The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-02-19


was such evident cause for the alarm that the
party turned back to Huse-hu. Here they found
the town in much excitement, caused by the re.
ports of those who had passed them on the road
who stated that they had seen the body of assail.
ants and that they numbered more than thou.
sand men. SEINE of the refugees had come from
Tung-guan, town the rebels, or robbers, had
taken and sacked, and where three of their mum.
Der were killed.
The people of Huse-hu were much alarmed,
as was also the. civil ruler Of the place.
Mr.. Burlingame, however, impressed upon him
the necessity Of preparing for the probable
attack, and that he must arm his people with any
thing they could obtain; that his own party were
well armed, and that they would stand the brunt
OF the assault During the night scouts were sent
out, who returned from time to time with reports
OF the number Of the advancing body. From
these reports they learned that no doubt an
armed body of marauders or banditt, numbering
at least 400 desperate characters, and forming,
possibly, an advance guard Of the rebel army that
for months have held sway in Shantung province
ana peninsula, were moving toward the town Of
Huse-hu.
This town is one Of some size, unwaled, and
consists of q number of low huts made Of mud
the inn to which the party repaired was, like all
Chinese inns small quadrangle the doors and
windows opening within the court. Carts and all
available things were placed in the gateway to
barricade it, and here through the whole night of
Tuesday, the 18th, the parry anxiously watched
and waited. There seemed to be no doubt of an
attack. and Judging IRON the character of the rob.
hers who sometimes intest this section, there was
little hope Of life if they were captured. Only
those who may have been in similar circunIstau ces
can comprehend the intense anxiety OF the ladies.
The night wore away and no assault was made.
1t was presumed also that the leaders of the
rebels or banditt were aware of the character
OF the Chinese mission upon which Mr.. Burlingame
had started. and supposed that in his train they
might find large amount of treasure.
In the morning the travellers were able to see
from the house tops the armed party that had
come to . halt upon the road not two miles away.
The organization which Mr. Burlingame had
made was as complete as the circumsf ances would
admit. He compelled the frightened Taontai to
display his men, filling the house tops with them,
and again marching them through the streets
where they could be easily seen. He sent the
mounted soldier (Whelan) outside the town.
in and out of the streets, shouting
aloud, and moving bodies Of men from one
point to another. He despatched messengers to
pekln and to Tientsin, informing his friends Of the
marching and display Of men and shouting that
had occurred had not been without its effect, and
1t ID noticeable and marvellous how much this
nLauB0 SnucSc people are moved Dy the banging
OF gongs, Huttering Of bright odd flags and bonn.
bastic display of any kind. During the forenoon
the assailants moved away and disappeared.
Through the whole day and night the party anx-
of not knowing whether the messengers they had
despatched for succor had or had not been cap
tured by the robbers-whether they had or not
proved faithful or treacherous-whethe they had
or not reached the cities OF Pekn and Tientsin.
The strain upon physical and mental nature had
been severe in the extreme, and the snatches Of
sleep and rest that had been taken from the
queter hours had far from served to make amends
for the exhausting tax upon them.
The second morning dawned with no appearance
Of succor. At eleven O'Clock in the forenoon they
saw rapidly advancing up the Tentsin road body
Of mounted men. At first it was feared that 1t
was an attack of the rebels, but the mistake was
soon discovered, and the advancing party was
found to be body OF blue jackets" who had
co ne to the relief. Cheers and shouts of joy from
the little company of the besieged rang among
the Chinese huts OF Huse-hu.
The messenger had reached Tientsn. The Brit
ish Consul had received the despatch, and, in &C.
cordance with the request it contained, had asked
OF Lieutenant Commanding Dunlop, Of the British
gunboat Dove, at anchor of Tientsin, for body
OF seamen. He also informed the foreigners OF
Tentsin of the situation of the American Minister
AID party. AS soon as possible the relief body
started. Lieutenant Dunlop not only sent his
marines and all the seamen that coud be spared,
but he went in command himself, and all the
Americans and nearly all the foreigners of Tient-
sin joined the body.
The cFcutous route which the messenger had
necessarily taken brought him to Tientsn late in
the day. and the relief party did not get
away until midnight. But they here
now, and this little body Of Americans and
Englishmen were more than u mattel for any body
of Ceestials the occasion was likely to disclose.
The relief, however, had hardly reached Huse hu
when discovery was made OF u body approaching
on the opposite side Of the town, aud in less than
five minutes the armed and mounted men that came
from Peklu to the rode The sspn-
ger on that side, too had been faithful, and the
foreign legations and residents Of Pekn, as well
as the native authorities, were much excited by
the news to which they had listened. A body of
Chinese soldiers, under command Of drill master
named Brown, the small bodies Of soldiers at
tached to the suite of the Russian and English
ministers, secretaries and attaches Of the lega
tons. student interpreters, customs employees and
all who could go, armed themselves, mounted and
repaired to the besieged town of Huse-hu. Here
they were, and again the air rang with cheers Of
the rescued and the relief.
The whole body remained at Huse-hu that az
ternoon and evening, and on the following morn
ing Minister Burlngame, family and fellow travel
iers starated en- route to Iientsln, accompanied by
an escort, which contained all the relief from
Pekin and Tientsln, anxious then and itching for
brush with the desperadoes who had threatened
them. That evening they reached Tientsin.
The following day the Pekin escort returned,
and Dir. Burlingame and party remained until
Friday, December 9. when, at noon, they took
passage for Ta.kee and the mouth OF the Peiho on
board the gunboat Dove which, through the kind
ness of the English Minister, Sir Rutherford
Alcock, had been rendered for their use.
The messenger which Commander Febyer. of
the Ashuelot had despatched to Tient-iu,
informing Mr.. Burlingame of his arrival
in the river, saw the Dove coming
down stream, with the American flag
flying at her main. and presumed that Mr.. Bur
lingame WAS on board. lie rode to the bank,
hailed, drew attention from the Dove, and suc.
ceeded in boarding her and placing the dispatches
in The hands OF Mr.. Is. In the early
evening the Dove reached Ta-kee, and Mr..
Burlingame and family with peculiar joy and
satisfaction were transferred to the United States
steamer Ashueot. Cheers were exchanged be-
tween the English and American men-of-war. The
Dove returned to Tientsin, and on the following
morning at eleven o'clock-Saturday, December
THE Ashuelot steamed away from the Peiho for
Shanshae, which place she reached this morning
at two o'clock.
Tie future movements Of Mr.. Burlingame have
not been decided upon, but IT Is quite likely he
will visit the treaty ports Of China previous to
sailing for America.