_WORK DURING SIEGE DONE BY RUSSIANS—WORK BY AMERICANS_
[Illustration: YOUAN CHANG
Beheaded August 9, because he favored making peace with foreigners.]
THE Russian legation is situated on the north side of Legation street,
directly opposite the United States legation, one hundred and fifty
yards west of the moat that runs northward from the city wall to the
wall of the Forbidden City; between the British legation and the Su
Wang Fu. Consequently, the Russian legation is directly south of
the British legation, and separated from it only by a small street
containing shops of the humbler sort.
Immediately upon a state of siege being declared, the foreign guards
took possession of this street, drove out the inhabitants, barricaded
both ends of the highway, and so made it possible to go with safety
directly from the position held by the American marines on the city
wall, through the American legation, across Legation street, also
barricaded, through the Russian legation, and on into the British
legation—one continuous foreign occupation. This was a necessity for
our protection, and to secure for the American and Russian marines
a safe retreat into the British legation in the event of their own
locations being no longer tenable.
At the beginning of the siege the following persons resided in the
Russian legation: His Eminence M. de Giers, envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary, his wife, daughter and son, and Miss Edith
Miller, a governess in his family; B. N. Kroupensky, first secretary;
B. N. Evreinow, second secretary; P. S. Popoff, interpreter; Mme.
Popoff and five daughters; N. F. Kolessoff, second interpreter; A. T.
Beltchenko and H. P. Wulff, student interpreters; V. V. Korsakoff,
M.D., surgeon, wife and daughter; N. T. Gomloyeff, postmaster; A.
Polyanoff, clerk in post office; the Rt.-Rev. Father Archimandrite
Innocent Figuroffsky; the Rev. Father Abraham, Deacon Basile, Messrs.
Osipoff and Piskimoff, ecclesiastical students. This comprised the
legation personnel.
There was also the staff of the Russo-Chinese bank, consisting of
the following persons: D. D. Pokotiloff, company manager for China
and Japan, and his wife; D. M. Pozdneeff, his wife and child; R. T.
Barbier, wife and child; Mlle. C. Titoff; E. Wihlfahrt, cashier; F.
Vavier, bookkeeper; Messrs. Brackmann, Mirny, Alexandroff, Wasilieff,
Brauns, and Kehler; and Mr. A. W. Borodavkine, professor of Russian in
the Imperial University.
[Illustration: Russian Minister and Staff of Legation and their
families]
The Russian guards were sailors from the battleships Navarine and
Sissoi Veliku, to the number of seventy-two men, under Naval Lieutenant
Baron von Rahden and Sub-Lieutenant Carl von Dehn, with seven
trans-Baikalian Cossacks.
Captain Jean Wroublevsky, who was on language-leave, also resided in
the legation, and acted with Baron von Rahden alternately as commander
of the forces. Captain Wroublevsky belongs to the Ninth Rifle Corps,
stationed at Port Arthur.
Some of the staff of the Russo-Chinese bank served in the British
legation under the orders of Captain Strouts until his death, and
thereafter under Sir Claude MacDonald, who assumed command, but
Messrs. Kroupensky, Evreinow, Kolessoff, Beltchenko, Dr. Korsakoff,
and Professor Borodavkine constituted themselves Russian volunteers,
and remained by their legation throughout the siege, never becoming a
part of the so-called international volunteers serving in the British
legation.
These Russian volunteers did splendid service in the defense of the
Legation street west entrance, in the Mongol market to the northwest,
and in the various posts and barricades on the city wall, in
conjunction with the American marines.
The Russian sailors and the American marines fraternized at once; but
the sailors were quite pleased to find their duties did not often bring
them into contact with the British marines, for whom they felt a
natural antipathy. Not that there has been the slightest disagreement
or open bad blood between those two nationalities, but they seem to
have been mutually pleased to remain apart.
[Illustration: VOLUNTEERS OF THE RUSSO-CHINESE BANK
This picture was not taken during the Siege, as these gentlemen had
something else to do during that time. It was not even taken after the
Siege, and it is a question whether they will ever be as happy and free
from care again. One has passed away forever, the gentleman in the
chair to the right, who was killed in an engagement with the Boxers.
