New-York tribune., 1884-01-27
CHINESE GORDON'S STICR.

A RENINISCENCE OF THE CAMPAIGN IN CHINA BY
AN OLD ARTILLERYMAN.
Although actually served under Chinese
Gordon" said the captain of National Line steamer To
TRIBUNE reporter yet the truth Is never exchanged
words with him but once, and that was when went 10
him commission in the Imperial service That was
I'm s63 or 1864 forget which was chief officer on
vessel that came into Shanghae, and left her de-
termned to Join Gordon All the young fellows at that
time crazy join Gordon. So went to General
Gamble Shang hae. lie IN reality only captain
In her Malesys forces, but acting under Gordon as
He gave me chit or letter OF
recommendation to the great man, and went mp the
river in a sailboat, native craft to Qun-san, where he
had his headquarters had learned that all Europeans
who had any knowledge of gunnery appointed as
lieutenants with pay month"; TO say nothing or
the chances of loot, picking up things, yon know III
captured town When got to Quin-san found where
his place was. II large Chinese house with o
courtyard roundH There an orderly outside tne
door, who asked what wanted said that wished to
see General Gordon He went into the and coming
back told me TO 60 in The famous man was in white
shirt and white trousers and his red upon bit OF
carpet on the floor. lie a desk studying over
mad stood in front OF the desk waiting. Presently he
looked mp and fixed pair Of eyes fGll on me- and
said:
What do you want Z
- An appointment
Where have you been ! What do you know Are
you acquainted with gunnery Z
told him briefly possible, showed Lin my ere
dentias the Royal Naval Reserve and my warrant
as chief officer OF the mercantile marine He nodded
and said. 'Very good, and then wrote note to the
officer commanding the Fifth Regiment, Ning-pos' we
used TO call them. went of about the town and an
ehored myself for the night in sort Of military hotel
On the piazza lot Of officers OF Gord0n's force
some military some naval, and there good deal Of
chatting about the two arms OF the service. being
sailor naturally sided with the sailors and said my say.
noticed that the captain Of one OF Gorons gmbOats
was attentive TO my remarks Presently he asked me
some questions about what going 10 do and told
him He mounted his pony and rode OF at hand gallOp.
In half M hour he came back and handed ne commits
SION as lieutenant his gunboa the Fircfy. So went
on board next morning, and remained on her for five
months when left Gordons force, and returned to the
commercial marine go
"Oh no. But that oil ever had 10 say TO him. or
he TO me If had Joined the Nng-pOs. doubt should
saw him at tic head Of his expeditions stocades
and It queer to him marching In front Of his
black stick There were queer yarns IN the force about
that stick. II was said to have extraordinary powers
lie las known to creep 10 the palisades Of stock
adc put end Of the stick 10 his ear ana the other 10
the bottom OF the poles lie would listen ntently ana
tenants aud hundred men to be at certain part OF tho
stockade at certain hoIr couple Oh guns drawn by
neditinn lie w6nd suddenly announce to them that the
guns ut that particular part had been withdrawn TO
other part Of the stOckade and that If breach were
bris;ly made il could stOrIncd with little loss. As
the guns had made hole the infantry would go
at IT, Gordon ahead of every ybody as likely as not with
out his sword but with revolver, and his little black
stick He was very humane, aud most careful in
taking precautions to few lives possible. lie
seemed 10 realize that his Europeans worth every
thing him. When one was killed. he always felt IL and
showed that he did"
Was there anything particular about the stick ."
Not that know Of Shortly after We took 500 Chow,
where lac led his troops calamity ever, with the
stick tgirling between his fingers, there rmor that
It vas lost. There proclamation Offering large
reward for it, and recovered Some stole IL,
probably for the hope OF getting aTeward. remember
that there WAS a great deal OF talk about H. Captain
Curtis who commanded our boat. the FREELY.
American and he thought It hollow and loaded with
some chemical arrangement that made II remit sounds
with singular decacy. Others thought II filed with
quicksilver and others had still stranger notions But It
lad its effect, and of Gordon officers had short
black sticks; there one major Of the Nngpos who
had five gold rings on his stick, which made 1t quite
fancy article I'm sorry Mr.. TRIBUNE, that cannot tell
Won anything about him, but the truth is the truth,
and have given you straight yarn