The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-06

a secret conference with the other subOrdin-
ate wangs, and was rowed down the Grand
canal into Gordon's caufp. He offered to
throw open the gates of the city if he and his
fellows were granted an unconditional par
don. Gordon communicated this offer to
General Ching, who commanded the imperial
troops, and it was speedily accepted. Mar
wang then called the conspirators together,
and they repaired to the palace of the Mo-
wang. Here, in the Hall of the Heavenly
Father, surrounded by representations Of
the Passion of Christ, prayers were offered
and the Mowang assembled the throne in his
robe and crown. He made a short address
to the captains, saying that Soochow should
never yield to infdels. AT the last word the
Congwang rose in the hall, took off his robe
walked up to the steps of the throne and de-
liberately stabbed the speaker to the heart
The Mowang fell over the table in front of
the throne, and the other wangs seized him
and decapitated him. Then they mounted
their horses, rode each to his palace and the
head was sent to Gordon as peace offering.
RETRIBUTIoN.
The Colonel wds not man to waste time
in fruitless threats He had promised these
wretches immunity, and he meant to keep
his word The entry having been effected
peaceably enough, he walked up alone to the
neighboring heights, feeling for the first time
discouraged and sick at heart. In the plain
below he suddenly noticed great commo-
ton. The imperial troops were rushing in
wild confusion through the gates. Yells and
shouts filled the air. Not without misgivings,
he made his way to the Morning Palace, and
found it in ruins, half-molten bronzes chok-
ing up the passage, and only solitary drum
standing as sentinel at the gate. Entering
one of the chambers and calling for his
servant he learned that the imperialists had
beheaded him. The courtyard round the
palace was filling with an angry mob; swords
were being drawn and pistols fired. In the
midst of the hubbub Gordon appeared on
the threshold. The crowd fell back as
though lightning had stricken them. Calmly
the Colonel raised his hand and the noise
ceased.
A passage was cleared for him. and, touch
ing his pith helmet in ironical salute. he
walked at an easy pace to General Ching's
stockade. There, in CHASTITY row, were the
heads of all the wangs The bodies had been
slashed down the chest; the wounds on the
head were most horrible. Gordon said not a
word He knew that great clamor of treach-
cry would be raised against him; but he ST.
lently turned away, went back to tine palace
scrawled four words on paper-"Thou prince
of liars'-sent them to General Ching and
bidding those of his soldiers follow him who
would, rode hastily from the city. He wrote
to Sir Frederick Bruce, the ambassador, tax
ing upon himself all responsibility for Ching's
baseness. He allowed the British mission
aries to carry home maudlin stories of his
atrocities. He suffered the philanthropists of
Exeter Hall to pirate of the wrongs which the
Taepings had suffered at his hands. He
merely said he would not sheathe his sword
Till the rebellion was crushed and
he kept his word. His men chung
to him with the devotion of the
l. 7 Z l. 1.
he cut Oft so completely the communications
of Nankin that not a sound could be heard
from the beleaguered city but the bamboo
signals of the sentinels around the forts and
the drums of the guards in the lookout
houses on the walls Before the spring was
past the capital had fallen, the leader of the
Taepings had poisoned himself with gold
leaf, and his fugitive army was suing for
peace in the southern provinces. Colonel
Gordon was offered fortune by the grateful
country which he had saved. He replied
that he had not served for money and would
accept nothing. He left China as poor as he
came.
He was to visit the country once more
In the spring of 1880 he went to Pekin on
mission of peace. He had elected to medi-
ate between Russia and China. Strange emo
tons filled his mind as he sailed toward the
capital. Passing the mouth of the Yang -tse-
Kiang, under sapphire sky and bright east
SIu sun, nc IhOuSut VI lHc uGSOldIlOn he udu
left upon its shore, Once more the richest
land in China, he remembered when its hor-
ION was unbroken except by graves, COM
memorative arches and heaps of ruins Over
its ravaged hills, now clothed with wild tea,
he followed in memory the peasants in their
fight, the men staggering under heavy loads
of goods and chattels, the women hobbling
along on their small feet, their arms filled
with babies. The paddy fields which the
husbandmen were now irrigating had been
white with dead mems bones The reed hut
of the fisherman and the many storied pa
CODA had been choked with corpses The
boatmen with their hooks drew shoals of
manged bodies to the sea, where the priest
to-day sat drumming by the waterside to
soothe the great fish that carries the world
upon its back. 1t was Gordon who had re-
stored peace to the nation, and as he saved it
from ruin in 1864 so he saved it from war in
1880.
GENERAL GRANT.