After hard fighting, in which a number were killed, the Boxers carried
away his body.]
The Russian sailors did much more manual labor than any others of the
besieged. The Americans, English, French, Italians, etc., were quite
satisfied to have all their barricades built for them by the Chinese
Christians, working under their missionary teachers or a foreign
interpreter; but the Russian sailors pitched in and built, as well as
manned, all their own barricades.
Their commander, Baron von Rahden, stated that upon his arrival his
men were mostly green farmers, recently enlisted as sailors, and very
few of them had had any military experience or even knew the proper
handling of a rifle; but after association for a few weeks with the
well-trained American marines under constant fire, they had developed
wonderfully fast, and he felt, at the end of the siege, that he had a
body of men under him well trained, steady, and cool.
A detachment of these sailors accompanied the American marines in the
expedition to the south cathedral, and assisted in the rescue of three
hundred native Catholic Christians. At this place they killed seventy
Boxers and took ten prisoners that they afterward handed over to the
Chinese authorities for punishment; but, doubtless, instead of being
punished they were well rewarded.
While these ten ruffians were confined in the legation jail, one man
succeeded in getting his hands free and loosing one other. Being
discovered, they assaulted their sentry with a brick and attempted to
make their escape; but one being promptly shot and killed, the other
surrendered and was again bound.
During the many heavy attacks by Tung Fu Hsiang’s soldiers at the west
end of Legation street, these sailors behaved with great courage, and
with their American marine companions never failed to drive the Kansu
ruffians back, until finally the Chinese became discouraged at their
lack of success in rushes, and settled down to a policy of sniping from
behind their heavy barricades.
They were such poor marksmen, however, that not one in a thousand of
their rifle shots took effect, and the Russian losses all told amounted
only to four killed and eighteen wounded.
Their outposts commanded the entire Mongol market, overlooking the
southwestern wall of the British legation, and they alone commanded
this district until August 5, some weeks after the active shelling
had ceased, when Lieutenant Von Strauch took up a new position in the
extreme north of the Mongol market, and drew some of the snipers’ fire
in another direction.
The Chinese, early in the siege, planted a Krupp gun on the Chien
Men or main gate of the city, and from this position of vantage
shelled the minister’s house and other buildings of the legations very
severely; but their aim was so bad that many of their shells passed not
only over the Russian legation, but over the British legation and Su
Wang Fu as well, finally falling or exploding among their own people
more than a mile away from their intended target.
Doubtless more Chinese have been killed by their own shells and
rifles than we have killed. As they always fired high, and completely
surrounded us, the balls that have constantly whistled over our heads
for two months must have fallen among themselves.
They attribute to our good shooting a large mortality that we know
is a result, certainly in part, of their bad shooting. In the sortie
made on the city wall the night of July 3d under Captain Myers, which
resulted in capturing the Chinese barricades, several banners, and some
ammunition, the Russian sailors ably seconded the United States marines.
Captain Wroublevsky on one side found it impossible to pass in, and
joined the marines in forcing entrance into the other side. In this
sortie Baron von Rahden was struck on the head with a brick and two
sailors were wounded. Of the Americans, Captain Myers was severely
wounded and two marines killed.
[Illustration: ON THE TOP OF CHINA’S GREAT WALL
Wall destroyed by the Russians after the Boxers got it. This picture
gives a good idea of the width of the Great Wall, and looks almost
like a field with vegetation growing, and the block-house or fort
erected upon it. The method of reaching the top of the wall is shown
by the driveway up the side, which it will be observed, is completely
commanded by the block-house. This wall extends several thousand miles,
and is said to represent the sacrifice of millions of lives, and labor
beyond comprehension.]
Some of the best work of the Russians was that done in burning many
native houses and then pulling down the walls in the Mongol market
that concealed sharpshooters of the enemy. Had this not been done, the
entire southwestern part of the British legation would have been under
a constant sniping fire, such as they really were exposed to during
the first few days of the siege, and until the Russians made a dash
into the Mongol market, drove out the Chinese, and burned down their
cover.
