The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-01
MOngolian Rebels Marching on the Cap
ital and Gaining Strength on the Way.
Troops Hastily Summoned from Outlying Dis
tricts to Protect Pekin, and LabOrers Put
toy Work Repairing the Ancient Walls.
Three Hundred Europeans and Native
Christians Massacred by The Heathen.
Missionaries in Other Portions Of the Country
Flee for Safety-Chili Will Neither Apollo
gize nor Pay Indemnity TO Americans.
TRYING TO SAVE PEKIN.

TRYING TO SAVE PEkIN.
Soldiers Summoned to the Capital 90 Pro-
tect the City from IongoIian Rebels.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
SHANGHAI. Nov. 30.-Further advices re.
garding the defeat of the imperial troopl
| BY the Mongolian rebels state that many
| OF the former deserted TO the rebels. being
evidently in sympathy with them. and the
force. which was composed of the flower Of
| the Chinese army. men selected from regi-
ments for their proven courage. showed no
| spirit whatever in the encounter. 1t is
said that, according to the peculiar
methods prevalent at the Pekin court. the
young Emperor is kept ignorant of the
dangerous condition of affairs. and is en-
tirely taken up with his recent marital ar
raDgements. The War Minister. Olo- HoDu.
! Is threatened with disgrace for not having
detected the disaffection among the
troops. and may lose his head. The rebels
are described as adhering TO their tribal
war organization, and. although merciless
In their treatment of those who offer seri-
Gus resistance. and of foreigners. under
| any circumstances, they are strictly obe-
dient to their own commanders. Tbs
Europeans in Shanghai are getting more
and more excited. the general opinion being
that the crisis Is more acute than that
which existed W hen the Tapings were at the
height of their triumph.
A leading English merchant said to-day.
cit would not be serious loss, either for
China OF the world. if the present dynasty
should be overthrown so far as the dynasty
Is concerned. for the recent emperers have
been utterly lacking in any kind of ability
for ruling an empire like China, and the
consequence has been the growth of q pal
ace, or, as wesay in Europe. q petticoat gov
ernment, attended by the vilest intrigues
and directed by the wors { influences
those which spring from the jealousy OF
woman. The Chinese themselves feel that
| their government IL not what it ought To
be, and these outbreaks are by no means
! senseless explosions of rage and cupidity.
| The Mongol tribes. too. must have heard
I something of tho weakness and degeneracy
| of the government, or they would not have
undertaken their march TO Pekin. Eu-
| ropean nations are not without blame IN
| this matter. 1t would have been far better
for Europe to have had a strong central
government in China instead of each coun-
| try struggling to see how much it could
| weaken and humiiiate the Chinese to Its
| own advantage. A strong central Chinese
| cure lock on the Pandora box of evils. the
| extent of which can hardly be guessed. It
| Kept this vast reputation of 400, Ooo.o 600 or so
| together. Let them be turned loose from
| Menchuria TO TonkiD and the prospect is
fearful. even for armed Europe TO contem-
| plate"
A message from Pekin says that the
troops have been summoned from the out
| lying districts to man the capital, and q
| largo body OF Iaborers have been driven To
work in repairing the walls. considerable
| portions of which are dilapidated. Great
| excitement reigns in Pekin. and the author
tiles have some fear of popular rising.
| The closest watch il maintained for signs
| of intended disturbance.
Missionaries Seek Safety I'm Flight
PEKIN, Nov. 30-The government is fully
aware of the serious condition which con-
fronts it and every possible step is being
taken to break the strength of the rebels be-
fore they get within striking distance of the
capital. There Is much excitement here
among all classes of people and the author
ities believe that if they can inflict de-
feat upon the rebel forces il will have q
good effect upon the people of Pekin and
the vicinity. 1t is believed that many Of
the people are secretly In favor of the
rebels. but shonld the imperial forces do
battle with the insurgents and defeat them
| tue malCOutcQlS WOulu tueu blOe Win tuo
| government. No doubt Is entertained that
the situation Is extremely dangerous.
! Should the rebel forces continue to advance
toward the capital In spite of the efforts OF
the imperial troops to prevent them. it Is
feared by the foreigners that the whole
country will rise and aid the invaders.
The garrison of ShakaikIvan has been sent
to suppress other iDsurrectionary bodies.
which are marching in various directions
throughout the country, evidently with
the intention of Joining the main body.
The most serious condition of affairs ex-
lists at Takou. This is the place where the
most brutal outrages were committed upon
the Christian priests. nuns and native
converts. What action the government
will take in this matter Ii Ia hard 10 say.
That the authorities are in full sy mpathy
with the perpetrators OF these mos horrl-
BILE crimes there isno reason TO doubt. The
first reports from Takou stated that after
these iends had worked their bloody will
on all the Christian men, women and chill
dren who fell into their hands they were
feasted by the leading Chinese mandariDs
ia the district. 1t is now said that the local
mandarins agreed to allow the rebels
provided they did no harm TO other inhabi-
tants. These terms were accepted by the
rebels and they pursued their work with
ont hindrance. Three hundred Europeans
and native Christians were massacred.
1t is believed that not q single Christian in
the district escaped. CONSERVATION pro-
walls among the Protestant missionaries in
the district through which 1T Is expected
the rebels will pass. The local officials &C
Tsunha have declared that they are power
less TO protect the missionaries. and tha: il
they desired TO save their lives they had
better seek safety IN flight. The mission
aries at Tsunha have, therefore. abandoned
their stations and sought refuge in safer
parts OF tho country.
Chilli RFMAINs DEFIANT