrive at Peking as soon as
possible, and deliver you from your perilous position. Unless some
unforeseen event takes place, the allied forces will be at Hoshiwu on
the 9th, Mat’ou on the 10th, Changchiawan on the 11th, Tungchow on the
12th and Peking on the 13th or 14th.”
The messenger who brought in the letter told the following story: On
August 6 he went by way of Tungchow, finding there that his family
had been murdered by the Boxers. On the 7th, he met boat-loads of
wounded and defeated Chinese. At Tsaitsun he met the advance guard of
the allies. The evening of the 8th he marched with the middle division
to Chuanchang, six miles south of Hoshiwu. On the morning of Thursday,
the 9th, he started with this division, which expected to reach Hoshiwu
that evening, but left them and returned to Peking by the road to the
west. The troops have but few Chinese servants. They have many pack
animals, led mostly by Japs. He saw a small number of Russians and a
body of several hundred mounted black (probably Bengal) lancers, who
made fun and charged at him with their spears. He asked how long they
would be before reaching Peking, and was told five or six days, as the
Chinese were not stubbornly resisting, the allies merely having to
drive them on ahead of them.
The following is an extract from a telegram received by Mr. Conger from
the United States consul at Chefoo: “All communications north of this
pass through this office. So far as known, excluding army and navy,
no Americans have been killed, and there has been but little loss of
property south of Tientsin. All trouble confined to Peking and Taku.
The high officials are doing their best to keep order. Very large force
of all nations at Taku.”
August 12. Heavy firing all day.
August 13. The whole force of the artillery possessed by us was brought
to bear on the Chinese position in the Mongol market, as the Chinese
seem to be making a last desperate attempt to kill us all before the
arrival of the relief force, and it is expected that from that quarter
will come the fiercest attack.
Same date, 4 P.M. The yamen sent word that if we would refrain from
firing they would positively stop all volleys on their side. This was
agreed to, and five hours later, though they had been shooting all day,
they made the most terrific attack of the siege. This was kept up all
night, the very violent attacks being renewed at intervals of about two
hours.
* * * * *
At 4.30 in the morning, having been up all night under the hottest fire
mortals ever endured, I had just dropped asleep, which even the heavy
shots did not prevent, when I was awakened by the pop, pop, pop, at
regular intervals of only the fraction of a second, of an automatic
gun. As I knew the Chinese had no such gun in their forces, and as our
own Colt’s gun was just outside the British legation gate to prevent
a rush down the moat between the British legation and Lu Wang Fu, I
instantly came to the conclusion that the final rush, which would end
the drama and our lives, was being made.
Grasping my double-barreled shotgun, I rose from the floor, where I had
just thrown myself down, and stepped outside in front of the legation
chapel. As I did so I heard the thunder of heavy guns in the direction
of the Tungchow gate. Then the situation was clear. The relief were
outside the city engaging the Chinese troops, and the automatic gun was
not ours, but theirs.
I dropped on my knees in the roadway and put up a few words of
thanksgiving to Almighty God, and then, rising, called out the good
news to those inside the houses, in excited tones. Oh, the sweetness
of those sounds! Shall I ever forget how delightful to our ears? How
anxious I felt when they ceased for a few moments, and how happy when
they were resumed!
The Chinese attacking us heard them too, and for a while somewhat
slackened their fire to listen; but only for a while, for they kept up
a hot fire all day.
Poor Mitchell, the brave American gunner, was wounded in the night,
having his arm broken by a bullet from the Mongol market attack, but
he smiled a grim smile when the guns were heard outside, and remarked:
“Oh, you can keep up your devilish racket now, but in a little while
longer you will be silent enough!”
[Illustration: SIKH POLICEMAN
The two Oriental types, East Indian and the Chinese, are plainly shown
in this picture. The policeman looms up almost like a giant in the
midst of his Celestial neighbors.]
At about four o’clock the Americans on the wall saw men in foreign
uniforms directly opposite them. While the Americans and Japanese
had attacked the Tungchow stone road gate and the Pieu gate, the
English had found the Shahkuo gate entirely open and unguarded, and
had hastened, as directed by our notes of advice, to the water-gate,
directly under the eastern extremity of the American position on the
wall. The Sikhs came pouring up to the gate, which they soon smashed
in, and then the hurrahs that rent the skies told those in the houses
and in the hospital that the siege was over.
Just as the relief forces were pouring into the British legation, the
first woman to be wounded during the siege, Mme. Cuillier, a French
woman, was struck by a Mauser rifle bullet in the thigh and seriously,
but not dangerously, wounded.
* * * * *
The following table shows the number of officers and men who were
killed or wounded, and those who died of disease during the siege:
═══════════╤════════════╤════════════╤════════════╤═══════════════════╕
│ Number │ Killed or │ │ Casualties in │
│ of │ died of │ Wounded │ per cent │
│ │ wounds │ │ │
├────────┬───┼────────┬───┼────────┬───┼──────┬──────┬─────┤
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
Nationality│Officers│Men│Officers│Men│Officers│Men│Killed│Woun’d│Total│
───────────┼────────┼───┼────────┼───┼────────┼───┼──────┼──────┼─────┤
Am’can │ 3 │ 53│ │ 7│ 2 │ 8│ 12.5 │ 17.8 │ 30.3│
Aust’an │ 5 │ 30│ 1 │ 3│ 3 │ 8│ 11.4 │ 37.4 │ 42.8│
British │ 3 │ 79│ 1 │ 2│ 2 │ 18│ 3.7 │ 24.4 │ 28.1│
French │ 3 │ 45│ 2 │ 9│ │ 37│ 22.9 │ 77.1 │100.0│
German │ 1 │ 50│ │ 12│ │ 15│ 23.5 │ 31.4 │ 54.9│
Jap’nese │ 1 │ 24│ │ 5│ │ 21│ 20.0 │ 84.0 │104.0│
Russian │ 2 │ 79│ │ 4│ 1 │ 18│ 4.9 │ 23.9 │ 28.3│
Italian │ 1 │ 28│ │ 7│ 1 │ 11│ 24.1 │ 41.4 │ 65.5│
───────────┼────────┼───┼────────┼───┼────────┼───┼──────┼──────┼─────┤
Total │ 19 │388│ 4 │ 49│ 9 │126│ 13.1 │ 35.6 │ 48.7│
═══════════╧════════╧═══╧════════╧═══╧════════╧═══╧══════╧══════╧═════╛
════════════╤═════════════╤═════════════╤═════════════
│ Died of │Volunt’rs and│ Total
│ disease │ independents│
├────────┬────┼──────┬──────┼──────┬──────
Nationality │Officers│Men │Killed│Woun’d│Killed│Woun’d
────────────┼────────┼────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────
Am’can │ │ │ │ 1 │ 7 │ 11
Aust’an │ │ │ │ │ 4 │ 11
British │ │ │ 3 │ 6 │ 6 │ 26
French │ │ │ 2 │ 6 │ 13 │ 43
German │ │ │ 1(a) │ 1(b) │ 13 │ 16
Jap’nese │ │ │ 5(c) │ 8 │ 10 │ 29
Russian │ │2(d)│ 1 │ 1 │ 7 │ 20
Italian │ │ │ │ │ 7 │ 12
────────────┼────────┼────┼──────┼──────┼──────┼──────
Total │ │ 2 │ 12 │ 23 │ 67 │ 168
════════════╧════════╧════╧══════╧══════╧══════╧══════
a Baron Von Ketteler.
b Mr. Cordes.
c Includes Captain Anlo.
d Cossacks of the Legation.