The Russians also joined in an unsuccessful sortie, during which an
attempt was made to capture a cannon in the Su Wang Fu, but owing
to incorrect information as to its whereabouts, the Italian officer
commanding led his men in the wrong direction, and after having several
men wounded, the party returned without having accomplished anything.
In the fortification of their own legation they have been untiring,
and besides loop-holing and building barricades, have dug a very deep
trench all along inside their west wall, or only exposed side, which
effectually prevented underground mines from being undetected.
Russian sentries have, all through the siege, been posted on the moat
bridge at Legation street, commanding the water-gate under the city
wall. Curiously enough, no attack has ever been made from this quarter,
yet to a foreigner it appears a most advantageous opening for attack.
The Russo-Chinese bank was held by the volunteers as long as it was
possible to hold it, but after the Chinese built a high barricade on
the wall just over the bank, it grew too hot to hold and had to be
evacuated.
Mr. Wihlfahrt’s house, directly under the wall, was made a Chinese fort
for a while, and the Americans lost several men from snipers posted
there, until, finally, a rush was made and the place destroyed.
The Russians have several times gone to other places to assist in
repelling serious attacks, on one occasion to help Colonel Shiba in
holding back the Boxer forces at the Su Wang Fu. On this occasion one
man was seriously wounded. Another time they were called to help the
German legation. They have always cheerfully rendered any assistance
when called upon, and Baron von Rahden, his fellow officers, and all
the volunteers are highly thought of by the besieged.
Few people are aware that when all the troops had left their outposts
and retired into the British legation, owing to a mistaken order, four
Russian sailors still remained alone at a barricade commanding the
Mongol market, and by keeping the Chinese soldiers from being aware of
the general retreat into the legation, made it possible for the guards
to return to the American, French, and German legations and the wall,
which otherwise could only have been done at a frightful cost of lives.
* * * * *
The United States legation, usually spoken of as the American legation,
is pleasantly situated on the south side of Legation street. It
is, however, a very small compound. There is only one building in
it of foreign style of architecture, utilized as a business office.
The second secretary had his residence in the upper portion of this
building.
[Illustration: UNITED STATES LEGATION
Dr. Coltman’s rooms were at the left, Minister Conger’s to the right.
The yard or “compound” is paved, with openings for the trees and
vegetation. The most attractive part of the house, as is the case
with nearly all Chinese houses, is that which looks upon the compound
instead of the street.]
At the commencement of the siege the following persons were residing
in the compound: His Eminence E. H. Conger, minister, his wife,
daughter, niece, governess, and two lady guests from Chicago, Mrs. and
Miss Woodward; Mr. H. G. Squiers, first secretary, his wife and four
sons; Mr. W. E. Bainbridge, second secretary, and his wife; Mr. F. D.
Cheshire, interpreter. These comprised the legation staff.
There were also the following refugees, who had been obliged to
abandon their residences and seek legation asylum: Dr. W. A. P.
Martin, president of the Imperial University and author of the “Cycle
of Cathay,” “Hanlin Papers,” and other works, both in English and
Chinese; Dr. Robert Coltman, Jr., professor of surgery in the Imperial
University, author of “The Chinese—Medical, Political and Social,”
with his wife and six children; Mr. William N. Pethick, secretary to
Li Hung Chang, and three American missionary ladies, Mrs. Mateer, Miss
Douw, and Miss Brown.
In Mr. Squiers’ family there was also a visitor of distinction—Miss
Condit-Smith, a niece of Chief Justice Field, of the United States
Supreme Court—as well as a French and a German nursery governess.
[Illustration: Inside one of the United States Legation rooms]
The marine guard of fifty men was under the command of Captains Myers
and Hall, who, with Surgeon Lippett, constituted the officers of the
detachment. Captain Hall, with twenty marines, had been for several
days at the Methodist mission compound, east of the Hatamen or extreme
southeast gate of the city, but on June 20, when it was decided to
abandon that compound, and have the American missionaries all move
into the British legation, Hall and his men returned to the American
legation and thereafter served there.
The fatigue endured by the United States marines in their constant
service on the city wall and in their barricade under the wall, as well
as the barricade at the western end of the compound in Legation street,
was simply killing. That the men did not succumb is a marvel.
To Mrs. H. G. Squiers, more than any one else, is due the credit of
sustaining them with coffee and biscuits sent out hot and refreshing
at midnight and at various times throughout the day. Indeed this lady
has acquired, by her hospitality and unfailing kindness, the affection
of not only her own nationals, but the regard of every one besieged
within the city. Many poor fellows wounded in the hospital have blessed
her with their fevered lips for a cooling drink or a nourishing broth
prepared by her own hands. Her well-furnished storeroom was placed
at the disposal of every one who was in need of food, either as a
necessity for the healthy or a delicacy for the sick. The author has to
express his own unbounded gratitude for many a tin of peas, tomatoes,
or oatmeal that has helped to render palatable the daily ration of
horse-flesh and rice that has been his own and his family’s sustenance
throughout our imprisonment.
[Illustration: A corner in the United States Legation]
Under the most trying circumstances Mrs. Squiers has preserved a
cheerful demeanor, and, assisted by the ever calm and always sociable
Miss Polly Condit-Smith, has daily entertained at her hospitable board
the officers, civilians, diplomats, and missionaries with the same
cordiality.
When Dr. Velde, the able German surgeon in charge of the hospital, was
worn out with fatigue and unable to find a quiet place for a night’s
rest, he was provided by Mrs. Squiers with a comfortable pallet,
covered with a mosquito curtain, in a little closet room, usually
occupied by the German nurse, and so enabled to obtain a rest that was
an absolute necessity to his continuing in service.
All of the American ladies have worked with patience and perseverance,
constantly making the sand-bags which have so efficiently protected the
soldiers and the entire community from the unceasing fire of bullets
from the enemy. Everything in the line of cloth has been used for this
purpose. Handsome linen table-cloths, rich silk draperies, towels,
gowns and dress materials have been freely sacrificed to provide for
the defense.
When the wounded became numerous in our quarters, and were nightly
worried by those infernal pests, the mosquitoes, the ladies cheerfully
sent all their mosquito curtains to the hospital to be used by their
brave defenders to alleviate their discomfort.
[Illustration:
Mr. F. D. Cheshire Mr. H. G. Squiers Mr. E. H. Conger Mr. W. E. Bainbridge
Interpreter First Secretary Minister Second Secretary
The United States Legation Staff]
Every one realized when we became besieged that we were in a position
that only divine help and a speedy rescue could avail us. Surrender
under any circumstances now could only mean butchery. We had seen the
survivors of the massacre at the south cathedral come among us with
little children almost hacked to pieces by the cruel knives of the
fanatical Boxers, and, knowing their hatred for us, we well knew that
if the men were overcome, the women and children must suffer a horrible
death or worse.
Many of the men had resolved that at the last fight they would
themselves kill their wives and daughters to prevent their suffering at
the hands of the incarnate devils that surrounded us. My own wife never
allowed me to leave her upon a night-attack without first giving her
my revolver for the purpose of using it as a safeguard to herself and
daughters in the event of my non-return, and the overpowering of our
forces.
The American marines led in the expedition to the south cathedral to
rescue the Catholic Christians being killed there, and were accompanied
by a Russian detachment and by civilians W. N. Pethick and W. J.
Duysberg. Here they rescued over three hundred Christians, and brought
them safely to the American legation, where their wounds were dressed
by Drs. Lippett, Korsakoff, and Coltman, and they were then sent into
the Su Wang Fu to be fed and cared for until the end of the siege.
The American marines also took part in the expedition to the Boxer
rendezvous temple, north of the Austrian legation, in which fifty-six
Boxers were cornered and killed. Their bravery and endurance has been
noted by all. Their main task—that of holding the city wall—should
render their fame immortal. True, they have been ably helped in this
task from time to time by both Russian and British marines, but the
post was theirs, and to them belongs preëminently the glory of holding
the position that, like the Su Wang Fu, was a key to the place of last
stand—the British legation.
In the brilliant sortie on the night of July 3, led by Captain Myers,
both Russian and British marines took part, and, although the credit
has usually been attributed to the Americans, English and Russians are
equally deserving. When on the point of springing over our barricade
to attack the Chinese position, Captain Myers addressed his men with
ringing words of encouragement.
The Chinese had their first intimation of his movement when they were
saluted with a deafening yell directly under their barricade, for our
little force gave a tremendous shout, as instructed, as they rushed
around the one open side and clambered over the breastwork.
[Illustration:
Robert Coltman, 3rd, 16½ yrs. Rev. R. Coltman Dr. R. Coltman, Jr.
Eva D. Coltman, 15 yrs. Chas. L. Coltman, 9 yrs. Alice C. Coltman, 13 yrs.
Mrs. R. Coltman Mrs. Dr. R. Coltman, Jr.
Wm. P. Coltman, 1½ yrs. Mary O. Coltman, 4 yrs.
FAMILY OF THE AUTHOR
All of the persons in this group, with the exception of the author’s
father standing in the center, and his mother at the left, suffered in
the Siege.]
Many of the Chinese fled, but the remainder poured a hot fire into the
ranks of the invaders, Privates Turner and Thomas of the Americans
being instantly killed by bullets, as reported, and Captain Myers
severely wounded by a spear. Corporal Gregory of the British marines
was also shot, and two Russian soldiers were wounded by bullets; but
the position was captured, and the retention of the post on the wall
assured, as henceforth it would be possible to ascend the ramp without
being exposed to Chinese fire.
The Chinese fled to their second barricade, a few hundred yards nearer
the Chien Men, which they have held ever since, and, although they have
shelled the American position captured from them for days, they have
never been able to dislodge our men.
When the United States minister and his family left the legation and
sought refuge in the British legation, they were given the house of the
British legation physician, Dr. Poole, for a residence, and into this
six-roomed house were crowded four men, ten women and nine children.
Mr. Squiers, Mr. Cheshire, and Mr. Pethick continued to remain at the
United States legation. The legation building was peppered with bullets
the livelong day, and shelled at intervals with three-inch shells from
both city gates, east and west, until all the roofs were full of holes,
and the gate-house completely demolished, the flagstaff being cut
through and the flag falling to the ground. It was speedily picked up,
however, and nailed to a tall tree near the gate-house, from which it
still floats, though riddled with holes.
Dr. Lippett, the surgeon of the guard, received a bad wound of the
thigh, fracturing the bone and completely disabling him, on June 29,
and has been in the hospital ever since. Dr. G. D. Lowry, a medical
missionary of the Methodist mission, immediately took his place.
Sergeant Fanning, Corporal King, and Privates Kennedy, Tutcher, and
Fisher have been killed in the barricades, and Privates Silva, Shroder,
Mueller, and Hall were wounded early in the siege. The Americans killed
were all buried in the Russian legation compound just across Legation
street.
There were no American civilians serving as volunteers with the
American guard, but Dr. Coltman, his son, Robert Coltman, 3d, and Mr.
W. E. Bainbridge served guard-duty in the British legation among the
international volunteers.
Mr. H. G. Squiers, who was elected by Sir Claude MacDonald as his chief
of staff, and second in command after the death of Captain Strouts, has
been indefatigable in his service, not only at the American legation,
but in general oversight of the situation at all points. That the
United States government will recognize his unusual ability by a
promotion in the diplomatic service, for which he is so well fitted,
and to which he has devoted his talents, is sincerely hoped.
He it was who conceived the plan of occupying the city wall and
insisted on its being regained when abandoned. This, as a key to the
whole position, was recognized in its full importance by Mr. Squiers.
He, too, with Captain Wroublevsky, forced a way down the wall to the
Chien Men, and let in the first Sikhs that came through the gate.